faltering
faltering — 形容詞
1. running out of strength or purpose so much that the activity is on the verge of
衰退中的
逐漸失去力量、即將停止的
running out of strength or purpose so much that the activity is on the verge of stopping — typical of economies, careers, recoveries, or projects losing steam.
Quan tried to revive the faltering family bakery by offering new pastries every weekend.
Quan 試圖透過每週推出新糕點來挽救衰退中的家族烘焙坊。
attributive: faltering + business/organization noun
The faltering economy forced many small shops in Kwame's hometown to close their doors.
衰退中的經濟迫使 Kwame 家鄉的許多小店關門大吉。
collocation: faltering economy
Doctors worried about Élise's faltering recovery after the second round of treatment.
醫生擔心 Élise 在第二輪治療後復原情況不見起色。
Antonia's faltering career as a violinist forced her to take up teaching to pay the rent.
Antonia 身為小提琴家的事業逐漸走下坡，迫使她改以教學維持生計。
文法句型
faltering + noun
用法筆記
Subject is usually an abstract noun for an ongoing effort or system — economy, recovery, career, business, talks, leadership. Rarely used after 'be' for this sense.
常見錯誤
2. moving in a slow, shaky, or uncertain way, as if the person might lose balance o
蹣跚的
走路搖晃、似乎要跌倒的
moving in a slow, shaky, or uncertain way, as if the person might lose balance or stop at any moment — typical of someone who is weak, ill, or just learning.
Defne took her grandmother's arm to steady her faltering steps across the icy pavement.
Defne 挽著祖母的手臂，扶著她蹣跚的腳步走過結冰的人行道。
collocation: faltering steps
The baby crossed the room on faltering legs and collapsed laughing into Gabriel's lap.
嬰兒以蹣跚的雙腿走過房間，笑著倒進 Gabriel 的懷裡。
collocation: faltering legs / footsteps
With a faltering walk, the wounded soldier made his way back to the medical tent.
受傷的士兵以蹣跚的步伐走回醫療帳篷。
Eri reached out to help the old man whose faltering gait suggested he might fall.
Eri 伸手攙扶那位步履蹣跚、看起來快跌倒的老先生。
文法句型
faltering + body-part / movement noun
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about physical movement (steps, gait, legs), while sense 1 is about abstract decline (career, economy). Almost always attributive.
3. spoken in a shaky, broken, or unsure way — usually because the speaker is nervou
結巴的
說話遲疑、不流暢的
spoken in a shaky, broken, or unsure way — usually because the speaker is nervous, upset, or unfamiliar with the language.
Sahil ordered coffee in faltering French during his first week studying in Lyon.
Sahil 在里昂留學的第一週，用結巴的法文點咖啡。
collocation: faltering [language]
Iris answered the judge's questions in a faltering voice that everyone in the courtroom strained to hear.
Iris 以顫抖結巴的聲音回答法官的問題，全場聽眾都得豎起耳朵才聽得清。
collocation: faltering voice
Emily gave a faltering speech at her father's funeral, pausing often to wipe her eyes.
Emily 在父親的葬禮上致詞時話語斷續，頻頻停下來擦眼淚。
With faltering words, Christopher tried to explain why he had missed the wedding rehearsal.
Christopher 結巴地解釋自己為什麼錯過了婚禮彩排。
- halting
near-synonym; emphasizes frequent pauses
- hesitant
more general; covers any kind of uncertainty
- stammering
stronger; suggests repeating sounds involuntarily
文法句型
faltering + speech noun
用法筆記
Subject is usually a speech noun: voice, words, speech, English, French. Distinguish from sense 2 (physical movement) by checking what is faltering — speech or motion.
faltering — 動詞
1. to walk or move in a shaky, uneven way, as though about to lose balance and fall
踉蹌
走路或移動時搖晃不穩
to walk or move in a shaky, uneven way, as though about to lose balance and fall.
Sumin faltered on the last step of the stairs and grabbed the rail just in time.
Sumin 在樓梯最後一階踉蹌了一下，及時抓住扶手才沒跌倒。
intransitive: subject + falter
The exhausted runner faltered near the finish line but managed to cross it on his own feet.
