lean
/liːn/ (bre, ipa) · [lˈin] /liːn/ (ame, ipa) · [lˈin] /ˈlēn/ (ame, mw)
lean — 動詞
- leanpresent simple I / you / we / they
- leanshe / she / it
- leanedpast simple
- leantpast simple
- leaning-ing form
- leantpast participle
1. to shift your body weight so that your head and shoulders move sideways from a s
傾斜；倚靠
身體或物品向一側傾斜
to shift your body weight so that your head and shoulders move sideways from a straight upright position, or to place an object against a surface so that the object tilts instead of standing straight
The old tower leans slightly to one side, so visitors are not allowed inside.
那座古塔略微向一側傾斜，因此遊客不得入內。
structural use: describing a fixed angle of a building
Paloma leaned forward to whisper something in her sister's ear.
Paloma 向前傾身，在妹妹耳邊小聲說了句話。
lean + forward + to + verb
Tariq leaned his bicycle against the garden wall and ran inside.
Tariq 把腳踏車靠在花園牆上，然後跑進屋裡。
Élise leaned out of the window to call down to the children playing below.
Élise 從窗戶探出身子，對下面玩耍的孩子們喊話。
If you lean on that door handle too hard, it might break off.
如果你太用力靠在門把手上，它可能會斷掉。
- straighten
to return to an upright position
文法句型
lean + forward/back/over/towards
lean + against/on [sth]
lean + object + against/on [sth]
用法筆記
Can be used both without an object (intransitive: 'lean forward') and with an object placed against a surface (transitive: 'lean the ladder against the wall'). The transitive pattern always requires a prepositional phrase — 'against', 'on', or 'upon' — after the object.
常見錯誤
lean — 形容詞
- leanpositive
- leanercomparative
- leanestsuperlative
1. containing very little fat, used especially to describe meat that is considered
瘦的；低脂
肉類脂肪含量很少的
containing very little fat, used especially to describe meat that is considered healthier to eat
The recipe calls for lean minced beef rather than the regular kind.
這個食譜使用瘦牛絞肉，而不是一般的那種。
collocation: lean + minced beef / meat
Doctors recommend choosing lean cuts of pork and removing the skin from chicken breasts.
醫師建議選擇瘦豬肉部位，並將雞胸肉去皮。
collocation: lean cuts of [meat]
Ayesha grilled some lean turkey breast for her lunch today.
Ayesha 今天烤了一些瘦火雞胸肉當午餐。
I try to buy lean bacon because it has fewer calories than the regular kind.
我盡量買瘦培根，因為它的熱量比一般培根低。
This local restaurant serves lean, grass-fed steaks that are very popular with runners.
這間本地餐廳供應草飼瘦牛排，很受跑步者歡迎。
- fatty
containing a lot of fat
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively for meat and meat products. For other foods like dairy or oils, use 'low-fat' or 'reduced-fat' instead.
常見錯誤
2. having a thin and healthy body with very little fat, often suggesting fitness an
精瘦的
人體脂肪少而結實的
having a thin and healthy body with very little fat, often suggesting fitness and strength rather than being simply thin
Kenji has a lean, athletic build from years of competitive swimming.
Kenji 因多年參加游泳比賽而擁有精瘦結實的體格。
collocation: lean + build / physique
The fashion model was naturally lean, not starved or unhealthy in any way.
這位時裝模特兒天生精瘦，絕非挨餓或不健康。
After six months of training her body became noticeably lean and strong.
經過六個月的訓練，她的身體變得明顯精瘦而強壯。
The soldiers looked lean and fit after three weeks of marching through the hills.
在山區行軍三週後，這群士兵看起來個個精瘦而健壯。
- overweight
having too much body weight
- plump
slightly fat in a soft way
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (NO FAT): this sense describes a person's body shape, not food. 'Lean' for people carries a positive connotation of health and fitness, unlike 'skinny' which may suggest being too thin.
常見錯誤
3. used about a stretch of months or years when money, food, or business activity i
拮据的；蕭條
資源或收入很少的時期
used about a stretch of months or years when money, food, or business activity is in short supply, making life or work harder than usual
The Nguyen family went through a lean period after their father lost his factory job.
Nguyen 一家在父親失去工廠工作後，度過了一段拮据的時期。
collocation: lean period
Most experienced farmers know that lean years can follow a good harvest.
大多數經驗豐富的農民都知道，豐收之後可能緊接著歉收的年份。
collocation: lean years
During the lean winter months the village relied entirely on stored grain and dried meat.
在拮据的冬季月份裡，村莊完全依賴儲存的穀物和乾肉維生。
Ravindra's first year as a painter was lean, with very few buyers for his work.
Ravindra 當畫家的第一年收入微薄，賣出的作品很少。
- abundant
plentiful; having more than enough
- prosperous
financially successful and thriving
用法筆記
Almost always placed before a time noun (lean years, lean months, lean period). Describes a stretch of time, not a single event — you would not say 'a lean meal' to mean a small meal.
常見錯誤
4. using only the necessary number of people, amount of money, or resources so that
精簡的
組織人員少、成本低的
using only the necessary number of people, amount of money, or resources so that nothing is wasted, especially when describing a company or system
The company became leaner after cutting unnecessary jobs and improving its internal systems.
這家公司在裁撤不必要的職位並改善內部系統後，變得更加精簡。
corporate use: describing organizational change
A lean organization wastes no money on unnecessary staff, materials, or office space.
精實的組織不會在不必要的人員、材料或辦公空間上浪費金錢。
collocation: lean organization
In recent years most large firms have tried to create a lean management structure.
近年來，大多數大型企業都嘗試建立精簡的管理架構。
Folake's team operates on lean principles, using only the resources they truly need.
Folake 的團隊以精實原則運作，只使用他們真正需要的資源。
- streamlined
focuses on removing unnecessary steps rather than reducing costs
- economical
broader; can describe any money-saving measure, not just organizational structure
- efficient
wider in meaning; not limited to size or staffing
用法筆記
Common in business writing and management discussions, especially 'lean manufacturing' (a production method that reduces waste). The comparative form 'leaner' is frequently used to describe ongoing improvement.
lean — 名詞
1. the position or angle of something that is not standing straight up, or the move
傾斜
傾斜的動作或角度
the position or angle of something that is not standing straight up, or the movement of the body into such a position
The slight lean of the wall made the whole building look dangerously unsafe.
牆壁的輕微傾斜讓整棟建築物看起來極不安全。
collocation: slight/noticeable + lean of [structure]
Nellie corrected her posture by reducing the forward lean of her head and neck.
Nellie 減少頭部和頸部前傾的角度，以矯正自己的姿勢。
collocation: forward/backward + lean of [body part]
The famous tower has a noticeable lean that can be seen from several streets away.
這座著名的塔樓有明顯的傾斜，從幾條街外就能看見。
A small lean to one side is perfectly normal in this old wooden garden fence.
這道舊木花園籬笆稍微向一側傾斜是完全正常的。
用法筆記
Often used with an adjective describing the degree or direction of the slope: 'a slight lean', 'a forward lean', 'a pronounced lean'. It is less common than the verb form but appears regularly in descriptions of buildings, posture, and objects.