hone
hone — 動詞
- honepresent simple I / you / we / they
- honeshe / she / it
- honedpast simple
- honing-ing form
1. to rub a blade or metal edge against a rough stone or similar surface so that it
磨利；磨刀
在石上磨刀刃使之鋒利
to rub a blade or metal edge against a rough stone or similar surface so that it cuts better
Élise spent Sunday morning honing the kitchen knives on a whetstone.
Élise 在週日早上用磨刀石磨利廚房刀具。
collocation: hone + knives + on a whetstone
Before cutting the vegetables, Daichi honed the blade until it was razor-sharp.
切菜前，Daichi 把刀刃磨到像剃刀一樣鋒利。
A good chef hones their knives every few days to keep them in top condition.
好的廚師每隔幾天就會磨刀，以保持最佳狀態。
frequency adverb: every few days
The barber honed his straight razor on a leather strop after each customer.
那位理髮師每次服務完顧客，都會在皮革磨刀帶上磨利直剃刀。
- hone a knife
- hone a blade
- hone an edge
- hone on a stone
- hone with a strop
- sharpen
the general-purpose term; 'hone' is more specific to the tool (a stone) and the slow, careful action
- whet
more formal or literary, and less common in everyday speech; 'whet' can also mean 'stimulate' (whet one's appetite)
- grind
involves removing more metal and often using a spinning wheel; 'grind' is more forceful than 'hone'
- blunt
to make a blade less sharp
文法句型
hone + [blade/tool] + on/with + [stone/implement]
用法筆記
The object is always a blade or cutting tool; the sharpening implement is typically introduced with 'on' or 'with.'
常見錯誤
2. to keep practising and improving a skill or ability over time until it reaches a
磨練；精進
透過不斷練習讓技能臻於完善
to keep practising and improving a skill or ability over time until it reaches a very high level
Romi spent years honing her public speaking skills before running for office.
Romi 花了好幾年磨練公開演講技巧，才去參選公職。
collocation: hone + public speaking skills
The young pianist honed her technique through hours of daily practice.
那位年輕鋼琴家每天練習好幾個小時來精進演奏技巧。
Emre honed his writing style by working with an experienced editor.
Emre 透過與經驗豐富的編輯合作來精進自己的寫作風格。
collocation: hone + writing style + by working with
Constanza took advanced classes to hone her negotiation skills at work.
Constanza 報名進階課程，以磨練自己在職場上的談判能力。
- hone a skill
- hone a technique
- hone a craft
- hone an ability
- hone one's talent
- refine
emphasises making small, careful improvements to remove flaws; slightly more formal than 'hone'
- sharpen
in figurative use, 'sharpen' suggests increasing mental acuity or quickness; 'hone' implies patient, long-term refinement
- polish
focuses on final touches to make something already good into something excellent
- cultivate
suggests developing a quality from an early stage, like tending a plant; broader and less specific than 'hone'
- neglect
to fail to give attention to a skill, causing it to weaken
文法句型
hone + [skill/technique]
用法筆記
Frequently followed by nouns like skill, technique, craft, talent, or ability. The focus is on gradual improvement through sustained effort rather than quick results.
常見錯誤
hone — 名詞
1. a block of very hard, fine-grained stone that is used for sharpening blades and
磨刀石
磨利刀刃的細質石塊
a block of very hard, fine-grained stone that is used for sharpening blades and cutting tools
The carpenter kept a fine-grained hone in his workshop for sharpening chisels.
那位木匠在工作坊裡放了一塊細質磨刀石，用來磨利鑿子。
noun modifier: fine-grained + hone
Tunde rinsed the hone with water before running the blade across its surface.
Tunde 先用水沖洗磨刀石，然後才把刀刃在石面上來回磨利。
A quality hone can last for decades if cleaned and stored properly.
品質好的磨刀石如果妥善清潔存放，可以用上好幾十年。
Kemi bought a small, fine hone for keeping her wood-carving tools sharp.
Kemi 買了一塊細質小磨刀石，用來保持木雕刀具的鋒利。
- fine-grained hone
- use a hone
- a hone for razors
- clean the hone
- whetstone
the more common everyday word for a sharpening stone; 'hone' is slightly more technical
- sharpening stone
a general descriptive term that covers all types; less specific than 'hone'
用法筆記
Less common in everyday conversation than the synonym 'whetstone'. In craft contexts, 'hone' often refers specifically to fine-grained stones used for precision tools such as razors and chisels.
常見錯誤
同根字
- honed形容詞B2