sweet
/swiːt/ (bre, ipa) · [swˈit] /swiːt/ (ame, ipa) · [swˈit] /ˈswēt/ (ame, mw)
sweet — 形容詞
- sweetpositive
- sweetercomparative
- sweetestsuperlative
1. having the flavour of sugar or honey, rather than sour, salty, or bitter.
甜的
像糖或蜂蜜的味道
having the flavour of sugar or honey, rather than sour, salty, or bitter.
Tunde added extra sugar to his coffee because he liked it sweet.
Tunde 在他的咖啡裡加了更多糖，因為他喜歡喝甜的。
it + adjective (object complement)
The mangoes from the farm were so sweet that Camila ate three in a row.
農場裡的芒果甜到 Camila 一口氣吃了三個。
so + adjective + that-clause
This lemon cake is less sweet than the chocolate one.
這個檸檬蛋糕沒有巧克力蛋糕那麼甜。
Mizuki prefers sweet breakfast foods like honey on warm toast.
Mizuki 比較喜歡甜的早餐食物，例如蜂蜜吐司。
A bowl of sweet red strawberries made the perfect afternoon snack.
一碗香甜的紅色草莓成了完美的下午點心。
用法筆記
The opposite is sour (for fruit), bitter (for chocolate or coffee), or savoury (for non-sweet dishes).
常見錯誤
2. giving you a good, happy feeling; enjoyable and emotionally satisfying.
美好；愉快
讓人感到快樂滿足的
giving you a good, happy feeling; enjoyable and emotionally satisfying.
For Faisal, the sweetest moment of the trip was watching the sunrise.
對 Faisal 來說，整趟旅程中最美好的時刻就是看日出。
superlative: the sweetest moment
The team tasted the sweet joy of victory after months of hard practice.
經過數月的刻苦練習，團隊終於品嚐到勝利的甜美喜悅。
collocation: sweet joy of [abstract noun]
Salma said goodbye, but the sweet memory of their time together stayed with her.
Salma 道別了，但他們共度時光的美好回憶一直留在她心中。
There is something sweet about returning home to a warm house in winter.
冬天回到溫暖的家，總有某種令人愉悅的感覺。
- pleasant
similar meaning but less emotional intensity
- gratifying
more formal; stresses fulfilment of a desire
- bitter
especially in 'bitter-sweet' contrast
- unpleasant
general opposite
用法筆記
Common in fixed expressions like 'sweet taste of success' (the good feeling from achieving something) and 'sweet victory' (a win that feels especially satisfying).
3. producing a soft, clear, and pleasing sound, especially a musical one.
悅耳的
聲音柔和動聽的
producing a soft, clear, and pleasing sound, especially a musical one.
The sweet sound of a violin drifted through the open window.
小提琴悅耳的聲音從敞開的窗戶飄進來。
collocation: sweet sound of [instrument]
Élise heard her baby's soft laughter from the next room and smiled.
Élise 聽到隔壁房間傳來寶寶輕柔的笑聲，不禁笑了起來。
Christopher found the gentle sweet melody of the flute very relaxing.
Christopher 覺得長笛溫柔悅耳的旋律非常放鬆。
Nothing is as sweet as the sound of rain on the roof at night.
沒有什麼比夜晚雨聲打在屋頂上更悅耳的了。
用法筆記
Often used for voices, musical instruments, and natural sounds such as birdsong. The opposite for sound is harsh or grating.
4. looking pleasant and gentle in a way that makes you feel fond, often because of
可愛的
小巧精緻而討人喜歡的
looking pleasant and gentle in a way that makes you feel fond, often because of being small or delicate.
The cafe had a sweet little garden with yellow flowers and old wooden tables.
那間咖啡館有一個可愛的小花園，種滿黃花，擺著舊木桌。
sweet little [noun] — common collocation for small things
Felix gave his grandmother a sweet smile when she handed him a gift.
Felix 接過奶奶給的禮物時，對她露出一個可愛的笑容。
Paloma bought a sweet ceramic cat at the market to put on her desk.
Paloma 在市場買了一隻可愛的陶瓷貓放在書桌上。
The kitten's sweet face made everyone in the room want to hold it.
