sway
/sweɪ/ (bre, ipa) · /sweɪ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈswā/ (ame, mw)
sway — 動詞
- swaypresent simple I / you / we / they
- swayshe / she / it
- swayedpast simple
- swaying-ing form
1. to lean or swing gently from one side toward the other and back again, usually i
搖擺；搖晃
緩慢地左右來回移動
to lean or swing gently from one side toward the other and back again, usually in a slow, repeated rhythm
The tall palm trees swayed gently in the warm ocean breeze at sunset.
高大的棕櫚樹在溫暖的海風中於夕陽下輕輕搖擺。
adverb: gently, context: nature/wind
Diego felt dizzy after the long bus ride and swayed on his feet before grabbing a chair.
Diego 在長途公車之後感到頭暈，腳步搖晃了幾下，然後抓住了一張椅子。
sway on one's feet — unsteady standing
The children held hands and swayed back and forth to the slow rhythm of the music.
孩子們手牽著手，隨著音樂緩慢的節奏前後搖擺。
Mei-Ling watched the fishing boat sway with the waves beyond the harbour wall.
Mei-Ling 看著漁船在港口堤防外隨著波浪搖擺。
- stay still
remain in one position without moving
- stand firm
remain steady and upright without wavering
文法句型
sway + adverb/preposition
sway back and forth
用法筆記
This sense always describes a physical back-and-forth or side-to-side motion of the subject itself. The subject is often a living thing (person, animal, tree) or something tall and narrow.
常見錯誤
2. to push, pull, or shake something so that it moves slowly from one side to the o
使搖動；搖動
使某物左右移動或改變方向
to push, pull, or shake something so that it moves slowly from one side to the other or changes its position or direction
A sudden gust of wind swayed the heavy branches of the oak tree over the garden wall.
一陣突如其來的強風吹動了花園圍牆上那棵橡樹的粗壯樹枝。
passive-adjacent: direct object = tree branch
Kwame swayed the ladder away from the wall before climbing up to fix the roof.
Kwame 把梯子從牆邊搖開，然後爬上去修理屋頂。
The train braked hard and the sudden stop swayed the passengers standing in the aisle.
火車緊急煞車，突然的停頓讓站在走道上的乘客們搖晃了一下。
Fatima swayed the crying baby gently in her arms until he fell asleep.
Fatima 在懷中輕輕搖動哭鬧的寶寶，直到他睡著為止。
- steady
to hold or make something stable and unmoving
文法句型
sway + object
be swayed by + force/noun
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice when the force or cause is emphasised: 'The tree was swayed by the wind.' The agent is usually a physical force (wind, movement) or a person deliberately moving an object.
常見錯誤
3. to change someone's opinion, decision, or loyalty by applying pressure, argument
動搖；影響
改變某人的想法或決定
to change someone's opinion, decision, or loyalty by applying pressure, argument, or emotional appeal, causing them to lean toward a different side
Oliver tried to sway the committee members by presenting new evidence about the project's costs.
Oliver 試圖透過提出關於該專案成本的新證據來動搖委員會成員。
try to sway + person + by + method
Clara was not swayed by the salesman's promise of a huge discount and walked away from the deal.
Clara 沒有被銷售員誇大的折扣承諾所動搖，轉身離開了那筆交易。
passive: be swayed by + argument/person
The candidate's heartfelt speech swayed many undecided voters in the final days before the election.
那位候選人真摯的演說在選前最後幾天動搖了許多仍未下定決心的選民。
Noa's friends tried to sway her into staying in Taipei instead of moving abroad for graduate school.
Noa 的朋友們試圖動搖她，希望她留在台北，而不是出國讀研究所。
- discourage
to persuade someone not to do something
- deter
to make someone decide not to act, often through fear or doubt
文法句型
sway + person
be swayed by + argument/person
sway + person + into + doing
用法筆記
Very common in the passive voice ('be swayed by'), especially when emphasising that someone resisted or yielded to influence. Often used with a negated verb to show someone was not influenced: 'He was not swayed by their arguments.'
常見錯誤
sway — 名詞
1. the power or authority to direct what other people think, believe, or do — for e
影響；支配
控制或影響他人的能力
the power or authority to direct what other people think, believe, or do — for example, a leader's hold over a community or an idea's grip on a population
The old religious leader held great sway over the villagers for more than forty years.
那位年長的宗教領袖對村民們擁有強大的影響力，持續了四十多年。
collocation: hold sway over
Jack fell under the sway of a coach who pushed him to train harder every day.
Jack 受到一位教練的影響，那位教練督促他每天更努力訓練。
collocation: under the sway of
Traditional customs still hold sway in many rural parts of the island despite modern changes.
儘管現代社會不斷變化，傳統習俗在島上許多鄉村地區仍然具有影響力。
As a young journalist, Amara dreamed of holding intellectual sway over public opinion in her country.
身為年輕記者，Amara 夢想著自己的觀點能夠影響國內的公眾輿論。
- powerlessness
lack of ability to influence others
文法句型
hold sway (over)
under the sway of
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed expressions 'hold sway (over someone/something)' or 'under the sway of someone/something'. It is not used as a simple countable noun — you would not say 'He has a sway over them.' Instead say 'He holds sway over them.'
常見錯誤
2. a slow, gentle back-and-forth or side-to-side movement, especially of something
晃動；搖擺
緩慢的左右擺動
a slow, gentle back-and-forth or side-to-side movement, especially of something tall, hanging, or floating
The gentle sway of the train carriage made Sofia feel sleepy on the long ride home.
火車車廂輕輕的晃動讓 Sofia 在漫長的回家路上感到昏昏欲睡。
the sway of + noun (source of motion)
Jun watched the steady sway of the bamboo stalks in the morning wind from his kitchen window.
Jun 從廚房窗戶看著竹子在晨風中有節奏地搖擺。
Deepak felt the slow sway of the ship beneath his feet as it crossed the quiet bay.
Deepak 感覺到腳下船隻緩慢的搖晃，船正駛過平靜的海灣。
The dancer held a long, slow sway that matched the violin melody perfectly.
舞者保持一個長久而緩慢的搖擺動作，與小提琴的旋律完美契合。
- stillness
complete absence of movement
文法句型
the sway of + noun
a slow sway
用法筆記
Used as an uncountable or singular noun describing the characteristic gentle motion of an object. Often occurs in the pattern 'the sway of [something]' where the thing named is the source or container of the motion.