jaw

jaw — 名詞

IPA/dʒɔː/
KK[dʒˈɔ]IPA/dʒɔː/
  • jawsingular
  • jawsplural

1. the bottom part of a person's or animal's face, below the mouth, that contains t

1.名詞A2
釋義

下頷

嘴巴下方能活動的臉部部位

the bottom part of a person's or animal's face, below the mouth, that contains the lower teeth and moves up and down when speaking or eating

例句

Pim clenched his jaw tightly when the doctor gave him the injection.

醫生為 Pim 打針時,他緊緊咬住下頷。

collocation: clench your jaw (showing tension)

The boxer's jaw was swollen after receiving a punch in the final round.

那名拳擊手在最後一回合被擊中後,下頷腫了起來。

常見搭配
  • clench your jaw
  • set your jaw
  • square your jaw
  • jaw muscles
  • broken jaw
同義詞
  • chin

    refers only to the bony front tip of the lower jaw, not the whole moving structure

  • mandible

    formal anatomical term for the lower jaw bone; uncommon in everyday speech

用法筆記

The jaw moves when you talk, eat, or show emotion. Expressions like 'clench one's jaw' or 'set one's jaw' indicate anger, tension, or determination.

常見錯誤

I hurt my chin when I fell.' (when meaning the bone below the mouth).
I hurt my jaw when I fell.
'chin' is the front tip of the jaw; 'jaw' includes the whole moving part.

2. one of a pair of curved bones inside the mouth that support the teeth and shape

2.名詞B1
釋義

顎骨

口腔內支撐牙齒的骨頭

one of a pair of curved bones inside the mouth that support the teeth and shape the mouth opening

例句

The dentist examined Gita's upper jaw and found a small cavity near her back tooth.

牙醫檢查了 Gita 的上顎骨,發現後方牙齒附近有一個小蛀洞。

collocation: upper jaw / lower jaw

Adina's lower jaw was wired shut for six weeks after the surgery.

Adina 的下顎骨在術後被鋼絲固定了六週。

常見搭配
  • upper jaw
  • lower jaw
  • broken jaw
  • jaw fracture
  • jawbone
同義詞
  • jawbone

    everyday word for the bone of the jaw; identical in meaning

  • mandible

    formal term for the lower jawbone only; not used for the upper jaw

  • maxilla

    anatomical term for the upper jawbone; very technical

用法筆記

Often preceded by 'upper' or 'lower' to specify which of the two bones. In anatomy, the lower jaw bone is called the mandible and the upper jaw bone is the maxilla.

常見錯誤

The doctor said I broke my chin bone.
The doctor said I broke my jawbone.
the bone that holds your teeth is the jaw, not the chin.

3. the mouth of an animal, especially one that is large or frightening, thought of

3.名詞B1
釋義

獸口

動物(尤其是大型猛獸)的嘴巴

the mouth of an animal, especially one that is large or frightening, thought of as an opening that can bite or grab

例句

The crocodile's powerful jaws snapped shut as it caught the fish.

鱷魚強而有力的嘴巴啪地一聲合上,咬住了那條魚。

usually plural for animal mouth

The lioness carried her cub gently in her jaws to a safer spot.

母獅用嘴巴輕輕叼起幼獅,帶到一個更安全的地方。

常見搭配
  • powerful jaws
  • snapping jaws
  • in its jaws
  • jaws of a ...
同義詞
  • mouth

    broader term for any animal's mouth; 'jaws' emphasises the biting power and toothy opening

  • maw

    literary word for an animal's mouth or stomach, especially a large one; rare in everyday use

用法筆記

For large or frightening animals, 'jaws' (plural) is more common than 'jaw'. The singular form can be used when referring to one side of the mouth.

常見錯誤

The shark opened its jaw wide.
The shark opened its jaws wide.
for large dangerous animals, the plural 'jaws' is the standard form.

4. a part on a device that presses against another part to grip, cut, or hold items

4.名詞B2
釋義

鉗口

工具或機器上可開合的夾持部件

a part on a device that presses against another part to grip, cut, or hold items firmly

例句

The mechanic adjusted the vice jaws so they held the metal pipe without crushing it.

技師調整了虎鉗的鉗口,讓它能夾住金屬管但又不會壓扁它。

mechanical context: tool parts that grip

Nia carefully placed the wooden block between the clamp jaws and tightened the screw.

Nia 小心翼翼地將木塊放進夾具的鉗口中,然後旋緊螺絲。

常見搭配
  • jaws of a vice
  • jaws of a clamp
  • adjustable jaws
  • gripping jaws
同義詞
  • grip

    refers to the holding action rather than the physical parts; 'jaws' are the parts that create the grip

  • clamp

    a device that uses jaws to hold things; can refer to the whole tool rather than just the gripping parts

用法筆記

Typically used in the plural ('jaws') when referring to the pair of gripping parts. Common in descriptions of workshop tools (vice, clamp, pliers, wrench) and industrial machinery.

5. a dangerous or unpleasant situation from which someone or something is barely ab

5.名詞C1
釋義

險境

幾乎難以逃脫的危險局面

a dangerous or unpleasant situation from which someone or something is barely able to escape, as if caught in the mouth of a predator

例句

The rescue team pulled the climbers from the jaws of death before the avalanche hit.

