supple
/ˈsʌpl/ (bre, ipa) · [sˈʌpəl] /ˈsʌpl/ (ame, ipa) · [sˈʌpəl] /ˈsə-pəl How to pronounce supple (audio) also ˈsü-/ (ame, mw)
supple — 形容詞
- supplepositive
- supplercomparative
- supplestsuperlative
1. easy to move, fold, or twist smoothly without feeling hard or rigid
柔軟
柔軟好彎，不僵硬
easy to move, fold, or twist smoothly without feeling hard or rigid
After weeks of yoga, Hari's back felt more supple and less tight.
經過幾週瑜伽練習後，Hari 的背變得更柔軟，也沒那麼緊了。
supple body movement after exercise
The chef chose supple pasta sheets that folded neatly around the filling.
主廚選了柔軟的義大利麵皮，能整齊地包住內餡。
Rin rubbed oil into the leather until it became dark and supple.
Rin 把油抹進皮革裡，直到它變得又深色又柔軟。
Years of dance training kept Antonia's ankles supple for quick turns.
多年的舞蹈訓練讓 Antonia 的腳踝保持柔軟，方便快速轉身。
用法筆記
Often used for bodies, muscles, leather, cloth, or other things that bend smoothly. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about adapting to change rather than physical movement.
常見錯誤
2. quick to adjust helpfully when needs, plans, or conditions change
靈活
能隨情況迅速調整
quick to adjust helpfully when needs, plans, or conditions change
Caleb stayed supple when the client changed the design two days before launch.
客戶在上線前兩天改設計時，Caleb 仍然很靈活地應對。
supple person adapting under pressure
A supple manager can change plans without confusing the whole team.
靈活的經理能改變計畫，同時不讓整個團隊亂掉。
When the storm closed the bridge, Dewi stayed supple and found another route.
暴風雨封閉橋梁時，Dewi 仍保持靈活，另找了一條路。
The charity needs a supple approach as food prices rise each month.
隨著食物價格每個月上漲，這家慈善機構需要更靈活的做法。
- adaptable
the most direct everyday synonym for changing to fit new conditions
- flexible
broader and more common, especially for plans and rules
- responsive
emphasizes reacting quickly to what is happening
- rigid
unable or unwilling to adjust
- inflexible
formal word for not adapting to change
用法筆記
Most often used for people, thinking, or ways of working that adjust without panic. Unlike sense 1, this meaning is abstract rather than physical.
常見錯誤
supple — 動詞
- supplepresent simple I / you / we / they
- supples3rd person singular
- suppling-ing form
- suppledpast simple
1. to make something softer and easier to bend, or to become softer in that way
弄軟；變軟
使其較柔軟，或自己變軟
to make something softer and easier to bend, or to become softer in that way
The shoemaker suppled the stiff leather with oil before cutting the straps.
鞋匠先用油把硬皮革弄軟，才開始裁切皮帶。
transitive: supple + material
Warm water suppled the dry hide enough for Gabriel to shape it.
溫水把乾硬的獸皮弄軟了，Gabriel 這才好塑形。
After an hour by the fire, the old belt had suppled again.
在火邊放了一小時後，那條舊皮帶又變軟了。
The baker let the dough rest until it suppled and rolled out smoothly.
麵包師讓麵團靜置，直到它變軟，擀起來才順。
- stiffen
to become or make something firm and less bendable
文法句型
supple + noun phrase
noun phrase + supple
用法筆記
Usually found in writing about leather, cloth, dough, or similar materials. The transitive use is more common than the intransitive use.