knickknack

/ˈnik-ˌnak/ (ame, mw)

knickknack — 名詞

1. a small decorative object, typically inexpensive, that is displayed on a shelf o

1.名詞B1
釋義

小擺飾

放在架上展示的小型裝飾物

a small decorative object, typically inexpensive, that is displayed on a shelf or table as an ornament rather than used for a practical purpose

例句

Wei brought home a ceramic cat from the night market as a knickknack.

偉在夜市帶回一隻陶瓷貓，當作小擺飾。

countable; brought home / bought as a knickknack

Dust covered the knickknacks that Nadia's grandmother had collected over years of travel.

灰塵覆蓋了娜迪亞祖母多年旅行收集來的小擺飾。

collect + knickknacks; accumulated over time

同義詞
  • ornament

    a more general term; ornaments can be valuable or formal, while knickknacks are typically cheap and trivial

  • trinket

    often a small piece of jewellery or accessory; knickknack is specifically a decorative object for display

  • bric-a-brac

    a collective uncountable noun for a group of small decorative objects; knickknack is countable and refers to a single item

  • souvenir

    emphasises the item's role as a memento from a specific place or event, whereas knickknack emphasises its decorative and trivial nature

文法句型

a knickknack

knickknacks

a shelf / collection of knickknacks

用法筆記

Frequently plural (knickknacks) when referring to a collection on display. Often used with a modifier specifying the material, origin, or type (ceramic knickknack, souvenir knickknack).

常見錯誤

❌I bought a knickknack from the antique dealer for $500.
✅I bought an antique ornament from the dealer for $500.
💡knickknack implies inexpensiveness and triviality, so it sounds odd with a high price or a formal antique context.
❌She uses that knickknack to hold her keys.
✅She uses that small bowl to hold her keys.
💡a knickknack is decorative, not functional.