puff
puff — 形容詞
- puffpositive
- puffercomparative
- puffestsuperlative
1. Describes a piece of writing, a review, or an advertisement that praises a produ
吹捧的
用誇大讚美來推銷
Describes a piece of writing, a review, or an advertisement that praises a product, person, or event in a way that exaggerates their qualities for the purpose of promotion.
The newspaper ran a puff piece about the new shopping centre that read like an advertisement.
該報刊登了一篇關於新購物中心的吹捧文章，讀起來就像廣告一樣。
attributive use: puff piece / puff article
Kim-Ly ignored the puff reviews online and checked the actual product ratings herself.
Kim-Ly 忽略了網路上那些吹捧的評論，自己查看了實際的產品評分。
The magazine was full of puff articles about local restaurants written by their owners.
那本雜誌裡滿是當地餐廳老闆自己寫的吹捧文章。
Omar could tell the interview was a puff segment designed to boost the politician's image.
Omar 看得出來那場訪談只是為了提升那位政治人物形象的吹捧節目。
- promotional
more neutral, describing factual advertising content
- flattering
focuses on the praise itself, not the promotional intent
- uncritical
emphasises the lack of balanced or negative commentary
- critical
offers balanced or negative evaluation, the opposite of a puff piece
文法句型
puff + [noun]
用法筆記
Almost always used before a noun — puff piece, puff article, puff interview. Common in media criticism.
常見錯誤
puff — 名詞
- puffsingular
- puffsplural
1. A tiny cloud of smoke, steam, gas, or air that is suddenly released, often formi
一縷；一陣
突然噴出的小團氣體或煙霧
A tiny cloud of smoke, steam, gas, or air that is suddenly released, often forming a small ball or burst shape.
A puff of steam rose from the kettle the moment Kwame poured the hot water.
Kwame 倒熱水時，一陣蒸氣從水壺中升起。
a puff of + steam / smoke / air
The old car let out a puff of blue smoke every time it started up.
那台老舊的汽車每次發動時都會噴出一縷藍煙。
Clara blew a puff of air onto her glasses and wiped them clean with her sleeve.
Clara 對著眼鏡吹了一口氣，然後用袖子把它們擦乾淨。
A sudden puff of wind scattered the papers across the garden.
突然一陣風吹來，把紙張吹得到處都是。
Fatima watched a puff of white smoke rise from the chimney into the cold morning sky.
Fatima 看著一縷白煙從煙囪升起，飄向寒冷的清晨天空。
文法句型
a puff of + [noun]
2. A light, hollow piece of pastry made from dough that rises when baked, usually s
泡芙；酥皮
填入甜或鹹餡料的輕盈酥皮
A light, hollow piece of pastry made from dough that rises when baked, usually stuffed with a sweet or savoury filling such as cream, jam, or cheese.
The bakery sells cream puffs filled with vanilla custard and topped with chocolate.
那家麵包店賣的是內餡填入香草卡士達、表面淋上巧克力的奶油泡芙。
common food name: cream puff
Ananya bought a cheese puff from the cafe and ate it on the way to the station.
Ananya 從咖啡廳買了一個起司酥皮派，在前往車站的路上邊走邊吃。
The children loved the jam puffs that Grandma made every Saturday afternoon.
孩子們很喜歡奶奶每個星期六下午做的果醬酥皮點心。
Diego ordered a chicken puff and a cup of tea for his afternoon snack.
Diego 點了一個雞肉酥皮派和一杯茶當下午點心。
These little pastry puffs with spinach and feta are perfect for a party.
這些包著菠菜和羊奶起司的小酥皮點心非常適合派對。
用法筆記
Often used in compound names like cream puff, cheese puff, jam puff. In Taiwan, similar pastries are sold at bakeries and breakfast shops.
3. A piece of writing, a speech, or a review that praises someone or something too
吹捧；溢詞
為促銷而過度讚美的文字或言論
A piece of writing, a speech, or a review that praises someone or something too much, often for advertising or promotional purposes.
The book jacket was full of puff from famous authors who had never actually read it.
那本書的封面滿是知名作家的吹捧推薦，但那些人根本沒讀過這本書。
countable use: 'a puff' = a piece of puff writing
Newspaper critics dismissed the studio's review of the sci-fi film as mere promotional puff.
