murmuring
murmuring — 名詞
1. the low sound made when people speak very quietly, or the quiet words themselves
低語聲
人群輕聲說話的聲音
the low sound made when people speak very quietly, or the quiet words themselves
A low murmuring filled the church before the wedding music began.
婚禮音樂開始前，教堂裡充滿低語聲。
a low murmuring + fill a place
The teacher heard murmuring at the back of the class during the test.
考試進行時，老師聽見教室後方有低語聲。
hear murmuring in a room
After the warning, the crowd's murmuring faded into sudden silence.
警告一出，人群的低語聲就慢慢消失，現場突然安靜下來。
Murmuring spread across the hall when the mayor changed the result.
市長更改結果時，大廳裡傳開一陣低語聲。
- whispering
focuses more clearly on people speaking in very low voices
- muttering
often sounds more annoyed or less clear than murmuring
- undertone
more formal and often used for a quiet level of speech
文法句型
hear murmuring
a low murmuring
murmuring fills a room
用法筆記
Usually refers to many low voices together rather than one person speaking alone. It often appears in places such as classrooms, churches, meetings, and crowds.
常見錯誤
2. a quiet sound that continues gently for some time, such as the sound of water, w
輕柔聲
持續而輕柔的聲音
a quiet sound that continues gently for some time, such as the sound of water, wind, or leaves
We fell asleep to the murmuring of rain against the metal roof.
我們伴著雨打在金屬屋頂上的輕柔聲睡著了。
the murmuring of + natural sound
The murmuring of the river followed us along the dark path.
河流的輕柔聲一路伴著我們走過黑暗的小路。
From the garden came a murmuring of leaves in the warm wind.
花園那邊傳來樹葉在暖風中的輕柔聲。
The old fan made a steady murmuring above the shop door.
老風扇在店門上方發出穩定的輕柔聲。
- rustling
usually used for leaves, paper, or cloth moving lightly
- humming
better for steady sounds from machines, wires, or voices
- susurration
a much more literary word for a soft whispering sound
文法句型
the murmuring of water
a murmuring in the leaves
fall asleep to murmuring
用法筆記
Unlike noun sense 1, this sense does not need human voices. It is common with water, wind, leaves, and machines that make a soft continuing sound.
常見錯誤
3. quiet complaining that people express to each other instead of saying it openly
怨言
私下表達的不滿
quiet complaining that people express to each other instead of saying it openly
There was murmuring among staff after the company cut the lunch break.
公司縮短午休後，員工之間出現了怨言。
murmuring among + group
His murmuring about the seating plan grew louder after dinner.
他對座位安排的怨言在晚餐後變得更明顯。
The manager ignored the murmuring that followed the new weekend schedule.
經理沒有理會新週末班表推出後出現的怨言。
Murmuring in the queue started again when the doors stayed closed.
門一直沒有打開時，隊伍裡又開始出現怨言。
- grumbling
the closest everyday word for quiet complaining
- complaint
broader and can also be public or formal
- discontent
more formal and often describes a wider unhappy feeling
文法句型
murmuring among staff
murmuring about a decision
ignore the murmuring
用法筆記
This sense adds the idea of dissatisfaction, unlike noun senses 1 and 2. It often appears when a group dislikes a rule, delay, or decision but does not protest directly.
常見錯誤
murmuring — 形容詞
1. describing people or voices that are speaking in a very quiet way
低聲交談的
正在輕聲說話的
describing people or voices that are speaking in a very quiet way
The murmuring students waited outside the office after the final bell.
最後一節下課鐘後，那群低聲交談的學生等在辦公室外。
murmuring + people
A murmuring couple sat behind us and shared worries about rent.
一對低聲交談的情侶坐在我們後面，聊著房租的煩惱。
The murmuring visitors moved through the gallery with their phones lowered.
那群低聲交談的訪客放低手機，慢慢走過畫廊。
Two murmuring nurses checked the chart beside the sleeping child.
兩位低聲交談的護理師在熟睡的孩子旁邊查看病歷。
- whispering
more directly suggests very quiet speech close to the ear
- hushed
describes a quieter overall tone, not always active speaking
- soft-spoken
describes a person's usual manner, not a momentary scene
文法句型
murmuring students
a murmuring couple
murmuring voices nearby
用法筆記
Usually comes before a noun and describes people as they speak quietly at the same time. Distinguish it from adjective sense 2, which is about the sound something makes rather than the act of speaking.
