nerve
/nɜːv/ (bre, ipa) · /nɜːrv/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈnərv/ (ame, mw) · /nɝːv/ (ame, ipa)
nerve — 名詞
- nervesingular
- nervesplural
1. a long, thin bundle of fibres inside your body that carries electrical signals f
神經
連接大腦與身體傳遞訊息的纖維組織
a long, thin bundle of fibres inside your body that carries electrical signals from your brain to your muscles and organs, and sends information about touch, temperature, and pain back to your brain.
The doctor told Feng that the damaged nerve in his elbow might need surgery to restore his grip.
醫生告訴Feng，他手肘裡那條受損的神經可能需要動手術才能恢復握力。
countable noun for a specific anatomical structure
Each nerve in the human body sends electrical signals from the brain to the muscles and back again.
人體內的每條神經都會從大腦向肌肉發送電訊號，再把訊號傳回來。
Christopher pinched a nerve in his neck while sleeping and could not turn his head the next morning.
Christopher 睡覺時壓到了脖子上的神經，隔天早上無法轉頭。
The biologist showed the class how nerve fibres carry signals faster than electricity through a copper wire.
生物老師向全班展示神經纖維傳遞訊號的速度比電流通過銅線還快。
- neuron
a single nerve cell, not the whole fibre bundle
- nerve fibre
a more precise term for the long thread-like structure within a nerve
文法句型
nerve + verb (send/carry/connect)
用法筆記
This is the only literal, physical sense of 'nerve'. It is a countable noun — you can talk about 'a nerve', 'the optic nerve', or 'nerve damage'.
常見錯誤
2. the inner strength that helps you face a hard, scary, or upsetting task without
勇氣
面對困難或不愉快之事所需的膽量
the inner strength that helps you face a hard, scary, or upsetting task without giving in to your fear.
It took a lot of nerve for Talia to walk onto the stage and sing alone in front of thousands.
Talia 需要很大的勇氣才能獨自走上大舞台，在數千人面前唱歌。
uncountable: take nerve / have the nerve + to-infinitive
James did not have the nerve to tell his parents that he had failed the maths exam.
James 沒有勇氣告訴父母他的數學考試沒過。
Lauren lost her nerve halfway up the climbing wall and had to be helped down by the instructor.
Lauren 爬到一半失去了勇氣，最後只好讓教練幫忙把她從攀岩牆上放下來。
It takes a lot of nerve to leave a stable job and start your own company from nothing.
離開穩定的工作從零開始創業，需要很大的勇氣。
- cowardice
lack of courage in the face of danger or difficulty
文法句型
have the nerve + to-infinitive
take nerve
require nerve
用法筆記
Often used in the pattern 'have the nerve + to-infinitive' or with verbs like 'take' and 'require'. This sense is positive or neutral — contrast with sense 6 (AUDACITY), where the same pattern implies rudeness.
常見錯誤
3. a feeling of worry or fear that you experience when an important event is approa
緊張
對即將發生之事感到的焦慮不安
a feeling of worry or fear that you experience when an important event is approaching, often with physical symptoms like trembling, a racing heart, or sweating.
Christopher's nerves were so bad before the interview that he could not hold his coffee cup steady.
Christopher 在面試前緊張到連咖啡杯都拿不穩。
plural form: 'nerves' for a state of anxiety
Élise tried to calm her nerves by taking slow, deep breaths before the race started.
Élise 在比賽開始前試著用緩慢的深呼吸來平撫緊張情緒。
Ilan's nerves got the better of him, so he decided not to board the plane.
Ilan 緊張到無法控制自己，最後決定不上那班飛機。
The singer admitted that she still gets stage nerves before every single performance.
那位歌手承認自己每次上台前都還是會緊張。
- calm
the opposite emotional state; having no anxiety at all
文法句型
one's nerves are + adjective
calm/settle/steady one's nerves
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural form 'nerves' or as uncountable. Use 'nerves' for temporary anxiety before an event (exam, interview, performance). 'Anxiety' is more general and can be a long-term condition.
常見錯誤
4. a feeling of being annoyed or angered, especially when caused by small, repeated
惱怒
因反覆的小事而累積的煩躁感
a feeling of being annoyed or angered, especially when caused by small, repeated actions or problems that wear down your patience over time.
The baby's constant crying was starting to get on Beatrix's nerves after three long hours.
嬰兒不停地哭了三個小時，越來越讓 Beatrix 感到心煩。
idiomatic phrase: get on someone's nerves
Living in a tiny apartment with thin walls really gets on your nerves after a while.
住在一間隔音很差的小公寓裡，時間久了真的讓人很煩。
Meera's habit of cracking her knuckles was beginning to get on everyone's nerves in the office.
Meera 折手指的習慣開始讓辦公室裡的每個人都感到心煩。
The dripping tap in the bathroom kept Kian awake and really got on his nerves all night.