搜救隊在雪崩襲來前一刻,將登山者從鬼門關拉了回來。

idiomatic phrase: the jaws of death

The team snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a last-minute goal.

這支球隊在最後一分鐘踢進一球,絕地逢生逆轉獲勝。

idiomatic phrase: snatch victory from the jaws of defeat

常見搭配
  • the jaws of death
  • the jaws of defeat
  • from the jaws of
  • in the jaws of
同義詞
  • clutches

    similar figurative meaning of being caught in a dangerous situation; 'the clutches of' implies being held, while 'jaws' emphasises being about to be consumed

  • grip

    can be figurative ('the grip of fear'); less vivid than 'jaws'

用法筆記

Almost always appears in fixed figurative phrases: 'the jaws of death', 'the jaws of defeat', 'the jaws of a crisis'. The image is of being caught in a predator's mouth and barely escaping.

常見錯誤

He escaped from death's jaw.
He escaped from the jaws of death.
this sense always uses the plural 'jaws' and the structure 'the jaws of [something bad]'.

6. a long, friendly conversation, especially one about everyday matters that is not

6.名詞C1
釋義

閒聊

長時間的非正式談話

a long, friendly conversation, especially one about everyday matters that is not very serious

例句

Christopher had a good jaw with his neighbour about the local election results.

Christopher 和鄰居聊了好一會兒地方選舉的結果。

informal use: have a jaw

The two friends sat on the porch and enjoyed a long jaw about old times.

兩位老朋友坐在門廊上,愉快地聊起他們學生時代的往事。

常見搭配
  • have a jaw
  • a long jaw
  • a good jaw
同義詞
  • chat

    the standard neutral word for an informal conversation; 'jaw' is more old-fashioned and colloquial

  • natter

    British informal word for chatting casually about unimportant matters; similar register

用法筆記

Chiefly British informal use. Often appears in the phrase 'have a jaw' meaning 'have a chat'. Less common in American English, where 'chat' or 'talk' is preferred.

7. the narrow opening or entrance to a cave, tunnel, valley, or other enclosed spac

7.名詞C1
釋義

洞口

洞穴或隧道等空間的狹窄入口

the narrow opening or entrance to a cave, tunnel, valley, or other enclosed space, especially one that seems dangerous or threatening

例句

The explorers stepped into the jaws of the cave, torches cutting through the dark.

探險者走進洞穴的入口,手電筒的光劃破前方的黑暗。

the jaws of [a cave/tunnel/valley]

The narrow road passed through the jaws of the mountain pass with steep cliffs.

那條狹窄的道路穿過山隘的窄口,兩旁盡是陡峭的懸崖。

常見搭配
  • the jaws of the cave
  • the jaws of the tunnel
  • the jaws of the valley
同義詞
  • mouth

    can mean the entrance to a cave ('the mouth of the cave'); less dramatic than 'jaws'

  • entrance

    neutral word for any opening; 'jaws' adds a sense of danger or threat

用法筆記

Always uses the plural form 'jaws' in the structure 'the jaws of + [geographical feature]'. Literary or dramatic in tone; not used in everyday conversation.

慣用語

used to describe a moment when someone is suddenly very surprised, shocked, or amazed

瞠目結舌;驚訝得下巴都掉了

When Vivek heard the price of the apartment, his jaw nearly hit the floor.

My jaw dropped when I saw how much weight Ife had lost since the summer.

a situation in which someone is about to die or face something extremely dangerous, but is saved at the last moment

死亡邊緣;鬼門關

The firefighters pulled the child from the jaws of death just as the building collapsed.

The hikers were rescued from the jaws of death after three days lost in the frozen mountains.

to win or succeed at the very last moment when it seemed certain that you would lose or fail

絕地逢生;逆轉勝

The team snatched victory from the jaws of defeat by scoring twice in the final three minutes.

Hamza snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when he won the debate with a final powerful argument.

This expression describes a person's sudden look of surprise, shock, or disappointment.

某人驚訝得目瞪口呆

When Maya heard the news, her jaw dropped in disbelief.

Did your jaw sag when you saw the final score?

This phrase refers to a very dangerous or unpleasant situation that someone barely avoids.

死亡/失敗的邊緣

The hiker escaped from the jaws of death by a narrow margin.

The team pulled victory from the jaws of defeat in the last minute.

This expression means the narrow entrance to a tunnel or similar place, often seeming dangerous.

隧道口等狹窄入口

The car slowly entered the jaws of the dark tunnel.

Standing at the jaws of the cave, Diego felt a chill.

jaw — 動詞

IPA/dʒɔː/
KK[dʒˈɔ]IPA/dʒɑː/

同根字

  • jawbone
    名詞B1
  • jaw-dropping
    形容詞C1
  • jaw-droppingly
    副詞C1
  • jawless
    形容詞C2

常見搭配

名詞搭配

常用片語

  • jaws of death
  • jaws of defeat
  • jaw-dropping
  • jaw-droppingly

介系詞搭配

  • in the jaws of
  • from the jaws of