kink

/kɪŋk/ (bre, ipa) · /kɪŋk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkiŋk/ (ame, mw)

kink — 名詞

  • kinksingular
  • kinksplural

1. a sharp twist or bend that forms in something normally straight, like a rope, wi

1.名詞B2
釋義

扭結；糾結

繩、線或管子突起的尖銳彎折

a sharp twist or bend that forms in something normally straight, like a rope, wire, or garden hose, often stopping it from working properly

例句

Nia noticed a kink in the garden hose, and the tomato plants got no water.

Nia 發現花園水管出現一個扭結，番茄叢都沒水可喝。

collocation: a kink in [something long and thin]

The electrician straightened a kink in the copper wire before pulling it through the wall.

電工把銅線上的扭結拉直，才把它穿進牆內。

同義詞
  • twist

    general; lacks the sense of being unwanted

  • bend

    broader; a bend can be intentional, a kink is not

  • loop

    a full circle shape, not a sharp doubling-over

文法句型

a kink in [something long and thin]

用法筆記

Object of 'in' is almost always a long flexible item: rope, wire, hose, cable, chain, tube. Distinguish from sense 4 (a flaw in an abstract plan or system).

常見錯誤

❌There is a kink on the rope.
✅There is a kink in the rope.
💡use 'in', not 'on', for the twisting location.

2. a tight curve or wave in someone's hair that stops it from lying flat or hanging

2.名詞C1
釋義

髮捲；捲曲

頭髮中無法垂直的緊密彎曲

a tight curve or wave in someone's hair that stops it from lying flat or hanging straight down

例句

Evelyn brushed her damp hair to smooth out the kinks before her job interview.

Evelyn 把濕髮梳順，弄平那些捲曲後才去面試。

collocation: smooth out the kinks

Years of wearing tight braids had left small kinks across the back of Paloma's head.

長期綁緊辮子，讓 Paloma 後腦勺出現一片小捲曲。

同義詞
  • curl

    broader, often deliberate styling

  • wave

    softer, longer curve than a kink

  • frizz

    general untidy texture, not single sharp curves

文法句型

kinks in [someone's] hair

用法筆記

Plural 'kinks' is far more common than singular for this sense. Usually paired with verbs of smoothing or removing.

3. a sore, stiff patch inside the muscles around your neck, back, or shoulder that

3.名詞B2
釋義

落枕；痠痛

脖子、背或肩膀僵硬刺痛的部位

a sore, stiff patch inside the muscles around your neck, back, or shoulder that hurts when you move

例句

Mert woke up with a painful kink in his neck after sleeping on the train.

Mert 在火車上睡覺後醒來，脖子落枕痛得要命。

collocation: a kink in [body part]

Trang felt a sharp kink in her lower back after lifting a heavy box.

Trang 抬起一個沉重的箱子後，下背突然一陣刺痛。

同義詞
  • crick

    near-synonym, very common for neck specifically

  • cramp

    sudden, sharper pain; not always stiffness

  • stiffness

    broader, not necessarily painful

文法句型

a kink in [body part: neck, back, shoulder]

用法筆記

Usually 'a kink' (singular). Frequently follows 'get' or 'have', and is removed with 'work out' or 'massage out'. Common American English; less frequent in British English.

常見錯誤

❌I have kinks in my neck.
✅I have a kink in my neck.
💡this sense is normally singular.

4. a small fault or rough edge inside a plan, schedule, or new product, usually one

4.名詞B2
釋義

小問題；瑕疵

計畫、系統或產品中待解決的小毛病

a small fault or rough edge inside a plan, schedule, or new product, usually one that more work can smooth away

例句

The engineers worked out the kinks in the new payment app before launch.

工程師在上線前，解決了新支付程式裡的小問題。

collocation: work out the kinks (in [system])

Christopher's business plan still has a few kinks, but the basic idea is solid.

Christopher 的商業計畫還有些小瑕疵，但基本構想很扎實。

同義詞
  • flaw

    more serious; suggests a real defect

  • glitch

    specifically a brief malfunction in a system

  • snag

    an unexpected difficulty that slows progress

  • hitch

    a temporary problem, often easily fixed

文法句型

a kink in [a plan, system, process]

用法筆記

Object is always an abstract system, plan, process, or product — distinguishes from sense 1 (a physical twist). Very often plural, paired with 'work out' or 'iron out'.

常見錯誤

❌There is a kink in my idea.
✅There is a kink in my plan.
💡applies to systems/plans/processes, not bare ideas.

5. a sexual taste or practice that is unusual compared with what most people prefer

5.名詞C1
釋義

性癖好

不同於多數人偏好的性愛口味

a sexual taste or practice that is unusual compared with what most people prefer

例句

Noa set up a dating profile with a filter for users who share their kinks.

Noa 在交友軟體上建好個人檔案，特別篩選願意分享性癖好的用戶。

Madison's therapist said couples should talk about their kinks early in a relationship.

Madison 的心理師說，情侶應該在交往初期就聊到彼此的性癖好。

collocation: talk about / share + kinks

同義詞
  • fetish

    stronger and more specific; usually one fixed object or act

  • preference

    broad and neutral; not necessarily unusual

文法句型

have a kink for [something]

用法筆記

Strictly the sexual sense in modern English — distinguish from sense 6, which is a character quirk and not sexual. Often plural ('kinks').

6. an odd or eccentric feature in someone's character, thinking, or behaviour, ofte

6.名詞C1
釋義

怪癖；古怪

個性或思維中與眾不同的特點

an odd or eccentric feature in someone's character, thinking, or behaviour, often noticed by people around them

例句

Ravindra was a brilliant scientist with an odd kink for collecting old typewriters.

Ravindra 是位才華洋溢的科學家，卻有個收藏舊打字機的古怪嗜好。

Each member of the Feng family had a little kink that made Sunday dinners entertaining.

Feng 家每個成員都有點小怪癖，讓週日晚餐變得很有趣。

同義詞

文法句型

a kink in someone's [character / personality / mind]

用法筆記

Refers to character or thinking habits, never sexual taste — distinguish from sense 5. Often paired with adjectives like 'odd', 'strange', 'little', 'harmless'.

kink — 動詞