那隻小貓可愛的臉蛋讓房間裡每個人都想抱抱牠。
- ugly
plain opposite for appearance
- unattractive
gentler opposite
用法筆記
Used mainly for things, animals, or children that are endearing because of their small size or innocent appearance. For adults, can imply a gentle appearance but may sound patronising.
5. having a gentle, caring nature and showing thoughtfulness towards other people.
親切
性情溫和、體貼他人的
having a gentle, caring nature and showing thoughtfulness towards other people.
It was sweet of Min to bring soup to her neighbour who was unwell.
Min 真貼心，主動帶湯給身體不舒服的鄰居。
it + be + sweet of + person + to-infinitive
Emily's sweet nature made her a favourite among the children at school.
Emily 和藹的個性使她成為學校孩子們最喜歡的老師之一。
The old man had a sweet way of talking that put everyone at ease.
那位老先生說話的方式很親切，讓每個人都感到自在。
Aunt Rosa is one of the sweetest people I know she never forgets a birthday.
Rosa 阿姨是我認識最和藹的人之一，她從來不會忘記別人的生日。
- kind
broader in meaning; sweet adds a sense of warmth and gentleness
- gentle
emphasises softness and lack of harshness
- thoughtful
stresses consideration of other needs
用法筆記
Focuses on someone character rather than their appearance. The expression 'it is sweet of someone to do something' is a common conversational pattern for appreciating kind acts.
常見錯誤
6. having a pleasant, fresh, or flowery smell that is usually light and natural.
芳香的
帶有清新花香或植物氣味的
having a pleasant, fresh, or flowery smell that is usually light and natural.
The sweet smell of jasmine filled the garden on warm summer evenings.
夏日溫暖的傍晚，茉莉花的芳香充滿了花園。
collocation: sweet smell of [flower]
Tunde picked a bunch of sweet roses for the dinner table.
Tunde 摘了一束芳香的玫瑰放在餐桌上。
Maya opened the box and a sweet flowery scent drifted into the room.
Maya 打開盒子，一股甜美的花香飄進房間。
The morning air was sweet with the fragrance of pine trees after rain.
雨後的早晨，空氣中滿是松樹的清香。
用法筆記
Used for natural scents from flowers, fruit, plants, and fresh air. For artificial smells (perfume, air freshener), sweet may imply overly strong or cloying.
sweet — 名詞
- sweetsingular
- sweetsplural
1. a small food item made of sugar or chocolate, usually eaten as a treat.
糖果
以糖或巧克力製成的小零食
a small food item made of sugar or chocolate, usually eaten as a treat.
Christopher offered the children a bag of sweets from the corner shop.
Christopher 給孩子們一袋從街角商店買來的糖果。
plural: a bag of sweets
Mizuki sucked on a sweet while she worked through the maths problems.
Mizuki 一邊算數學題一邊含著一顆糖果。
singular: a sweet
The little girl's pockets were full of sweets from the birthday party.
小女孩的口袋裡裝滿了生日派對上留下來的糖果。
Please do not eat sweets right before dinner it will spoil your appetite.
請不要在晚餐前吃糖果，會影響你的食慾。
- candy
American English equivalent for small sugar-based food
- confectionery
formal or shop-category term; broader range
用法筆記
This sense is countable and is the ordinary British English word for what American English calls candy. In American English, sweet is not used for individual pieces of candy — use candy instead.
常見錯誤
2. any kind of food that contains a large amount of sugar, such as candy, cake, or
甜食
含糖量高的食物
any kind of food that contains a large amount of sugar, such as candy, cake, or ice cream.
After cutting out salty snacks, Omar found his craving for sweets grew stronger.
Omar 戒掉鹹零食後，發現自己對甜食的渴望變得更強。
craving for sweets
The festival offered a wide range of sweets including cakes and pastries.
園遊會提供了各式各樣的甜食，包括蛋糕和酥皮點心。
Faisal's doctor told him to reduce his intake of sweets and sugary drinks.
Faisal 的醫生叫他減少攝取甜食和含糖飲料。
Paloma brought a box of assorted sweets to share with her colleagues.
Paloma 帶了一盒綜合甜食到辦公室和同事分享。
- candy
overlaps but candy is more specific; sweets is broader in British English
- confectionery
more formal category term
- savoury food
salty or non-sweet dishes
用法筆記
Often in plural form 'sweets' to refer to sugary foods in general. Overlaps with sense 1 but is broader — includes all sugary foods, not just individual pieces of candy.
