jaw
/dʒɔː/ (bre, ipa) · /dʒɔː/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈjȯ/ (ame, mw) · /dʒɑː/ (ame, ipa)
jaw — 名詞
- jawsingular
- jawsplural
1. the bottom part of a person's or animal's face, below the mouth, that contains t
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
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。
Resting her chin on her hand, Sumin felt her jaw relax to the music.
Sumin 用手托著下巴，隨著音樂感覺下頷漸漸放鬆。
His jaw went stiff from tension during the long job interview.
在漫長的面試過程中，他的下頷因緊張而變得僵硬。
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
2. one of a pair of curved bones inside the mouth that support the teeth and shape
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
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。
In mammals the lower jaw contains a single bone called the mandible.
哺乳動物的下顎骨只有一根骨頭，稱為 mandible。
Christopher needed surgery to fix a problem in his upper jaw bone.
Christopher 需要動手術來修復上顎骨的問題。
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
3. the mouth of an animal, especially one that is large or frightening, thought of
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
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。
The dog's jaw trembled as it carried the stick back for its owner.
那隻狗的嘴部顫抖著，把樹枝叼回去給主人。
The tiger held the meat tight in its jaws and walked away slowly.
老虎用嘴緊緊叼住那塊肉，慢慢地走開了。
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
4. a part on a device that presses against another part to grip, cut, or hold items
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
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。
The wrench has adjustable jaws that can fit different sizes of nut.
這把扳手有可調式鉗口，適合不同尺寸的螺帽。
Pim set the drill bit tightly between the chuck jaws before starting the motor.
Pim 在啟動馬達前，將鑽頭牢牢地裝進夾頭鉗口中。
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
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
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
Beatrix found herself in the jaws of a financial crisis that nearly destroyed her business.
Beatrix 陷入金融危機的險境，她的生意差點全盤垮掉。
The small bank was pulled from the jaws of collapse by a government loan.
那家小銀行靠一筆政府貸款才從倒閉邊緣被救了回來。
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
6. a long, friendly conversation, especially one about everyday matters that is not
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
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。
The old men met for a jaw at the cafe every Saturday morning.
老先生們每星期六早上都會在咖啡館碰面聊聊天。
Ife and Vivek had a quick jaw between classes about their weekend plans.
Ife 和 Vivek 在課間抽空聊了幾句週末的計劃。
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
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
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。
The train disappeared into the jaws of the tunnel and the noise faded away.
火車消失在隧道的入口中，轟隆聲漸漸遠去。
The hikers camped just outside the jaws of the canyon, sheltered from the wind.
那群登山者在峽谷的入口外紮營，避開了強風。
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.
jaw — 動詞
- jawpresent simple I / you / we / they
- jaws3rd person singular
- jawing-ing form
- jawedpast simple
1. to speak at great length, usually in a relaxed manner about everyday subjects
閒扯
長時間輕鬆地聊天
to speak at great length, usually in a relaxed manner about everyday subjects
The neighbours jawed about the weather and local gossip for an hour.
兩個鄰居站在籬笆旁，聊了超過一個小時的天氣和地方新聞。
jaw + about [topic]
Élise and her cousin jawed on the phone until late into the night.
Élise 和表妹在電話上聊到深夜。
The old men jawed away the afternoon on the park bench, watching people go by.
老先生們坐在公園長椅上閒扯了一整個下午，看著來往的行人。
Hamza and Ife jawed about football for hours after the match ended.
Hamza 和 Ife 聊了好幾個小時的足球，比賽結束後還在講。
文法句型
jaw + (about something)
jaw + on
用法筆記
Always intransitive — you 'jaw about' something, or 'jaw with' someone. You cannot 'jaw something' (no direct object). More common in British and Australian English than American.
常見錯誤
2. to speak to someone in an angry or annoyed way, usually to criticise or complain
斥責
生氣地指責或抱怨
to speak to someone in an angry or annoyed way, usually to criticise or complain about their behaviour
The manager jawed at the staff for arriving late to the meeting.
經理斥責員工早上開會遲到。
jaw + at + someone (angry talk)
Gita's grandmother jawed her for not calling home while she was travelling.
Gita 的祖母責備她旅行期間沒有打電話回家。
The coach jawed the players in the locker room after their poor game.
教練在更衣室裡訓斥球員，因為他們在場上的表現不佳。
Adina's dad jawed at her for leaving the front door unlocked all night.
Adina 的爸爸責備她讓大門整晚沒鎖。
- praise
to express approval, the opposite of criticising
文法句型
jaw + at + someone
用法筆記
Can be used transitively ('jaw someone' = scold someone) or with 'at' ('jaw at someone'). The 'at' version emphasises the direction of the anger rather than the effect on the person.