gentle
/ˈdʒentl/ (bre, ipa) · [dʒˈɛntəl] /ˈdʒentl/ (ame, ipa) · [dʒˈɛntəl] /ˈjen-tᵊl/ (ame, mw) · /ˈdʒen.təl/ (bre, ipa) · [dʒˈɛntəl] /ˈdʒen.t̬əl/ (ame, ipa)
gentle — 形容詞
- gentlepositive
- gentlercomparative
- gentlestsuperlative
1. having a way of behaving that is soft, caring, and never harsh or violent toward
溫柔的
性情溫和友善，不粗暴
having a way of behaving that is soft, caring, and never harsh or violent towards others
Tendai picked up the crying kitten with a gentle hand.
Tendai 用溫柔的手捧起那隻哭泣的小貓。
collocation: gentle hand
The way Jenna speaks to her students is always gentle and patient.
Jenna 對學生說話的態度總是溫柔又有耐心。
That big dog is surprisingly gentle around young children.
那隻大狗在小孩子身邊竟然出奇地溫柔。
Christopher's gentle smile helped everyone in the waiting room feel less nervous.
Christopher 溫柔的微笑讓候診室裡的每個人都覺得沒那麼緊張了。
An elderly neighbour wrote a gentle note of thanks to the firefighters.
一位年長的鄰居寫了一封溫柔的感謝信給消防隊員。
用法筆記
Frequently used to describe a person's voice, touch, smile, or manner, especially in caregiving or teaching contexts.
常見錯誤
2. small in force, degree, or effect; not extreme, strong, or harsh
溫和的
力度或程度不大的
small in force, degree, or effect; not extreme, strong, or harsh
The doctor recommended some gentle exercise like slow walking.
醫生建議做些溫和的運動，例如慢慢散步。
collocation: gentle exercise
A gentle breeze moved the leaves on the cherry tree.
一陣溫和的微風吹動了櫻花樹上的葉子。
collocation: gentle breeze
This face cream is gentle enough for sensitive skin.
這款面霜性質溫和，適合敏感性肌膚。
Anya put the casserole in the oven at a gentle heat.
Anya 把砂鍋放進烤箱，用小火加熱。
用法筆記
Commonly modifies nouns like 'exercise', 'breeze', 'heat', 'soap', or 'slope'. Compare with sense 1 (CALM AND KIND), which describes personal manner rather than physical force or intensity.
常見錯誤
3. rising or falling at a slow, even angle, without a sharp or sudden change in hei
平緩的
坡度不大、角度和緩的
rising or falling at a slow, even angle, without a sharp or sudden change in height
Felix pushed his bike up the gentle hill behind the school.
Felix 推著腳踏車走上學校後面那道平緩的山坡。
collocation: gentle hill
The path follows a gentle curve through the pine forest.
那條小路順著一道平緩的彎道穿過松林。
A gentle slope leads down to the riverbank from the house.
一道平緩的斜坡從房子一直延伸到河岸邊。
Eli's wheelchair uses the gentle ramp at the side entrance.
Eli 的輪椅走的是側門那道平緩的無障礙坡道。
用法筆記
Primarily describes physical gradients — slopes, hills, ramps, stairs, or inclines. Not used for temperature, personality, or intensity.
常見錯誤
4. naturally calm and willing to follow instructions; easy to control, manage, or h
溫馴的
易於控制或管理的
naturally calm and willing to follow instructions; easy to control, manage, or handle
After weeks of training, the horse became gentle enough for beginners to ride.
經過幾週訓練之後，那匹馬變得夠溫馴，可以讓初學者騎了。
adj/4 meaning: gentle enough for beginners
The shepherd picked the most gentle sheep from the flock for the petting zoo.
牧羊人從羊群中挑了最溫馴的那隻羊送進寵物動物區。
Élise needs a gentle pony that will not shy away from children.
Élise 需要一匹溫馴的小馬，不會看見小孩就受驚跑開。
The riding instructor chose the gentlest pony in the stable for the children's class.
馬術教練從馬廄裡選了最溫馴的那匹小馬來給兒童班上課。
用法筆記
Most often applied to animals (horses, dogs, sheep) or their temperament. In modern English, less common than sense 1. Distinguish from sense 1 (CALM AND KIND): this sense focuses on manageability and obedience rather than affectionate manner.
常見錯誤
5. connected with or typical of the upper class in society, especially families wit
高貴的
出身貴族、有社會地位的
connected with or typical of the upper class in society, especially families with inherited titles; showing the refined qualities once expected of noble birth
The countess came from a family of gentle blood that could be traced back centuries.
那位女伯爵出身高貴，家族血統可以追溯到數百年前。
phrase: gentle blood
In old novels, characters of gentle birth often marry within their own social circle.
在舊小說裡，出身高貴的角色通常只在自己的社交圈內結婚。
phrase: gentle birth
The manor was built for a family of gentle standing in the eighteenth century.
那座莊園是在十八世紀為一個貴族家族建造的。
In Shakespeare's plays, characters often speak of honour and gentle lineage.
