muting
muting — 動詞
1. to lower or completely silence a sound, or a device that produces sound
靜音；消音
把聲音或裝置調成無聲
to lower or completely silence a sound, or a device that produces sound
Haruto muted the television so he could hear the baby crying upstairs.
Haruto 把電視靜音，這樣才能聽見樓上嬰兒的哭聲。
mute + [device] for silencing electronics
Thick curtains muted the traffic noise from the street outside.
厚厚的窗簾減弱了從街上傳來的車流噪音。
Please mute your phone before the film begins at the cinema.
請在電影開演前把手機靜音。
The thick snow muted every sound in the small mountain village.
厚厚的積雪讓山中小村裡的每一個聲響都變得安靜。
Élise muted the alarm clock and went straight back to sleep.
Élise 把鬧鐘靜音，又直接回去睡覺了。
文法句型
mute + [noise/device]
用法筆記
Object is usually a noise source (TV, phone, alarm) or the noise itself. Distinguish from sense 2 (people on a video call) and sense 3 (musical instruments).
常見錯誤
2. to stop a person's voice from being heard by others, usually during an online me
將麥克風靜音
視訊會議中關掉某人麥克風
to stop a person's voice from being heard by others, usually during an online meeting or video call
The host muted Joaquín because his dog kept barking during the staff meeting.
主持人把 Joaquín 的麥克風靜音了，因為他的狗一直在員工會議中吠叫。
passive context: be muted by the host
Please mute yourself when you are not speaking on the Zoom call.
在 Zoom 通話中沒輪到你發言時，請把自己的麥克風靜音。
reflexive: mute yourself in online meetings
Imani forgot to mute herself and her family heard the whole class.
Imani 忘了把自己的麥克風靜音，結果她家人聽見了整堂課。
The teacher had to mute several students who were eating loudly at home.
老師不得不把幾位在家裡吃東西吃得很大聲的學生麥克風靜音。
文法句型
mute + [person]
用法筆記
Common in video-conferencing contexts (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet). Usually used reflexively (mute yourself) or by a host muting another participant.
3. to fit a small device onto a musical instrument so that its sound becomes softer
裝弱音器
替樂器加上弱音裝置或技巧
to fit a small device onto a musical instrument so that its sound becomes softer or has a different tone
Dario muted his trumpet so the neighbours would not complain about his late practice.
Dario 給他的小號裝上弱音器，這樣鄰居就不會抱怨他練習得太晚。
The violinists muted their strings for the soft passage in the second movement.
小提琴手在第二樂章柔和的段落裡為琴弦加上弱音器。
collocation: mute the strings in classical music
Jazz players often mute their horns to create a smoky, distant sound.
爵士樂手常給銅管樂器加上弱音器，營造出朦朧又遙遠的音色。
Christopher muted his guitar by resting his palm gently on the strings.
Christopher 用手掌輕輕貼在琴弦上，讓他的吉他發出悶音。
- dampen
broader; works for any vibrating object
文法句型
mute + [instrument]
用法筆記
Object is a musical instrument, usually brass (trumpet, trombone), strings (violin, guitar), or piano. The effect can be physical (a mute device) or technique-based (palm-muting on guitar).
4. to hide a person's posts or messages on a social-media app without ending the fr
靜音；隱藏
在社群上不顯示某人的貼文
to hide a person's posts or messages on a social-media app without ending the friendship or connection
Aylin muted her cousin on Instagram because of the endless holiday photos.
Aylin 在 Instagram 上把表姊靜音，因為她貼了沒完沒了的度假照片。
mute someone on a named platform
You can mute an account on Twitter without the person ever finding out.
你可以在 Twitter 上把一個帳號靜音，對方完全不會知道。
Nellie muted three group chats while she was studying for her final exam.
Nellie 在準備期末考期間，把三個群組聊天都設成靜音。
Sana muted her old classmate rather than start an awkward argument online.
Sana 把她的老同學靜音，而不是在網路上開始一場尷尬的爭執。
- hide
broader; can apply to any content, not just a specific person
文法句型
mute + [user/account]
用法筆記
Object is typically a social-media account, user, or chat thread. Differs from 'block' or 'unfollow' because the muted person is not notified and remains a contact.
