importune

IPA/ˌɪmpɔːˈtjuːn/
IPA/ˌɪmpɔːrˈtuːn/

importune — 動詞

  • importunepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • importuneshe / she / it
  • importunedpast simple
  • importuning-ing form

1. to push someone into doing what you want by asking them over and over until they

1.動詞及物 / 不及物C1
釋義

纏擾；強求

令人厭煩地一再要求

to push someone into doing what you want by asking them over and over until they give in.

例句

Nora's elderly neighbour importuned her every afternoon to help carry his shopping bags upstairs.

Nora 的年長鄰居每天下午都纏著她，要她幫忙把購物袋提上樓。

importune + person + to-infinitive

During the elections, voters were constantly importuned by campaign workers handing out flyers.

選舉期間，選民經常被發傳單的競選工作人員纏住。

passive: be importuned + by + agent

同義詞
  • pester

    more common and less formal; everyday word for annoying repetition

  • badger

    implies repeatedly trying to persuade someone, often with questions rather than requests

  • harass

    stronger and suggests intimidating or aggressive pressure

  • nag

    less formal; suggests persistent complaining rather than requesting

反義詞
  • leave alone

    to stop bothering someone entirely

  • respect

    to show consideration for someone's time and wishes rather than pushing

文法句型

importune + person + to-infinitive

importune + person + for + thing

be importuned + by + agent

用法筆記

Frequently used in passive constructions. In everyday conversation, 'pester' or 'nag' is more natural; 'importune' belongs to formal or written registers.

常見錯誤

❌She importuned me for a small favour.
✅She asked me for a small favour.
💡'Importune' is too strong for a simple, polite, one-time request; it implies annoying repetition.
❌The child importuned his mother constantly.
✅The child pestered his mother constantly.
💡'Pester' or 'nag' is more natural for everyday situations; 'importune' sounds overly formal.

2. to offer payment in exchange for sex, or to seek someone willing to have sex for

2.動詞及物C2
釋義

拉客

以金錢換取性服務

to offer payment in exchange for sex, or to seek someone willing to have sex for money — used especially in legal contexts about prostitution.

例句

Police arrested a man for importuning an undercover officer near a nightclub.

警方逮捕了一名男子，他在夜店附近向一名便衣警員拉客。

legal context: importune + person + in + location

Ryo was charged after witnesses saw him importuning several passers-by for sex.

Ryo 被起訴，因為有目擊者看到他向多名路人拉客。

importune + person + for + thing

同義詞
  • solicit

    the standard modern legal term for offering sex for money

  • proposition

    more direct and less formal; can be used outside legal contexts

文法句型

importune + person

importune + person + in + location

importune + person + for + sexual act

用法筆記

Primarily a legal term in British English. Historically, 'importuning for immoral purposes' was a specific criminal offence. This sense is distinct from sense 1 — it refers specifically to the exchange of money for sex, not to any general act of persistent asking.

常見錯誤

❌The man was charged with importuning a taxi.
✅The man was charged with importuning a woman on the street.
💡'Importune' in this sense refers to soliciting a person for sex, not hailing a vehicle.

importune — 形容詞