在莎士比亞的戲劇裡，角色們經常談論榮譽與高貴的門第。
- noble
More common and broader term for aristocratic status
- well-born
Historical; emphasises being born into a high-status family
- aristocratic
Direct and unambiguous; refers to the social class itself
用法筆記
An older, literary sense that is rare in modern everyday English. Survives mainly in fixed historical phrases such as 'people of gentle birth', 'gentle blood', and 'gentle breeding'. Compare with sense 1 (CALM AND KIND): the original meaning of 'gentle' was 'of noble family', and the modern 'kind' sense developed from the idea that nobles should behave nobly.
常見錯誤
gentle — 動詞
- gentlepresent simple I / you / we / they
- gentles3rd person singular
- gentling-ing form
- gentledpast simple
1. to use patient, trust-building methods to turn a wild or frightened horse into a
馴服
用溫和方式訓練馬匹
to use patient, trust-building methods to turn a wild or frightened horse into a calm and safe one
It took Emre three months to gentle the young stallion from the mountains.
Emre 花了三個月馴服那匹來自山區的年輕公馬。
The rancher specialises in gentling horses that have never been touched by a human before.
那位牧場主專門馴服從未被任何人碰過的野馬。
gerund: gentling horses
Sofia watched the trainer gentle the frightened colt with slow, calm movements.
Sofia 看著訓練師用緩慢而平靜的動作馴服那匹受驚的小馬。
Vivek learned how to gentle a horse by first letting it sniff his hand through the fence.
Vivek 學會了如何馴服一匹馬：先讓牠隔著柵欄聞自己的手。
- tame
Broader term for any wild animal; does not necessarily imply kindness
- break in
Informal; focuses on making a horse accept a rider or harness
- domesticate
Refers to a whole species, not an individual animal
文法句型
gentle + noun phrase
用法筆記
Primarily used in the context of horse training and animal handling. The method implied is one of trust-building rather than dominance. Less commonly used for other animals.
常見錯誤
2. to make someone who is angry, upset, or afraid feel calm and peaceful again
安撫
使人從生氣或難過中平靜下來
to make someone who is angry, upset, or afraid feel calm and peaceful again
The manager tried to gentle the angry customers with a sincere apology.
那位經理誠摯道歉，試圖安撫生氣的顧客。
Hao's soothing words gentled the frightened child until her tears stopped.
Hao 安慰的話語讓受驚的孩子平靜下來，直到她不再流淚。
past tense: gentled
Nothing can gentle his temper once he feels that he has been treated unfairly.
一旦他覺得自己受到不公平的對待，什麼都安撫不了他的脾氣。
The mediator gentled the tense meeting with a calm request for everyone to speak one at a time.
調解人用平靜的口氣請在場的人一個一個發言，安撫了緊繃的會議氣氛。
文法句型
gentle + noun phrase (person)
用法筆記
Formal or literary in register. More common in written narrative than in everyday conversation. In modern English, 'calm', 'soothe', or 'pacify' are more frequent alternatives.
常見錯誤
3. to rub or touch an animal or person with a slow, soft hand movement, especially
輕撫
用手輕柔撫摸以表達關愛
to rub or touch an animal or person with a slow, soft hand movement, especially to give comfort or show affection
Mira gentled the cat's fur while it purred on her lap.
Mira 輕撫著貓咪的毛，牠在她的腿上發出咕嚕聲。
pattern: gentle + animal's body part
The old man gentled his grandson's hair until the boy drifted off to sleep.
那位老先生輕撫著孫子的頭髮，直到男孩沉沉睡去。
Sahil gentled the nervous dog by stroking behind its ears.
Sahil 輕撫那隻緊張的狗耳後部位，讓牠放鬆下來。
Putri gentled the scared rabbit until it stopped trembling in her hands.
Putri 輕撫著受驚的兔子，直到牠在她手中不再發抖。
文法句型
gentle + noun phrase (animal or person)
用法筆記
An uncommon but vivid verb. Often describes affectionate physical contact with pets or children. In modern English, 'pet', 'stroke', or 'touch gently' are far more frequent.
常見錯誤
4. to officially confer a noble title upon a person, raising them into the titled u
封爵
授予貴族頭銜
to officially confer a noble title upon a person, raising them into the titled upper class
The king gentled the general after the battle, making him a baron.
國王在戰後封那位將軍為爵，授予他男爵之位。
In the nineteenth century, wealthy merchants were sometimes gentled for their service to the crown.
在十九世紀，富有的商人有時會因對王室的貢獻而被封爵。
passive: were gentled for [reason]
Only the monarch had the power to gentle a subject in the old peerage system.
在過去的貴族制度中，只有君主才有權力為臣民封爵。
The historian found a record of a merchant who was gentled by Queen Elizabeth I.
歷史學家找到了一份記錄，記載著一名商人曾受伊莉莎白一世女王封爵。
- ennoble
The standard modern verb; broader — can also mean morally elevating
- knight
Specific to the rank of knight; still used in the UK honours system
- elevate to the peerage
The formal legal phrase; very formal
文法句型
be gentled + title/by [monarch]
用法筆記
Rare in modern English outside of historical writing. The more common modern verb is 'ennoble' or 'knight'. This sense is historically connected to the original meaning of 'gentle' (sense 5, adjective: of noble birth), as the verb literally means 'to make gentle' in the old sense.