mute
/mjuːt/ (bre, ipa) · /mjuːt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmyüt/ (ame, mw)
mute — 形容詞
- mutepositive
- mutercomparative
- mutestsuperlative
1. not speaking, or showing meaning through looks or actions instead of words
默然；無聲
不說話，或不用話表達
not speaking, or showing meaning through looks or actions instead of words
Hamza stood mute while the judge read the final decision.
法官宣讀最後裁決時，Hamza 默然站著。
mute + while-clause after shock
Sayaka gave a mute nod from the back of the crowded bus.
Sayaka 在擁擠公車後方給了一個無聲的點頭。
a mute nod
For a moment, the whole room was mute after the glass shattered.
玻璃碎掉後，整個房間一時默然無聲。
Élise offered a mute apology with lowered eyes and shaking hands.
Élise 低著眼、雙手發抖，做出無聲的道歉。
- silent
the broader everyday word for not making a sound or not speaking
- wordless
focuses on the absence of spoken words, especially in expression
- speechless
usually suggests a reason such as shock or strong emotion
文法句型
go mute
fall mute
a mute nod
用法筆記
Often used for a person or group that stays silent in a striking moment. It can also describe a gesture or expression that communicates without spoken words.
2. used in the past as an offensive label for a person who cannot speak
啞的
舊時對失語者的冒犯說法
used in the past as an offensive label for a person who cannot speak
Christopher's old case notes called the child mute.
Christopher 的舊病例把那個孩子寫成「啞的」。
outdated label in records
An outdated report described Emma as mute instead of naming her condition.
那份過時報告把 Emma 寫成啞的，沒有說明她的狀況。
The museum kept the word mute in a caption until 2010.
博物館直到 2010 年都在說明牌上保留「啞的」這個詞。
Parents complained when the school form labelled Hiro mute.
家長抱怨學校表格把 Hiro 標成啞的。
文法句型
call someone mute
label someone mute
用法筆記
Now offensive and mainly encountered when quoting old medical, legal, or school records. Use a respectful descriptive phrase instead of this label.
mute — 名詞
- mutesingular
- mutesplural
1. a button or screen control on a device that turns the sound off
靜音鍵
裝置上可關聲音的按鍵
a button or screen control on a device that turns the sound off
Press mute before the lecture starts if your phone is nearby.
如果你的手機在旁邊，上課前先按靜音鍵。
press mute on a device
Gabriel tapped mute when the baby began crying beside him.
嬰兒在旁邊哭起來時，Gabriel 點了靜音鍵。
The TV remote has mute next to the volume buttons.
電視遙控器上的靜音鍵就在音量鍵旁邊。
During the train ride, Marta hit mute and answered the call.
搭火車時，Marta 按下靜音鍵後才接電話。
- mute button
a fuller and more explicit way to name the same control
- sound-off control
a descriptive phrase rather than the usual label on devices
文法句型
press mute
tap mute
hit mute
用法筆記
Usually appears in device instructions and quick actions such as press mute or tap mute. Distinguish from sense 2, which names the no-sound state rather than the control.
常見錯誤
2. the no-sound state of a phone, computer, or similar device
靜音狀態
裝置不發聲的狀態
the no-sound state of a phone, computer, or similar device
My laptop stayed on mute during the whole staff meeting.
我的筆電整場員工會議都維持在靜音狀態。
fixed phrase: on mute
Please keep the class tablet on mute during the film.
放電影時，請讓班上的平板保持靜音狀態。
After the ad ended, Ingrid took the TV off mute.
廣告播完後，Ingrid 把電視從靜音狀態切回有聲。
The stream was on mute, so nobody heard the opening song.
直播一直在靜音狀態，所以沒人聽見開場歌曲。
文法句型
on mute
off mute
用法筆記
Common in the fixed phrase on mute, especially for phones, laptops, and streams. Distinguish from sense 1, which is the button or control that creates this state.
常見錯誤
3. a small piece put on an instrument to change its tone, usually making it softer
弱音器
裝在樂器上改變音色的器具
a small piece put on an instrument to change its tone, usually making it softer
The trumpeter slid a mute into the bell before rehearsal.
排練前，那位小號手把弱音器滑進號口。
insert a mute into a brass instrument
Erik borrowed a mute when his teacher wanted a darker tone.
老師想要更暗一點的音色時，Erik 借了一個弱音器。
The violinist reached for a practice mute before midnight.
午夜前，小提琴手伸手去拿練習用的弱音器。
A rubber mute made the horn sound softer in the hall.