報紙評論家認為片商對那部科幻電影的評論不過是宣傳性的吹捧。
The company's annual report was mostly puff with very few real numbers in it.
那間公司的年度報告大多是吹捧之詞，裡頭沒有多少真實數據。
Amara could tell the article was pure puff designed to sell holiday packages.
Amara 看得出來那篇文章純粹是為了銷售套裝行程而寫的吹捧文章。
- criticism
focused evaluation pointing out faults
用法筆記
Uncountable when referring to the concept ('the article is full of puff'); countable when referring to a specific piece ('a puff from the author').
4. The act or sound of breathing hard and fast, especially after physical exertion.
喘氣；氣喘
費力運動後的急促呼吸
The act or sound of breathing hard and fast, especially after physical exertion.
Deepak could hear his own puff as he reached the top of the steep hill.
Deepak 爬到陡峭山頂時，可以聽到自己急促的喘氣聲。
uncountable: 'his own puff' = heavy breathing
After the race, the runners stood with their hands on their knees, catching their puff.
賽跑結束後，跑者們雙手撐著膝蓋站在那裡喘氣。
The old dog's puff was loud and ragged after chasing the ball across the park.
那隻老狗在公園裡追了幾次球之後，喘氣聲又大又急促。
Yuto's loud puff echoed in the stairwell as he climbed fifteen floors after the elevator broke.
Yuto 的喘氣聲在樓梯間迴盪，他因為電梯壞了而爬了十五層樓。
用法筆記
Common in phrases like 'out of puff' (breathless) and 'catch your puff' (regain normal breathing). More informal and less clinical than 'breath'.
常見錯誤
5. An act of taking smoke from a cigarette, pipe, or cigar into the mouth and then
吸煙；抽一口
從香煙或煙斗吸入煙霧
An act of taking smoke from a cigarette, pipe, or cigar into the mouth and then blowing it out.
Omar took a long puff of his cigarette and watched the smoke drift upward.
Omar 深深抽了一口煙，看著煙霧裊裊上升。
collocation: take a puff
Nora tapped her father on the shoulder and asked him not to take another puff near the children.
Nora 拍了拍她父親的肩膀，請他不要在孩子附近再抽一口煙。
The actor took a final puff of his cigarette before stubbing it out on the sidewalk.
那位演員抽完最後一口煙，然後在人行道上把煙熄掉。
With each puff of her pipe, a sweet smell filled the small room.
她每抽一口煙斗，一股甜甜的氣味便充滿了那個小房間。
6. A small, soft, round pad used to apply face powder or other cosmetic products to
粉撲
用來塗抹化妝粉的柔軟小墊
A small, soft, round pad used to apply face powder or other cosmetic products to the skin.
Mei-Lin dipped the puff into the powder and gently patted it onto her cheeks.
Mei-Lin 將粉撲沾上蜜粉，輕輕地拍在臉頰上。
The makeup artist handed Clara a clean puff and asked her to dust the loose powder lightly.
化妝師遞給 Clara 一個乾淨的粉撲，請她輕輕地將散粉撲在臉上。
A good powder puff should be washed every few weeks to keep it clean.
好的粉撲每隔幾週就應該清洗一次，以保持清潔。
Ananya keeps a small puff in her bag for touching up her makeup during the day.
Ananya 在包包裡放了一個小粉撲，以便白天補妝時使用。
- sponge
can be used for liquid or cream makeup; a puff is specifically for powder
7. A thick, soft bed cover with padding stitched between two sheets of fabric, simi
棉被；厚被
兩層布料夾棉縫製的床罩
A thick, soft bed cover with padding stitched between two sheets of fabric, similar in appearance to a quilt or duvet.
Grandma's puff was made of colourful patches of fabric stitched into a beautiful pattern.
奶奶的棉被由色彩繽紛的碎布縫成美麗的圖案。
Kavita pulled the puff up to her chin and settled into bed for the night.
Kavita 把棉被拉到下巴位置，窩進床上準備睡覺。
countable: 'the puff' = a quilted bed cover
The hotel bed had a white cotton puff folded neatly across the bottom of the mattress.
飯店的床上疊放著一件白色的棉質厚被，整齊地擺在床尾。
Amara washed the heavy puff in the machine and hung it out to dry in the sun.