常見錯誤
muting — 名詞
1. a small device fitted to a brass or string instrument to make its sound softer o
弱音器
樂器上柔化或改變音色的小裝置
a small device fitted to a brass or string instrument to make its sound softer or to change its tone
Iris bought a brass mute for her trumpet at a small shop near the conservatory.
Iris 在音樂院附近的一間小店為她的小號買了一個銅製弱音器。
A rubber mute slid neatly onto the bridge of the cello before the recording.
錄音前，一個橡膠弱音器俐落地套在大提琴的琴橋上。
mute placement: onto the bridge of a string instrument
Old jazz records often feature a trumpet with a felt mute pressed against its bell.
老式爵士唱片裡常聽到小號搭配貼在喇叭口上的氈製弱音器。
Tunde packed three different mutes in his case for the studio session.
Tunde 為這次錄音室工作在琴盒裡帶了三種不同的弱音器。
- damper
broader; any sound-reducing device, not only for musical instruments
用法筆記
Common types include brass mutes (cup, straight, harmon) for trumpet and trombone, and small clip-on mutes for violins and cellos.
2. a button or switch on a device such as a phone or remote control that makes the
靜音鍵
讓裝置完全無聲的按鍵
a button or switch on a device such as a phone or remote control that makes the sound stop completely
Takeshi pressed the mute on the remote when the loud advert started playing.
Takeshi 在很大聲的廣告開始播放時按下了遙控器上的靜音鍵。
press the mute on a remote control
The mute on this old microwave is hidden behind a small panel near the clock.
這台老舊微波爐的靜音鍵藏在時鐘旁邊的小面板後面。
Tamás tapped the mute on his headset just before sneezing into his sleeve.
Tamás 在打噴嚏到袖子裡之前，趕緊按下耳機上的靜音鍵。
Hit the mute button if you need a quick moment of quiet during the call.
如果你在通話中需要片刻的安靜，就按下靜音鍵吧。
- silencer
informal; less common for electronic devices
用法筆記
Often appears in the compound 'mute button' on remotes, phones, and headsets. The button itself can also be referred to simply as 'the mute'.
3. (old use, now extremely offensive) a person who cannot speak — a dated medical t
啞者
舊時對無法說話者的稱呼，今視為冒犯
(old use, now extremely offensive) a person who cannot speak — a dated medical term avoided in modern English
Nineteenth-century medical books used the word 'mute' for any patient who could not speak.
十九世紀的醫學書把任何無法說話的病人都稱為「mute」。
Modern writers describe a person as 'unable to speak', never as a mute.
現代作家會說「無法說話的人」，絕不會說某人是 a mute。
explicit avoidance pattern in modern usage
The novel, written in 1890, refers to the silent boy as a mute throughout the story.
這本寫於 1890 年的小說，整本書都把那位沉默的男孩稱為 a mute。
Modern Deaf communities reject the word mute as both inaccurate and deeply insulting.
現代聾人社群認為 mute 這個詞既不正確、也充滿冒犯意味。
用法筆記
Do NOT use this word to describe a person in modern English — it is widely considered offensive. Use 'a person who is unable to speak' or, in Deaf-community contexts, follow community-preferred terms.
常見錯誤
muting — 形容詞
1. not speaking or making a sound, often because of strong feeling or because someo
沉默；無言
因情緒或選擇而不說話
not speaking or making a sound, often because of strong feeling or because someone has chosen to stay quiet
Lauren stood mute at the funeral, unable to find the right words for her uncle.
Lauren 在喪禮上沉默地站著，找不到合適的話語追念她的舅舅。
stand/sit/remain + mute for emotional silence
The crowd fell mute as the conductor raised his baton above the orchestra.
當指揮在管弦樂團前舉起指揮棒時，群眾頓時陷入沉默。
fall mute: sudden collective silence
Hoa remained mute throughout the interview, refusing to answer a single question.
Hoa 在整場面試中一語不發，拒絕回答任何一個問題。
Luca was mute with shock when he saw the broken vase on the kitchen floor.
