stammer
/ˈstæmə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈstæmər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsta-mər/ (ame, mw) · /ˈstæm.ər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈstæm.ɚ/ (ame, ipa)
stammer — 動詞
- stammerpresent simple I / you / we / they
- stammershe / she / it
- stammeredpast simple
- stammering-ing form
1. to speak with difficulty by involuntarily repeating sounds or syllables, or by p
口吃；結巴
說話重複聲音或停頓
to speak with difficulty by involuntarily repeating sounds or syllables, or by pausing mid-word, either because of a long-term speech condition or because of a sudden strong feeling such as fear, embarrassment, or nervousness.
When the teacher called on Yuki in class, she stammered and could not finish her answer.
老師在課堂上點名Yuki回答時，她結巴了起來，無法說完答案。
intransitive use: stammer + no object
Theo stammered an apology after accidentally knocking over a stack of wine glasses.
Theo不小心撞倒一疊酒杯後，結結巴巴地道了歉。
transitive use: stammer + noun phrase
"I... I did not mean to break it," Diego stammered, his face bright red.
「我……我不是故意打破的，」Diego結巴地說，臉漲得通紅。
Aisha's hands shook as she stammered out her phone number to the police officer.
Aisha的手一邊發抖，一邊結結巴巴地向警察報出自己的電話號碼。
The young man tried to ask for directions but stammered so badly that no one understood him.
那個年輕人想問路，但結巴得太厲害，沒有人聽懂他在說什麼。
- stutter
nearly identical in meaning; 'stutter' is more common in medical contexts and American English, while 'stammer' is more common in everyday British English
- falter
suggests hesitating or losing confidence mid-speech, without the sound-repetition element
- hem and haw
informal; means to pause and avoid giving a direct answer, not necessarily with sound repetition
- speak fluently
to talk smoothly without pauses or repetition
文法句型
stammer + (that-clause)
stammer + (out) + noun phrase
stammer + quoted speech
用法筆記
Frequently used with direct speech before or after a stammered quotation. The phrasal verb 'stammer out' means to say something with great difficulty. Distinguish from noun/1 (a chronic speech condition) and noun/2 (a one-time nervous reaction): the verb can refer to either situation.
常見錯誤
stammer — 名詞
- stammersingular
- stammersplural
1. a long-term speech condition in which a person involuntarily repeats sounds, str
口吃症
長期說話重複的障礙
a long-term speech condition in which a person involuntarily repeats sounds, stretches out syllables, or gets stuck on words, making it hard to speak smoothly.
Sofia attended speech therapy for three years to help manage her stammer.
Sofia三年來一直接受語言治療，幫助改善她的口吃症。
possessive + stammer
A child with a stammer may feel frustrated when classmates laugh at their speech.
患有口吃症的孩子如果同學嘲笑他們的說話方式，可能會感到沮喪。
indefinite article: a stammer
His stammer became much less noticeable after months of practice with breathing techniques.
經過幾個月的呼吸練習後，他的口吃症狀變得不明顯了。
The support group at the hospital welcomed anyone who lived with a stammer.
醫院的互助小組歡迎任何有口吃症的人參加。
Teachers are trained to help students who have a stammer feel more confident in class.
教師受過訓練，能幫助有口吃症的學生在課堂上更有自信。
- stutter
the clinical term for the same condition, more common in American English
- speech impediment
broader term covering any difficulty with speech, not just stammering
- fluency
the ability to speak smoothly without interruption
文法句型
have + a + stammer
suffer from + a + stammer
possessive + stammer
用法筆記
Always describes a lasting condition, not a one-time event. For a momentary stammer from nerves, use noun/2. 'Stammer' and 'stutter' are largely interchangeable for this sense, though 'stutter' is the preferred clinical term in speech-language pathology.
常見錯誤
2. a brief difficulty in speaking smoothly that happens in a particular moment beca
一時結巴
緊張時短暫的說話停頓
a brief difficulty in speaking smoothly that happens in a particular moment because the speaker is scared, embarrassed, or extremely anxious, rather than from a long-term speech condition.
Mei heard a slight stammer in her own voice as she asked for a day off work.
Mei在向主管請假時，察覺到自己的聲音有一點結巴。
pattern: a stammer in [possessive] voice
There was a noticeable stammer in the witness's reply when the lawyer asked about the missing files.
律師問到遺失檔案時，證人的回答明顯帶有結巴。
Rafael tried to hide the stammer that came from his nerves during the job interview.
Rafael在面試時想掩飾因緊張而出現的結巴。
The bride spoke her wedding vows with no stammer at all, despite her nerves.
新娘在宣讀結婚誓言時儘管緊張，卻完全沒有結巴。
Hassan's answer came out with a stammer, and he immediately looked down at the floor.
Hassan的回答帶有結巴，他立刻低頭看著地板。
- hesitation
a pause in speaking, but without the sound-repetition that characterises a stammer
- falter
suggests the voice loses strength or sureness for a moment
- flow
smooth, uninterrupted speech
文法句型
a + stammer + in + possessive + voice
with + a + stammer + of + emotion
no + stammer
用法筆記
Describes a one-time reaction to a stressful situation, not a chronic condition. If the person regularly stammers across many situations, use noun/1 instead. The determiner is nearly always 'a' or 'no' — 'the stammer' typically refers to noun/1.