Amara 把厚重的棉被放進洗衣機清洗，然後掛在陽光下晾乾。
用法筆記
This sense is less common in modern usage; 'quilt' or 'duvet' are now more widely used. 'Puff' for a bed cover is a regional, traditional term.
puff — 動詞
- puffpresent simple I / you / we / they
- puffshe / she / it
- puffedpast simple
- puffing-ing form
1. To take fast, noisy breaths through the mouth, whether after physical effort suc
喘氣；氣喘吁吁
運動或疲憊時費力呼吸
To take fast, noisy breaths through the mouth, whether after physical effort such as running or climbing, or because of tiredness, age, or low physical fitness.
Thomas was puffing heavily by the time he reached the fifth floor of the building.
Thomas 爬到建築物的五樓時，已經氣喘吁吁了。
pattern: puff + heavily / loudly / hard
The old dog puffed loudly after chasing the ball just a few times across the yard.
那隻老狗在院子裡追了幾次球之後，大聲地喘著氣。
Omar was puffing and sweating after just ten minutes of light gardening in the summer sun.
Omar 在夏天的太陽底下做了十分鐘輕鬆的園藝工作就開始喘氣流汗。
Diego puffed as he carried the heavy box up the stairs to his new apartment on the fourth floor.
Diego 抱著沉重的箱子爬上通往四樓新公寓的樓梯，氣喘吁吁。
The elderly hiker puffed her way up the gentle slope, stopping every few steps to catch her breath.
那位年長的健行者喘著氣慢慢走上平緩的斜坡，每走幾步就停下來喘口氣。
文法句型
puff + adverb/preposition
puff one's way + direction
用法筆記
Frequently followed by an adverb (heavily, loudly, hard) or a prepositional phrase indicating direction (up, along, through). Covers both short bursts of exertion after exercise and sustained struggling due to low fitness or age.
常見錯誤
2. To smoke a cigarette, pipe, or cigar, especially by regularly taking the smoke i
抽煙；吸煙斗
從煙具吸煙，非費力呼吸
To smoke a cigarette, pipe, or cigar, especially by regularly taking the smoke into the mouth and blowing it out in small clouds.
The old man sat on the bench puffing his pipe and reading the newspaper.
那位老先生坐在長椅上抽著煙斗，一邊看報紙。
transitive: puff + [pipe/cigarette]
Yuto stepped outside to puff on a cigarette while his coffee cooled on the desk.
Yuto 趁咖啡在桌上放涼的時候，走到外面抽了一根煙。
pattern: puff on + [cigarette/pipe]
Deepak puffed thoughtfully on his pipe as he considered the question.
Deepak 沉思地抽著煙斗，仔細思考那個問題。
The musician stood backstage, quietly puffing a cigarette before the show began.
那位音樂家在後臺靜靜地抽煙，等待演出開始。
Clara could see a woman puffing a cigar on the balcony of the hotel across the street.
Clara 看到對街飯店的陽臺上有一個女人正在抽雪茄。
- smoke
broader and more neutral; 'puff' emphasises the rhythmic action of drawing and blowing
文法句型
puff + on/at + [cigarette/pipe]
puff + [cigarette/pipe]
用法筆記
The intransitive form ('puff on a pipe') is more common than the transitive ('puff a pipe'), but both are used. Not typically used for vaping.
常見錯誤
3. To blow out smoke, steam, or air in small clouds, often repeatedly, or to cause
噴出；吹出
吹出煙霧或空氣成團狀
To blow out smoke, steam, or air in small clouds, often repeatedly, or to cause something to move by blowing.
The steam train puffed white clouds into the cold winter air as it pulled away.
蒸汽火車噴出一團團白煙，飄進寒冷的冬日空氣中，然後緩緩駛離。
intransitive: the train puffed = emitted steam
Grandmother puffed smoke rings across the table and watched them drift upward.
祖母對著桌子吐出煙圈，看著它們緩緩飄升。
transitive: puff + [smoke rings / clouds]
The old chimney puffed black smoke into the sky all through the long winter.
那根老煙囪在整個漫長的冬天不斷向天空噴出黑煙。
Amara puffed the dust off the old book before opening the cover.
Amara 在打開舊書之前，先吹掉了上面的灰塵。
A cold breeze puffed the curtains inward, and the room suddenly felt chilly.