筋疲力盡的跑者在終點線前踉蹌了一下，仍靠自己的雙腳跨過終點。
After the long hike, João's legs began to falter and he had to sit down on a rock.
走完長途登山後，João 的雙腿開始發軟，他只好坐在岩石上休息。
Luca faltered slightly as he carried the heavy box up the narrow staircase.
Luca 抱著沉重的箱子走上窄樓梯時，腳步微微踉蹌了一下。
文法句型
subject + falter
falter + adverb of manner
用法筆記
Intransitive only. Typically about a person, animal, or body part (legs, feet, knees). Distinguish from sense 3: this is about visible physical wobbling, not loss of confidence.
常見錯誤
2. to speak with pauses or in a shaky way because of nerves, emotion, or uncertaint
支吾
說話因緊張或情緒而斷斷續續
to speak with pauses or in a shaky way because of nerves, emotion, or uncertainty about what to say.
Gabriel faltered when the lawyer asked him to describe what happened that night.
當律師要 Gabriel 描述那晚發生的事時，他的話突然支吾起來。
intransitive: speaker subject + falter
Antonia's voice faltered as she read the names of those lost in the fire.
Antonia 唸出火災罹難者名單時，聲音逐漸顫抖斷續。
collocation: voice falters
The witness faltered over the date and had to check her diary before answering.
證人在日期上支吾了一下，必須翻看日記才能回答。
Eri began bravely but faltered halfway through her wedding speech and started to cry.
Eri 婚禮致詞開頭很勇敢，但講到一半就哽咽說不下去。
- speak clearly
phrase opposite — without hesitation
文法句型
subject + falter
falter + before / over + noun
用法筆記
Intransitive. Subject is usually 'voice', or a person mid-speech. The trigger is usually emotion or uncertainty, not a physical speech impediment.
常見錯誤
3. to become less sure, less determined, or less effective — often when facing pres
動搖
因壓力或困難而失去決心或表現
to become less sure, less determined, or less effective — often when facing pressure, doubt, or difficulty.
Defne's resolve to quit smoking began to falter after a stressful week at the office.
在辦公室壓力大的一週後，Defne 戒菸的決心開始動搖。
collocation: resolve / determination falters
Quan's faith in the project did not falter even when funding ran out twice.
即使資金兩度斷炊，Quan 對這項計畫的信心也未曾動搖。
negative: did not falter
The team's performance began to falter in the second half of the season.
球隊的表現在球季下半段開始走下坡。
Sahil refused to falter in the face of his classmates' open mockery.
Sahil 面對同學公開的嘲笑，拒絕讓自己的意志動搖。
文法句型
subject + falter
falter + in the face of + noun
用法筆記
Intransitive. Subject is usually an abstract noun for resolve, faith, support, performance, or an organization. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about losing inner strength, not physical balance.
常見錯誤
faltering — 名詞
1. a brief moment of hesitation or unsteadiness, especially in someone's voice, ste
猶疑
短暫的遲疑或不穩
a brief moment of hesitation or unsteadiness, especially in someone's voice, steps, or determination.
Iris finished her speech without a faltering, even though her hands were shaking.
Iris 完成演講時沒有一絲猶疑，儘管她的雙手仍在顫抖。
phrase: without a faltering
Emily noticed a slight faltering in her father's voice when he mentioned the old house.
Emily 注意到父親提到那棟老房子時，聲音裡有一絲猶疑。
collocation: a faltering in someone's voice
There was no faltering in Christopher's steps as he carried the trophy across the stage.
Christopher 捧著獎盃走過舞台時，腳步沒有一絲猶疑。
After a moment's faltering, Luca pressed the doorbell and waited for someone to answer.
稍微猶疑了一下後，Luca 按下門鈴，等待有人來應門。
- hesitation
much more common in everyday English
- wavering
stresses an unsteady, moving-back-and-forth quality
- pause
more neutral; does not imply uncertainty
- confidence
the opposite — full assurance without pause
- steadiness
firm continuation without break
文法句型
a faltering in/of + noun
without faltering
用法筆記
Rare in everyday speech — most contexts use the verb form or 'hesitation' instead. Frequently appears in literary or formal writing, often after 'without' or 'a slight'.