常見錯誤
2. describing something that keeps making a soft continuing sound
低聲作響的
持續發出輕柔聲音的
describing something that keeps making a soft continuing sound
We rested under a murmuring pine while the bus cooled nearby.
公車在附近慢慢降溫時，我們在那棵低聲作響的松樹下休息。
murmuring + natural object
The camp stood beside a murmuring stream at the edge of town.
營地就在城邊那條低聲作響的小溪旁。
a murmuring stream
A murmuring air conditioner kept the baby asleep through the storm.
那台低聲作響的冷氣讓嬰兒在暴風雨中仍然睡著。
The murmuring crowd outside the stadium grew larger after sunset.
日落後，體育場外那群低聲作響的人群變得更大。
- rustling
better for light dry movement such as leaves or paper
- humming
better for steady machine or electrical sound
- whispering
can also describe wind or leaves in a more poetic way
文法句型
a murmuring stream
murmuring leaves
a murmuring machine
用法筆記
This sense is about the sound produced by a thing or group, not about spoken content. It often describes water, leaves, crowds, or machines that stay quietly noisy for some time.
常見錯誤
murmuring — 動詞
1. to say something in a very quiet voice, often so that only one nearby person can
低語
很小聲地說出話
to say something in a very quiet voice, often so that only one nearby person can hear it
Kenji murmured an apology after he bumped the tray in line.
Kenji 在排隊時撞到托盤後，低語著道了歉。
murmur + noun
Yael murmured that the soup smelled burnt before anyone tasted it.
還沒有人試喝前，Yael 就低語說湯聞起來有焦味。
murmur + that-clause
Rachel murmured the answer to Padma during the noisy science video.
在吵鬧的科學影片播放時，Rachel 向 Padma 低語了答案。
The guide murmured directions as the group entered the dark cave.
隊伍走進黑暗洞穴時，導遊低語著指示。
文法句型
murmur a reply
murmur that + clause
murmur to + person
用法筆記
Often used when a person speaks quietly because the place is silent, private, or tense. Distinguish it from verb sense 2, where the key idea is complaint rather than low volume alone.
常見錯誤
2. to complain quietly to another person or to yourself instead of speaking openly
發牢騷
小聲抱怨而不公開說
to complain quietly to another person or to yourself instead of speaking openly
Staff murmured about the new badge rules during the lunch break.
午休時，員工們為了新的識別證規定小聲發牢騷。
murmur about + complaint topic
Christopher murmured that the prices were unfair after seeing the bill.
看到帳單後，Christopher 小聲發牢騷說價格不公平。
murmur that + opinion
Several parents murmured in the hall when the trip was canceled.
校外教學被取消時，幾位家長在走廊裡小聲發牢騷。
Reuben murmured to a friend about the sudden seat change.
Reuben 對朋友小聲發牢騷，抱怨突然換了座位。
文法句型
murmur about + noun
murmur that + clause
murmur to a friend
用法筆記
This sense normally appears when someone is unhappy about a rule, a delay, or another decision. Unlike verb sense 1, the point is the complaint itself, not only the low voice.
常見錯誤
3. to produce a soft sound that continues gently, like water, wind, leaves, or a wa
輕聲作響
發出持續輕柔的聲音
to produce a soft sound that continues gently, like water, wind, leaves, or a waiting crowd
The tall grass murmured as evening wind crossed the empty field.
傍晚的風吹過空地時，高草輕聲作響。
natural subject + murmur
Water murmured through the pipes behind the kitchen wall all night.
整個晚上，水都在廚房牆後的管線裡輕聲作響。
water murmurs through + place
Bees murmured around the peach tree beside the back fence.
桃樹旁的後院圍籬邊，蜜蜂一直輕聲作響。
Leaves murmured above us while Hao locked the garden gate.
Hao 鎖上花園門時，頭頂的樹葉輕聲作響。
文法句型
water murmurs through pipes
leaves murmur in the wind
a crowd murmurs while waiting
用法筆記
This sense is for the sound itself rather than for spoken words or complaints. It often appears in more descriptive writing about nature, buildings, or groups waiting quietly.