gestural
/ˈdʒes.tʃə.rəl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdʒes.tʃɚ.əl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈjes-chə-rəl ˈjesh-/ (ame, mw)
gestural — 形容詞
- gesturalpositive
- more gesturalcomparative
- most gesturalsuperlative
1. involving the use of the hands, arms, face, or other parts of the body to commun
手勢的；肢體
用手或身體動作傳達意念的
involving the use of the hands, arms, face, or other parts of the body to communicate a feeling or idea, often without or in addition to words
The dancer's gestural language told the story of a mother's loss and hope without speaking a single word.
那位舞者用肢體語言訴說一位母親失去與希望的故事，沒有說出任何一句話。
'gestural language' — body movements used as a communication system
Some animals rely on gestural signals such as ear-flicking or tail-wagging rather than sounds to warn others of danger.
有些動物依賴肢體訊號——例如甩耳朵或搖尾巴——而非聲音來警告同伴危險。
collocation: gestural signals
The acting teacher asked students to show anger through gestural expressions like clenched fists and sharp head turns.
在表演工作坊中，老師要求學生只用握拳、猛力轉頭等手勢動作來表達憤怒。
- non-verbal
broader term covering facial expression, posture, and eye contact, not just hand/body movements
- bodily
more general — refers to any physical movement, not necessarily communicative
用法筆記
Typically used before a noun (gestural language, gestural communication). The simple noun gesture is far more common in everyday English.
常見錯誤
2. describing an action that is performed mainly to show a feeling or intention, bu
象徵性的
僅表示心意缺乏實質效果
describing an action that is performed mainly to show a feeling or intention, but which has little real or practical effect or result
The mayor's visit to the flooded neighborhood was largely gestural — no emergency funds were released afterwards.
市長視察淹水社區的行動基本上是象徵性的——事後並未撥出任何緊急救助金。
collocation: largely gestural — used to dismiss an action as symbolic only
Critics called the company's one-time donation a gestural move meant to improve its public image, not its business practices.
評論者稱該公司的一次性捐款只是做做樣子，用意是改善公眾形象，而非改變商業做法。
The committee's public apology felt gestural rather than sincere, because no one was held responsible for the mistake.
委員會的公開道歉感覺流於形式而非真誠，因為沒有人為此錯誤承擔責任。
- symbolic
neutral tone — can be positive or negative; 'gestural' is more dismissive
- token
similar dismissiveness, often in 'token gesture'; slightly more common than 'gestural'
- performative
implies the action is done for public effect rather than genuine belief, often in political contexts
- substantive
having real, practical content or effect
- meaningful
carrying genuine significance or concrete results
用法筆記
This sense carries a mildly critical tone — calling something 'gestural' implies it is not backed by meaningful action. Frequently used with 'largely', 'merely', or 'purely'.
3. describing abstract paintings created with large, free, energetic movements of t
表現性筆觸的
抽象繪畫中自由奔放的筆法
describing abstract paintings created with large, free, energetic movements of the brush or hands to express emotion, often leaving visible traces of the physical act of painting on the canvas
The gallery's new exhibit features gestural abstract works where the artist's sweeping arm movements are visible in every bold brushstroke.
畫廊的新展覽展出多幅表現性筆觸的抽象作品，藝術家大幅揮動手臂的動勢在每一筆粗獷的筆觸中清晰可見。
collocation: gestural abstract — domain-specific art term
Lee Krasner's gestural painting style lets the rhythm of her body shape the composition.
Lee Krasner 的表現性筆觸繪畫風格讓身體的韻律來塑造畫作構圖。
Gestural art values the creative process over the finished image, treating each drip as a record of the artist's energy.
表現性筆觸的藝術看重創作過程勝過完成的作品，將每一滴顏料視為藝術家能量的紀錄。
- action-based
associated with 'action painting' (Jackson Pollock's technique); similar meaning but less common
- expressive
broader term — any art that conveys emotion, not necessarily through physical brushwork
- controlled
describes precise, careful brushwork rather than free, energetic strokes
- minimalist
deliberately restrained and simple, the opposite of energetic gestural marks
用法筆記
Used mainly in art criticism and art history. Often paired with 'abstract' (gestural abstraction) or 'painting' (gestural painting). Sometimes called 'action painting' by American critics of the 1950s.