portray
/pɔːˈtreɪ/ (bre, ipa) · /pɔːrˈtreɪ/ (ame, ipa) · /pȯr-ˈtrā pər-/ (ame, mw)
portray — 動詞
1. to create a picture or artistic description of a person, place, or thing.
描繪
以圖像或文藝呈現形象
to create a picture or artistic description of a person, place, or thing.
A young artist portrayed her grandfather with a soft smile and tired eyes.
一位年輕畫家把祖父描繪成帶著柔和微笑、眼神疲憊的模樣。
portray + person in a painting
The mural portrays market women carrying fruit through the old town square.
那幅壁畫描繪了老城廣場裡提著水果走動的市場婦女。
portray + scene in visual art
In his novel, Ken portrays village life during one hard winter.
在小說裡，Ken 描繪了一個艱難冬天中的鄉村生活。
The museum poster portrays the river at sunset in bright orange light.
那張博物館海報描繪了夕陽下泛著明亮橘光的河面。
Her sketchbook portrays the harbor before the new bridge was built.
她的素描本描繪了新橋興建前的那座港口。
- depict
slightly more formal; especially common for visual or detailed representation
- describe
broader and more neutral; not always artistic
- illustrate
often used for drawings added to explain a text
文法句型
portray + person/place/thing
portray + scene in art or writing
用法筆記
Object is the person, place, or thing shown. Unlike sense 2, this sense does not need an extra judgment such as 'as cruel' or 'as brave'.
常見錯誤
2. to make a person, group, or situation seem to have certain qualities when it is
塑造成
把對象寫成某種樣子
to make a person, group, or situation seem to have certain qualities when it is shown or discussed.
The article portrayed the coach as cold, ignoring his work with local children.
那篇文章把教練塑造成冷淡的人，卻忽略了他對當地孩子的付出。
portray + someone as + adjective
In the film, the city is portrayed as a place of easy money.
在那部電影裡，這座城市被描寫成一個很容易賺到錢的地方。
passive: be portrayed as + noun phrase
Some news reports portrayed the strike as a danger to public safety.
有些新聞報導把這場罷工塑造成對公共安全的威脅。
Her diary portrays school life as lonely and full of quiet fear.
她的日記把校園生活寫成孤單、處處藏著不敢說出口的害怕。
To many readers, the novel portrays fame as a bright stage with no back door.
對許多讀者來說，那本小說把名氣寫成一座燈火通明、沒有後門的舞台。
- present
broader and more neutral; common for information or arguments as well as people
- characterize
more analytical; focuses on naming a quality
- paint
vivid and less formal in this figurative meaning, as in 'paint someone as selfish'
文法句型
portray + somebody/something + as + noun/adjective
be portrayed as + noun/adjective
用法筆記
Often followed by 'as' plus a noun or adjective, and frequently passive. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense adds an angle or judgment about what the person or thing is like.
常見錯誤
3. to perform the part of a particular character or real person in a film, play, or
飾演
在影劇中扮演角色
to perform the part of a particular character or real person in a film, play, or other show.
In the new series, Aya portrays a doctor who hides a family secret.
在這部新影集中，Aya 飾演一名藏著家庭秘密的醫師。
actor + portray + role on screen
Daniel portrayed Hamlet on stage during the school arts festival.
Daniel 在學校藝術節的舞台上飾演哈姆雷特。
portray + named character on stage
The queen was portrayed by a twelve-year-old actor in the radio play.
在那齣廣播劇裡，王后是由一位十二歲的演員飾演的。
No one expected the comedian to portray such a serious father.
沒有人想到那位喜劇演員會飾演這麼嚴肅的父親。
文法句型
portray + character/person in a film or play
be portrayed by + actor
用法筆記
Used for actors and performers. The object is the character or real person acted, not the title of the film or play.