Luca 看見廚房地板上摔破的花瓶時，震驚得說不出話。
- silent
more everyday; less emotionally charged
- speechless
stronger; implies surprise or shock
- wordless
literary; emphasises the absence of words rather than sound
用法筆記
Often paired with verbs like 'stand', 'sit', 'fall', 'remain' or the preposition 'with' to name the cause (mute with shock / rage / grief). More literary than 'silent'.
2. (old use, now extremely offensive) unable to speak — formerly used by doctors an
啞的
舊時形容無法說話者，今視為冒犯
(old use, now extremely offensive) unable to speak — formerly used by doctors and now avoided
Victorian doctors described patients as deaf and mute in their hospital case notes.
維多利亞時代的醫生在住院病歷上把病人描述為 deaf and mute。
historical medical pairing: deaf and mute
Older novels often describe a quiet servant as mute from birth.
舊小說常把安靜的僕人描述為 mute from birth（生來啞的）。
The 1920s textbook lists the boy as mute alongside several other dated labels.
這本 1920 年代的教科書把那名男孩與其他幾個過時標籤並列，稱他為 mute。
Modern dictionaries warn readers that calling someone mute is offensive today.
現代字典提醒讀者，今日稱某人為 mute 已屬冒犯。
用法筆記
Like noun sense 3, this adjective use is now considered offensive. Use 'unable to speak' in modern English, or follow community-preferred terms in Deaf contexts.
常見錯誤
3. felt strongly inside but not said aloud, often used about feelings, looks, or si
無聲；未言
感受強烈但未以言語表達
felt strongly inside but not said aloud, often used about feelings, looks, or signs
Eli gave his sister a mute look of thanks across the crowded family table.
Eli 隔著擁擠的家庭餐桌，對姊姊投以無聲感謝的眼神。
mute + [look/gesture] for silent emotional expression
There was mute sympathy in the doctor's eyes as she shared the test result.
醫師在告知檢驗結果時，眼神裡流露出無聲的同情。
Dylan nodded with mute admiration when his daughter finished her first piano piece.
Dylan 在女兒彈完第一首鋼琴曲時，帶著無聲的讚賞點了點頭。
The room filled with mute disapproval the moment the minister mentioned the new tax.
當部長一提到新稅，整個房間頓時瀰漫著無聲的反對。
用法筆記
Used attributively before nouns like 'look', 'sympathy', 'admiration', 'disapproval', 'appeal', 'witness'. Distinguishes from sense 1 (silent person) by describing the feeling or gesture rather than the person.
4. refusing to answer or to give a plea when asked to do so in a court of law
拒不答辯的
在法庭上拒絕應訊或答辯
refusing to answer or to give a plea when asked to do so in a court of law
The accused stood mute when the judge asked him to enter a plea.
當法官請被告答辯時，被告選擇 stand mute（保持沉默）。
stand mute as a fixed legal phrase
If a defendant remains mute, the court usually enters a not-guilty plea on their behalf.
若被告保持沉默，法院通常會代為登記無罪答辯。
passive legal procedure when defendant stays silent
Nala chose to stand mute on the advice of her defence lawyer that morning.
Nala 當天早上聽從辯護律師的建議，決定 stand mute。
Standing mute is a legal right in most modern court systems around the world.
Standing mute 是現代多數法庭體系中受保障的法律權利。
文法句型
stand mute
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'stand mute' in legal English. The defendant's silence is treated by the court, not by the person directly.
5. (of a letter in a word) written but not actually said when the word is spoken
不發音的
字中寫出但實際不發音的字母
(of a letter in a word) written but not actually said when the word is spoken
The 'k' in 'knife' is mute, although many young learners still try to say it.
「knife」中的 k 是不發音的字母，但許多小學生仍會試著把它唸出來。
mute letter in a written word
French has many mute letters at the ends of common everyday words.
法文許多常見日常單字的字尾都有不發音的字母。
Antonia explained that the 'b' in 'lamb' is a mute letter in English.
Antonia 解釋說，「lamb」中的 b 在英文裡是個不發音的字母。
Mute consonants often confuse children when they first learn to spell.
不發音的子音常讓孩子在剛學拼字時感到困惑。
用法筆記
Used specifically about letters within a written word. 'Silent letter' is the more common everyday term; 'mute' is preferred in some traditional and academic descriptions.