3. a sweet course that rounds off a lunch or dinner.
甜品；甜點
一餐最後享用的甜味料理
a sweet course that rounds off a lunch or dinner.
For the final course the waiter brought a chocolate sweet with fresh berries.
最後一道菜，服務生端來了一份附有新鮮莓果的巧克力甜品。
indefinite article: a chocolate sweet
Salma always saved room for a sweet after dinner no matter how full she felt.
Salma 不管吃得多飽，總會留點空間在晚餐後吃一份甜品。
saved room for a sweet
The restaurant's signature sweet is a warm apple tart with vanilla ice cream.
這家餐廳的招牌甜點是溫熱蘋果塔配香草冰淇淋。
Emily ordered a sweet for the table so everyone could share a taste.
Emily 點了一份甜點放在桌上，讓每個人都能嚐一點。
用法筆記
British English uses sweet for what American English calls dessert. In a restaurant context, you may also hear pudding (especially in northern England). The American term dessert is increasingly understood in Britain too.
常見錯誤
4. the taste that sugar produces on the tongue; the quality of being sweet.
甜味
糖在舌頭上產生的味覺
the taste that sugar produces on the tongue; the quality of being sweet.
The natural sweet of the ripe peach needed no added sugar at all.
成熟水蜜桃天然的甜味完全不需要加糖。
the natural sweet of [food]
Min detected a faint sweet in the tea even though no honey had been added.
Min 可以聞到茶裡有一股淡淡的甜味，即使沒有加蜂蜜。
detect a faint sweet
The sweet of honey pairs wonderfully with the tang of fresh lemon juice.
蜂蜜的甜味和鮮檸檬的酸味搭配得恰到好處。
This wine has a pleasant natural sweet that comes from the grapes.
這款葡萄酒有一種來自葡萄本身的宜人甜味。
- sweetness
the more common abstract noun form
- sugariness
rare; describes very high sugar content
- sourness
sharp, acidic taste sensation
- bitterness
sharp, sometimes unpleasant taste
用法筆記
An abstract or semi-abstract noun. Can be modified by adjectives like natural, faint, pleasant, or overwhelming. Do not confuse with the adjective 'sweet' — this sense refers to the sensation itself.
sweet — 感嘆詞
1. said when you feel happy about a piece of news, a success, or something that has
太棒了！
表達高興或讚賞的感嘆詞
said when you feel happy about a piece of news, a success, or something that has happened.
Sweet! We got tickets to the concert Felix shouted when he read the email.
「太棒了！我們買到演唱會的門票了！」Felix 看到 email 時大喊道。
exclamation as standalone utterance
The mechanic finished the repair and said, 'Sweet! Your car is ready to go.'
技師修好車後說：「好了！你的車可以開走了。」
Sweet! The package arrived early said Christopher tearing open the box.
「太棒了！包裹提早到了，」Christopher 一邊說一邊撕開紙箱。
Sweet! I finally finished my novel said Tunde after typing the last word.
「太棒了！我終於完成小說了，」Tunde 打完最後一個字時說道。
- Great!
more neutral and widely understood across registers
- Awesome!
similar level of informality; more common in American English
- Brilliant!
British equivalent; slightly less informal
用法筆記
Very informal, used mainly by younger speakers in British and Australian English. Similar in meaning to 'Great!', 'Awesome!', or 'Brilliant!' but less common in writing. Not used in formal situations.
常見錯誤
sweet — 副詞
1. in a way that goes smoothly, easily, or works well without problems.
順暢
順利或良好運作的方式
in a way that goes smoothly, easily, or works well without problems.
Everything went sweet for the project once the team fixed the computer bug.
團隊修好電腦問題之後，專案一切進行得很順利。
phrasal verb: go sweet — informal
The new software plays sweet with the older operating system.
這套新軟體和舊版作業系統搭配得很好。
phrasal verb: play sweet — compatible
If you follow the instructions the whole setup process should run sweet.
只要按照說明操作，整個安裝過程應該會很順利。
The rehearsal went sweet for the whole band from the very first song.
從第一首歌開始，整場排練對整個樂團來說都非常順利。
用法筆記
A poetic or informal substitute for the standard adverb sweetly. Found mainly in informal speech and in lyrics or dialect writing. The standard form sweetly is preferred in most written contexts.