tickle

/ˈtɪkl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtɪkl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈti-kəl/ (ame, mw) · /ˈtɪk.əl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtɪk.əl/ (ame, ipa)

tickle — 動詞

  • ticklepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • tickleshe / she / it
  • tickledpast simple
  • tickling-ing form

1. to move your fingertips quickly over someone's ribs, armpits, or other sensitive

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

搔癢；胳肢

輕觸他人身體使其發笑

to move your fingertips quickly over someone's ribs, armpits, or other sensitive spots, causing them to laugh or squirm

例句

Quan tickled his little sister until she begged him to stop.

Quan 搔他妹妹的癢，直到她求他停下來。

tickle + person + until + clause

A feather brushed against Yasmin's neck and tickled her.

一根羽毛輕輕擦過 Yasmin 的脖子，讓她覺得癢。

passive-like: tickled by [object]

同義詞
  • touch

    much broader — can mean any contact, not specifically to cause laughter

  • tease

    can mean playful physical touching but more often refers to verbal joking

文法句型

tickle + person/body part

tickle + person + until + clause

常見錯誤

❌I tickled her by making a funny face.
✅I tickled her under her arms.
💡In this sense, tickling is a physical touch action, not a way of entertaining someone with words or jokes.

2. a light prickly feeling on your skin that creates an urge to scratch or touch th

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

發癢；刺癢

身體部位產生刺癢感

a light prickly feeling on your skin that creates an urge to scratch or touch the spot, whether starting by itself or from a light brush against something

例句

My nose started to tickle, and then I sneezed three times.

我的鼻子開始發癢，然後我連打了三個噴嚏。

intransitive: body part + tickle

The wool scarf tickled Asher's neck during the long walk.

那條羊毛圍巾在散步時一直刺癢著 Asher 的脖子。

transitive: object + tickles + body part

同義詞
  • itch

    stronger urge to scratch; tickle is lighter and often more surface-level

  • prickle

    sharper, more like tiny stings; tickle is softer

文法句型

tickle (intransitive) — body part + tickles

tickle (transitive) — something + tickles + body part

用法筆記

This sense works both transitively (The grass tickled her ankles) and intransitively (Her ankles tickled). The intransitive use focuses on the sensation itself rather than the cause. Not used for deep pain or strong itches.

常見錯誤

❌My foot is tickling because the shoe is too tight.
✅My foot is tickling because the grass is touching it lightly.
💡A tickling sensation is light and surface-level, not a deep pressure or pain.

3. to cause someone to feel amused or delighted, usually because something is surpr

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

逗趣；使開心

因有趣或可愛而感到高興

to cause someone to feel amused or delighted, usually because something is surprising, clever, or charming in a gentle way

例句

The thought of the shy cat chasing a fierce dog tickled João.

想到那隻害羞的貓去追一隻兇狗，這件事逗樂了 João。

[abstract idea] + tickles + person

It tickled Antonia to hear that her old teacher still remembered her name.

聽到以前的老師還記得她的名字，這件事讓 Antonia 很開心。

it tickles + person + to-infinitive

同義詞
  • amuse

    more general; tickle adds a playful, slightly unexpected quality

  • delight

    stronger, implies more joy; tickle is gentler

  • please

    broader, can refer to satisfaction; tickle is more about amusement

反義詞
  • offend

    tickle pleases; offend causes displeasure or anger

文法句型

something + tickles + person

person + be tickled + by + something

it tickles + person + to-infinitive

用法筆記

Often used in the passive voice (be tickled by). The subject is usually an idea, a situation, a remark, or someone's behaviour — not a person deliberately trying to amuse. Less intense than 'hysterical' or 'hilarious'; tickle suggests a quiet, pleasant amusement.

常見錯誤

❌The joke tickled him to go to the party.
✅The joke tickled him so much he could not stop smiling.
💡In this sense tickle does not mean 'cause someone to do something'; it only describes the emotional reaction of amusement.

tickle — 名詞