浴室裡水龍頭滴答滴答的聲音讓Kian整晚睡不著，煩得不得了。
- annoyance
a more general term; 'nerves' emphasizes the cumulative effect of repeated irritation
- patience
the ability to stay calm without getting irritated
文法句型
get on someone's nerves
someone's nerves are frayed
用法筆記
This sense overlaps closely with the idiom 'get on someone's nerves'. When you say 'something gets on your nerves', it means that thing repeatedly irritates you — distinct from sense 3 (NERVOUSNESS), which is about worry.
5. the ability to stay calm and in control of your emotions when you are in a diffi
鎮定
在壓力或危險中保持冷靜的能力
the ability to stay calm and in control of your emotions when you are in a difficult, dangerous, or high-pressure situation.
The pilot kept his nerve and brought the damaged plane down safely through the storm.
那位飛行員保持鎮定，在暴風雨中把受損的飛機安全降落了下來。
fixed phrase: keep / hold your nerve
When the investor pulled out at the last minute, Hoa never lost her nerve and found another deal.
當投資人在最後一刻退出時，Hoa 從未失去冷靜，又找到了另一筆交易。
The chess champion held his nerve and waited calmly for his opponent to make a mistake.
那位西洋棋冠軍保持鎮定，冷靜等待對手犯錯。
You need steady nerve to be a paramedic and stay calm when every second counts.
當急救人員需要過人的鎮定，才能在分秒必爭的時刻保持冷靜。
- composure
more formal; 'composure' is always calm, while 'nerve' in this sense includes the idea of continuing to act bravely
- self-control
broader; covers all emotions, not just staying calm under pressure
- coolness
informal; suggests a relaxed, almost casual calmness
- panic
loss of control and calm thinking in a stressful moment
文法句型
keep/hold your nerve
lose your nerve
用法筆記
Common in fixed verb phrases: 'keep your nerve', 'hold your nerve', 'lose your nerve'. The collocation 'nerves of steel' (extreme calm under pressure) also belongs to this sense.
常見錯誤
❌ 'He lost his nerve and ran away.' — This is actually correct usage. The mistake is confusing it with sense 3: 'He was full of nerves before the test' (anxiety before an event) vs 'He lost his nerve during the crisis' (failed to stay calm in a high-pressure moment).
6. bold and disrespectful behaviour that shocks or offends other people because it
厚顏
做出令人反感的無禮行為
bold and disrespectful behaviour that shocks or offends other people because it seems rude or unsuitable for the situation.
James had the nerve to tell the manager that her new business plan was completely wrong.
James 竟然厚著臉皮跟經理說她的新商業計畫完全錯誤。
informal: have the nerve + to-infinitive for audacity
Devika had some nerve showing up late to her own wedding rehearsal with no explanation.
Devika 在自己的婚禮排練中遲到，而且完全沒有解釋，臉皮真厚。
The politician had the nerve to blame the public for the very problems he had caused himself.
那位政治人物竟然有臉把自己造成的問題怪到民眾頭上。
Beatrix had some nerve asking for a promotion after only two weeks in the job.
Beatrix 才做了兩個禮拜就想要求升職，臉皮真厚。
- politeness
behaviour that follows social rules and shows respect for others
文法句型
have the nerve + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (COURAGE): sense 2 is about overcoming fear for a worthy goal; sense 6 is about doing something socially inappropriate. The speaker's tone usually makes the difference — often sarcastic or disapproving.
常見錯誤
❌ 'She had the nerve to save the child from the fire.' — This uses the wrong sense. Saving a child is brave, not rude. Use sense 2 (COURAGE) for positive actions. Use sense 6 only for actions that are shocking or inappropriate.
nerve — 動詞
- nervepresent simple I / you / we / they
- nerves3rd person singular
- nerving-ing form
- nervedpast simple
1. to gather your inner strength deliberately so that you can face a frightening or
鼓起勇氣
讓自己堅強起來面對某件困難或可怕的事
to gather your inner strength deliberately so that you can face a frightening or deeply unpleasant task.
Rania nerved herself to read the letter from the hospital, expecting the worst possible news.
Rania 鼓起勇氣打開醫院的來信，心裡做好了最壞的打算。
formal: nerve + reflexive pronoun + to-infinitive
Joaquín nerved himself to walk into the headmaster's office and confess that he had broken the window.
Joaquín 鼓起勇氣走進校長辦公室，承認窗戶是他打破的。
Tendai nerved herself to press the call button and tell the pilot about the strange noise she had heard.
Tendai 鼓起勇氣按下呼叫按鈕，告訴機長她聽到了奇怪的聲音。
Devika nerved herself to ring her brother after ten years of silence between them.
Devika 鼓起勇氣打電話給失聯十年的哥哥。
- steel oneself
very similar in meaning and formality; 'steel oneself' is slightly more common in modern English
- brace oneself
more common in everyday speech; implies preparing for impact or bad news, not just gathering courage
- gather courage
a less formal alternative that does not require a reflexive pronoun construction
文法句型
nerve + reflexive pronoun + to-infinitive
用法筆記
This is a formal or literary verb, found more often in written narratives than in everyday conversation. The reflexive pronoun (myself, yourself, himself, herself, etc.) is required — you cannot say 'I nerved to do it'.