simmer
/ˈsɪmə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsɪmər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsi-mər/ (ame, mw) · /ˈsɪm.ər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsɪm.ɚ/ (ame, ipa)
simmer — 動詞
- simmerpresent simple I / you / we / they
- simmershe / she / it
- simmeredpast simple
- simmering-ing form
1. to heat a liquid, or food in a liquid, so that small bubbles rise but it does no
文火慢煮
以接近沸騰的低溫慢慢煮
to heat a liquid, or food in a liquid, so that small bubbles rise but it does not reach a full boil; the heat is steady and low.
Sumin lowered the heat and let the curry simmer for forty minutes.
Sumin 把火轉小，讓咖哩文火慢煮了四十分鐘。
transitive: let + something + simmer + for + duration
The soup should simmer gently until the carrots feel soft when you poke them.
湯應該慢慢煨煮，直到紅蘿蔔用筷子一戳就軟。
intransitive: simmer + adverb (gently)
Christopher simmered the chicken bones with onion and ginger to make a clear stock.
Christopher 把雞骨頭和洋蔥、薑一起小火慢燉，熬出一鍋清湯。
Once the sauce starts to boil, turn the burner down so it simmers instead.
醬汁一開始滾，就把爐火轉小，讓它維持小火慢煮的狀態。
Charlotte covered the pot and left the beans to simmer while she chopped the herbs.
Charlotte 蓋上鍋蓋，讓豆子小火慢燉，自己去切香草。
- boil
heat liquid until it bubbles rapidly across the whole surface
文法句型
simmer + noun
let something simmer
simmer for + duration
用法筆記
Frequently used in cooking instructions with adverbs like 'gently' or 'slowly', and with duration phrases ('for 20 minutes'). Contrasts directly with 'boil' — a boil has rolling bubbles, a simmer has small, slow ones.
常見錯誤
2. of an argument, bad feeling, or trouble: to build up quietly under the surface o
醞釀；悶燒
情緒或衝突在表面下慢慢累積
of an argument, bad feeling, or trouble: to build up quietly under the surface over time, ready to break out into open conflict.
Resentment had been simmering between the two brothers since their father's will was read.
自從父親的遺囑公布後，兩兄弟之間的怨恨就一直在暗中醞釀。
subject is an emotion word; simmer + between + parties
Anjali sat quietly at the dinner table, simmering with anger after the argument with her mother.
和母親吵完架，Anjali 安靜地坐在餐桌前，心裡滿是悶燒的怒火。
simmer with + emotion (describes a person)
Tensions between the two villages had simmered for years before the river dispute finally exploded.
在河流爭議真正爆發之前，兩個村子之間的緊張早就暗潮洶湧好幾年了。
A quiet resentment simmered below the surface of the office, but no one wanted to speak first.
辦公室裡有一股無聲的怨氣在暗中醞釀，但沒有人想先開口。
文法句型
simmer with + emotion
tensions simmer
anger simmers + below the surface
用法筆記
Subject is typically an emotion word ('anger', 'resentment', 'tension') OR a person plus 'with' + emotion ('simmering with rage'). Implies that the feeling is hidden but could erupt — distinguish from sense 1 by checking whether the subject is liquid/food (sense 1) or feeling/conflict (sense 2).
常見錯誤
simmer — 名詞
1. a steady cooking heat that keeps a liquid just below boiling — small bubbles ris
微滾；小火
液體略低於沸點、表面微微冒泡的狀態
a steady cooking heat that keeps a liquid just below boiling — small bubbles rise to the top but the surface stays calm.
Bring the broth to a simmer, then add the dumplings one by one.
把高湯煮到微滾，再一顆一顆放入水餃。
bring + liquid + to a simmer (standard recipe phrase)
Hoa kept the stew on a simmer for two hours while the rice cooker beeped.
Hoa 把燉菜維持在微滾狀態煮了兩個小時，而電鍋一直在旁邊嗶嗶叫。
keep + something + on a simmer
Reduce the heat to a low simmer once the sauce thickens.
等到醬汁變稠之後，把火轉到小火微滾就好。
Ezra held the soup at a gentle simmer for the last fifteen minutes of the recipe.
Ezra 在食譜最後的十五分鐘，把湯維持在輕輕微滾的狀態。
- low boil
loose informal alternative; cooks sometimes say 'a low boil' for a slightly more active simmer
- rolling boil
rapid bubbling across the whole surface; the opposite cooking intensity
文法句型
bring + something + to a simmer
on a simmer
at a simmer
用法筆記
Almost always appears in cooking instructions, usually after 'bring to', 'on', 'at', or 'reduce to'. Use the countable form with 'a' — 'a gentle simmer', 'a low simmer'.