hint
hint — 名詞
- hintsingular
- hintsplural
1. an indirect remark or action that reveals your thoughts or desires without stati
暗示；提示
以間接方式表達的想法或意圖
an indirect remark or action that reveals your thoughts or desires without stating them openly — for example, saying you are thirsty in the hope that someone offers you a drink
Andrew kept dropping hints about wanting a new watch for his birthday.
Andrew 一直暗示想在生日時收到一支新手錶。
drop a hint — make an indirect suggestion
Kasia gave us a hint by writing the first letter of each answer.
Kasia 在黑板上寫下每個答案的第一個字母，給了我們一個提示。
give a hint — provide an indirect clue
Sirin finally took the hint and left the room when everyone started yawning.
Sirin 終於明白那個暗示，在大家都開始打哈欠時離開了房間。
take the hint — understand and act on an indirect signal
Antonia gave her brother a subtle hint about the surprise party by mentioning the date.
Antonia 透過提到日期，給了哥哥一個關於驚喜派對的微妙暗示。
- drop a hint
- take a hint
- give a hint
- broad hint
- obvious hint
- clue
more concrete; usually points to a puzzle or problem to solve
- suggestion
more direct and less cautious than a hint
- signal
can be nonverbal and more intentional
文法句型
hint + about/as to + noun
hint + that-clause
2. a practical suggestion that makes it easier to complete a task — for example, a
秘訣；訣竅
有助於完成某事的實用建議
a practical suggestion that makes it easier to complete a task — for example, a cooking tip that saves time or exam advice that improves your score
Putri's grandmother shared some helpful hints for removing stains from clothes.
Putri 的祖母分享了一些去除衣物污漬的實用小秘訣。
helpful hints — practical advice collocation
Vivek read the gardening hints in the magazine before planting his first vegetables.
Vivek 在種下第一批蔬菜之前，先閱讀了雜誌上的園藝訣竅。
The travel website offers hints on how to save money during long holidays.
這個旅遊網站提供如何在長假中省錢的秘訣。
hints on how to — pattern for giving advice
Each chapter in the cookbook begins with useful hints for beginner chefs.
食譜的每一章都有對初學廚師很有幫助的實用訣竅。
- helpful hints
- useful hints
- gardening hints
- cooking hints
- hints on how to
文法句型
hint + on + noun/noun phrase
hint + for + noun/noun phrase
3. a barely noticeable amount of a quality, flavour, or colour — for example, a hin
微量；少許
極少量的味道、顏色或特質
a barely noticeable amount of a quality, flavour, or colour — for example, a hint of lemon in a cake or a hint of sadness in someone's voice
There was only a hint of chilli in the sauce, so it was not spicy.
醬汁裡只有少許辣椒，所以吃起來一點都不辣。
a hint of [something] — pattern for a small amount of a quality
The sky showed a hint of pink as the sun rose over the hills.
太陽從山丘升起時，天空露出了淡淡的一抹粉紅。
Femi's voice carried a soft hint of sadness when he talked about his childhood home.
Femi 談起兒時的家時，語氣中帶著一絲淡淡的悲傷。
The soup had a faint hint of garlic that reminded Eshe of her mother's kitchen.
湯裡有一絲淡淡的蒜味，讓 Eshe 想起媽媽的廚房。
- a hint of
- hint of lemon
- hint of sadness
- hint of pink
- faint hint
- mere hint
文法句型
a hint of + noun
用法筆記
Always used in the singular with 'a' before it. Followed by 'of' and a noun describing a taste, colour, emotion, or quality. Cannot be used with numbers ('two hints of lemon').
常見錯誤
4. a sign of what is likely to come or what a situation truly is — for example, fal
徵兆；跡象
預示未來情況或揭露真相的信號
a sign of what is likely to come or what a situation truly is — for example, falling sales that point to economic trouble
Falling house prices were the first hint that the local economy was slowing down.
房價下跌是當地經濟開始放緩的第一個徵兆。
first hint that — pattern for an early signal of something
The children's sudden silence was our first hint that something was wrong.
孩子們突然安靜下來，是我們發現事情不對勁的第一個跡象。
The teacher's worried expression was the only hint that the news was bad.
老師擔憂的表情是消息不好的唯一徵兆。
Piotr took the sudden quiet as a hint that the meeting was about to start.
Piotr 將突然的安靜視為會議即將開始的跡象。
- first hint that
- hint of trouble
- early hint
- clear hint
- sign
more general and broader in meaning; a hint is more subtle than a sign
- indication
more formal and neutral in tone
- clue
suggests a problem to solve rather than a future event
文法句型
a hint + that-clause
用法筆記
Often used with 'first' to mark the earliest indication of a change. Commonly followed by a that-clause explaining what is about to happen.
take a/the hint
idiomTo understand what someone wants you to do, even if they do not say it directly.
領會暗示
Maya kept looking at her watch, so I took the hint and left.
Why won't he take a hint and stop calling her every day?
hint — 動詞
- hintpresent simple I / you / we / they
- hints3rd person singular
- hinting-ing form
- hintedpast simple
1. to express your thoughts or desires through indirect words or actions — for exam
暗示；透露
以間接方式表達想法或意圖
to express your thoughts or desires through indirect words or actions — for example, glancing at your watch to suggest you need to leave
Wei hinted that he would like to visit Japan during the summer holidays.
Wei 暗示他暑假想去日本玩。
hint + that-clause — most common structure
Gabriela hinted at possible changes to the team schedule without giving details.
Gabriela 暗示團隊時程可能會有變動，但沒有說明細節。
hint at + noun — indirect reference pattern
Nala hinted about her birthday plans but refused to tell anyone the full story.
Nala 暗示了關於生日計畫的內容，但不肯透露完整的細節。
Haruto hinted broadly that he expected a promotion after finishing the big project.
Haruto 強烈暗示他希望在完成那個大型專案後獲得升遷。
- hint that
- hint at
- hint about
- strongly hint
- gently hint
- hint broadly
文法句型
hint + that-clause
hint at + noun
hint about + noun
用法筆記
Common mistake: learners often add an indirect object ('hint someone something'). This is incorrect. Use 'hint that...' (clause) or 'hint at...' (noun phrase). The passive form 'it was hinted that...' is used in formal writing.