一陣冷風將窗簾吹了進來，房間頓時變得有點冷。
文法句型
puff + [smoke/steam]
puff + adverb/preposition
puff + [object] + [direction]
用法筆記
When the subject is a machine or natural force (train, chimney, wind), the verb describes an emission of smoke, steam, or air. When the subject is a person, the verb describes a deliberate action of blowing.
4. To become larger or rounder, or to make something larger or rounder, because of
腫脹；鼓起
因空氣、液體或受傷而變大
To become larger or rounder, or to make something larger or rounder, because of air, liquid, injury, or being filled with something.
Mei-Lin's ankle puffed up badly after she twisted it stepping off the bus.
Mei-Lin 下公車時扭傷了腳踝，腫得很厲害。
intransitive: puff up = swell from injury
The bird puffed out its feathers to keep warm in the cold morning air.
那隻鳥在寒冷的清晨鼓起羽毛來保暖。
transitive: puff out + [body part]
Kavita's face puffed up after the wasp sting, so she took an antihistamine right away.
Kavita 被黃蜂螫到之後臉腫了起來，她立刻服用了抗組織胺。
The chef puffed the pastry by baking it at a very high temperature.
廚師用很高的溫度烤酥皮，讓它膨脹起來。
Omar puffed out his chest and took a deep breath before diving into the cold lake.
Omar 挺起胸膛深吸一口氣，然後跳進冰冷的湖水中。
文法句型
puff up
puff out
puff + [body part] + up/out
用法筆記
Often used with 'up' or 'out' as a phrasal verb. 'Puff up' describes swelling from injury, allergy, or pride; 'puff out' describes deliberately making something larger, like feathers or fabric.
常見錯誤
5. To show too much pride in yourself or your achievements, often by behaving in a
自大；得意
因驕傲而自大，非身體腫脹
To show too much pride in yourself or your achievements, often by behaving in a way that seems to look down on others.
The salesman puffed up with pride when his boss praised him in front of the whole team.
當老闆在全團隊面前稱讚那位業務員時，他得意地挺起胸膛。
pattern: puff up with pride
The winner of the competition puffed around the room, telling everyone about his victory.
比賽的贏家在房間裡趾高氣昂地走來走去，到處炫耀他的勝利。
Ananya's father puffed with satisfaction as he showed off his newly painted fence to the neighbours.
Ananya 的父親向鄰居展示剛油漆好的圍籬時，得意洋洋。
The young artist puffed when critics called her work a masterpiece.
當評論家稱這位年輕藝術家的作品為傑作時，她不禁得意起來。
- swell with pride
more neutral or positive; less judgemental
- strut
describes the physical behaviour that accompanies the pride
文法句型
puff up
puff + with pride
用法筆記
Often used in the phrasal form 'puff up' or with the phrase 'puff with pride'. The sense is similar to physical swelling but describes an emotional response — ego becoming visibly larger.
常見錯誤
6. To praise someone or something in an exaggerated or dishonest way, especially in
吹捧；過度讚美
為促銷而誇大讚美
To praise someone or something in an exaggerated or dishonest way, especially in order to promote them or make them seem better than they really are.
The magazine article puffed the new restaurant as the best in the city, but the food was average.
那篇雜誌文章把這家新餐廳吹捧為全市最佳，但食物其實很普通。
transitive: puff + [product/person]
Critics accused the newspaper of puffing local politicians to stay in their favour.
評論家指責該報為了討好地方政治人物而吹捧他們。
The company puffed its latest phone model as a breakthrough, even though it was just a small update.
該公司將其最新款手機吹捧為重大突破，但其實只是小幅更新。
Sofia thought the review puffed the film too much and decided to watch it before believing the hype.
Sofia 覺得那篇評論太過吹捧這部電影，決定先看看再說。
- hype
stronger and more aggressive; involves marketing buzz
- overpraise
more transparent; less about promotion and more about giving too much praise
- criticise
to point out faults in a balanced way
文法句型
puff + [someone/something]
puff + [someone/something] + up
用法筆記
Often appears in journalism contexts ('puffed by the press'). In publishing, 'puffing' describes exaggerated praise intended to sell books, films, or products. Less common now than the noun form 'puff piece'.