橡膠弱音器讓號聲在大廳裡聽起來更柔和。
文法句型
insert a mute into a trumpet
use a practice mute
用法筆記
Used mainly in music contexts with brass or string instruments. Distinguish from sense 1, which is an electronic control rather than a physical attachment.
4. an extremely offensive old word for a person who cannot speak
啞巴
舊時對失語者的極冒犯稱呼
an extremely offensive old word for a person who cannot speak
The newspaper called the witness a mute, and readers complained.
那家報紙把證人稱作啞巴，讀者因此抱怨。
reported as offensive wording
An old court record listed him as a mute.
一份舊法院紀錄把他列為啞巴。
Calling someone a mute sounds insulting in modern English today.
在現代英語裡，把人叫作啞巴聽起來很侮辱。
Paloma crossed out the word mute on the intake form.
Paloma 把接待表上的「啞巴」一詞劃掉了。
文法句型
call someone a mute
用法筆記
Now extremely offensive and mostly seen when quoting old records or correcting harmful wording. Use a respectful descriptive phrase instead of this noun.
mute — 動詞
- mutepresent simple I / you / we / they
- mutes3rd person singular
- muting-ing form
- mutedpast simple
1. to turn down or cut off the sound from a device, app, or other noise source
靜音
把聲音關小或關掉
to turn down or cut off the sound from a device, app, or other noise source
Amani muted the TV before taking the late-night call.
Amani 在接深夜電話前先把電視靜音。
mute + TV/device
The nurse muted the alarm while she checked the machine.
護士檢查機器時，把警報聲暫時靜音了。
A teacher muted the video ad so the baby could sleep.
老師把影片廣告靜音，好讓嬰兒能睡覺。
Please mute your speaker before the train leaves the station.
火車要開前，請先把你的喇叭靜音。
- unmute
to restore the sound
文法句型
mute + device/noise
用法筆記
Object is usually a device, app, alert, or another sound source. Distinguish from sense 2, where the object is the person whose microphone is turned off.
常見錯誤
2. to stop another person from being heard by turning off their microphone
關麥
關掉某人的麥克風
to stop another person from being heard by turning off their microphone
The host muted Vikram after loud traffic filled his room.
Vikram 房裡突然傳來很大的車聲後，主持人把他關麥了。
mute + participant on a call
A teacher can mute students during the online quiz.
老師在網路測驗時可以把學生關麥。
The producer muted the caller until the interview began.
訪談開始前，製作人先把來電者關麥。
Niran accidentally muted Ingrid instead of lowering the music.
Niran 不小心把 Ingrid 關麥了，沒有先把音樂轉小。
- unmute
to let the person be heard again
文法句型
mute + person/participant
用法筆記
Common in online meetings, classes, and live streams, usually by turning off the person's microphone. Distinguish from sense 1, which targets the sound source or device itself.
常見錯誤
3. to hide someone's posts or messages from your feed without unfriending or blocki
消音
不刪好友而隱藏動態
to hide someone's posts or messages from your feed without unfriending or blocking them
I muted that account after three days of spoiler posts.
那個帳號連續三天都在爆雷後，我把它消音了。
mute an account without blocking
Beatrix muted her cousin during the election and stayed friends.
選舉期間，Beatrix 把表親消音，但兩人還是好友。
Many users mute group chats when exams are near.
考試快到時，很多人會把群組聊天消音。
After midnight, Christopher muted the gaming channel on the app.
過了午夜，Christopher 把 App 裡的遊戲頻道消音。
- unmute
to let posts or messages appear again
文法句型
mute + account/chat
用法筆記
Common on social media and messaging platforms. You still keep the connection or membership; the posts or messages just stop appearing for you.
常見錯誤
4. to attach a sound-changing piece to an instrument so it plays more softly or wit
裝弱音器
裝上弱音器改變音色
to attach a sound-changing piece to an instrument so it plays more softly or with a different tone
The conductor asked the brass section to mute their horns.
指揮要銅管聲部把號都裝上弱音器。
mute + instrument section
Hiro muted the trumpet before the quiet jazz solo.
安靜的爵士獨奏前，Hiro 先給小號裝上弱音器。
mute + trumpet
For the next passage, the players muted their violins with clips.
下一段開始前，演奏者用夾子替小提琴裝上弱音器。
The score says to mute the strings for eight bars.
樂譜寫著這八小節要給弦樂裝上弱音器。
文法句型
mute + instrument
用法筆記
Used in music contexts with instruments such as trumpets, horns, and violins. Distinguish from sense 1, where you reduce sound electronically or from a general noise source.