trenching
/ˈtrench How to pronounce trench (audio)/ (ame, mw)
trenching — 名詞
1. a long, narrow hole that is cut into the ground, used for carrying water away fr
壕溝
在地面挖出的長窄溝渠
a long, narrow hole that is cut into the ground, used for carrying water away from an area or for protecting soldiers during a battle
The soldiers dug a deep trench around the camp to keep the enemy out.
士兵們在營地周圍挖了一條深壕溝，以防止敵人靠近。
dig a trench around [place] — positioning for defence
After the heavy rain, water ran quickly through the trench beside the wheat field.
大雨過後，雨水迅速流經麥田旁邊的壕溝。
Niran used a shovel to dig a narrow trench around the vegetable patch.
Niran 用鏟子在菜園周圍挖了一條窄壕溝。
Workmen are cutting a trench in the street to lay new water pipes.
工人們正在馬路上挖壕溝，以鋪設新的水管。
文法句型
a + trench
常見錯誤
2. a long, loose coat, usually with a belt and made of water-resistant material, or
風衣
有腰帶的雙排釦長外套
a long, loose coat, usually with a belt and made of water-resistant material, originally worn by soldiers but now a common style of outerwear
Gabriela put on her beige trench before walking to the bus stop in the rain.
Gabriela 穿上她的米色風衣，然後在雨中走向公車站。
Detectives in old films often wear a trench and a hat pulled down low.
老電影裡的偵探常常穿著風衣，把帽子壓得很低。
trench — short form of trench coat
The shop window displayed a long grey trench with wide lapels and a matching belt.
櫥窗裡展示了一件灰色長風衣，配有寬大的翻領和相配的腰帶。
Yumi bought a lightweight trench for her trip to London in early autumn.
Yumi 為了初秋的倫敦之旅買了一件輕便風衣。
- trench coat
the full, formal name of this garment
文法句型
a + trench
a + trench coat
用法筆記
Can be shortened to 'trench' in informal conversation (e.g. 'I need a new trench for autumn'). In formal writing, the full term 'trench coat' is preferred.
常見錯誤
3. a situation or level in which people continue doing something in a determined wa
戰線
比喻像壕溝戰般的僵持局面
a situation or level in which people continue doing something in a determined way, similar to soldiers fighting from fixed positions in a war
For months the city council and school board were stuck in their trenches over the budget.
好幾個月以來，市議會和學校董事會在預算問題上各自堅守戰線。
in their trenches — metaphorical stalemate
During the long strike, both the company and the workers settled into their trenches and refused to talk.
在漫長的罷工期間，公司和工人都堅守各自的戰線，拒絕談判。
The union-management negotiations turned into a trench war, with both sides repeating the same demands week after week.
工會與資方的談判變成了戰線對峙，雙方週復一週地重複同樣的要求。
In the world of advertising, agencies fight a daily trench battle for the biggest clients.
在廣告界，各家代理商每天都在戰線上爭奪最大的客戶。
- front line
more literal; 'trench' in this sense emphasizes stalemate and fixed positions
- battleground
focuses on the conflict itself rather than the entrenched position
文法句型
in the + trench
a + trench of + noun
用法筆記
Almost always used in metaphorical expressions such as 'trench warfare', 'trench war', or 'in the trenches'. The literal military meaning of the noun (sense 1) is far more common.
4. a very deep, long, narrow valley on the ocean floor, with steep sides
海溝
海底狹長陡峭的深谷
a very deep, long, narrow valley on the ocean floor, with steep sides
The Mariana Trench is the deepest place in any of the world's oceans.
馬里亞納海溝是全世界海洋中最深的地方。
proper name + Trench — naming pattern for ocean trenches
Scientists sent a small submarine down into the ocean trench to study the creatures that live there.
科學家派遣小型潛水艇深入海溝，研究生活在其中的生物。
The Japan Trench lies east of the Japanese islands, where two tectonic plates meet.
日本海溝位於日本群島以東，是兩個板塊交會之處。
The Peru-Chile Trench runs along the coast of South America, reaching depths of over eight thousand metres.
秘魯智利海溝沿著南美洲海岸延伸，深度超過八千米。
- trough
wider and shallower than an ocean trench; 'trench' implies very steep sides and great depth
文法句型
the + name + Trench
用法筆記
Always used with a capital T when part of a proper name (e.g. the Mariana Trench, the Peru–Chile Trench). Do not confuse with 'trough', which is a wider, shallower depression.
常見錯誤
trenching — 動詞
- trenchingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- trenchings3rd person singular
- trenchinging-ing form
- trenchingedpast simple
1. to cut or carve a deep mark into the surface of something, such as wood, stone,
切入；雕刻
在物體表面切割出深痕
to cut or carve a deep mark into the surface of something, such as wood, stone, or metal
Into the soft clay, the artist trenched fine lines before firing the finished pot.
藝術家在柔軟的黏土上切入精細的線條，然後將完成的陶器送去燒製。
trench + into + material — fronted prepositional phrase for variety
Using a metal ruler as a guide, Hari trenched a straight groove along the edge of the wooden board.
Hari 以金屬直尺為導引，沿著木板邊緣刻出一道筆直的凹槽。
The silver locket had been trenched with delicate swirls by Marta, creating an elegant pattern.
Marta 在銀製小盒上刻滿了精緻的漩渦花紋，營造出優雅的圖案。
To stop water from collecting against the wall, the builder trenched a channel in the stone.
為了防止積水靠近牆壁，建築工人在石頭上刻了一條溝槽。
文法句型
trench + noun (object)
用法筆記
This sense is formal and relatively rare in everyday speech. 'Cut', 'carve', or 'groove' are more common alternatives. Used mainly in crafting, stonework, or descriptive writing.
常見錯誤
2. to surround or defend a place by digging trenches, or to make a position stronge
築壕防禦
以戰壕保護或強化陣地
to surround or defend a place by digging trenches, or to make a position stronger as if protected by trenches
A hundred armed men trenched the hilltop and guarded it day and night against attack.
一百名武裝士兵在山頂築壕並日夜守衛，以防敵人進攻。
trench + place — active transitive, fortification
The general ordered his men to trench the eastern side of the camp before nightfall.
將軍命令他的部隊在天黑之前在營地東側築壕。
The defenders trenched every path leading to the castle, leaving the enemy no easy route in.
守軍在通往城堡的每條路上都築了壕溝，使敵人無法輕易進入。
The old fort had been trenched so many times that the ground around it was a maze of ditches.
這座古老的堡壘被多次築壕，周圍地面成了一片錯綜的溝渠。
- expose
to leave undefended
文法句型
be trenched (with)
trench + noun (place)
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in historical or military contexts. In modern English, 'entrench' (which carries a metaphorical sense) or 'fortify' are far more common than the bare verb 'trench'.
3. to dig a long, narrow hole in the ground, especially for water to flow through o
挖溝
在地上挖掘長窄溝渠（排水或鋪管）
to dig a long, narrow hole in the ground, especially for water to flow through or for pipes to be laid
The workers trenched the area behind the building to install a new drainage system.
工人在建築物後方挖溝，以安裝新的排水系統。
trench + area — digging for drainage
Eve trenched a line across the garden so the rainwater would not flood the house.
Eve 在花園裡挖了一條溝，讓雨水不會淹進房子。
Before planting the vines, the farmer trenched the field in straight rows.
種植葡萄藤之前，農夫在田地裡挖了一排排的溝。
The road repair crew trenched the street to reach a broken gas pipe.
道路維修人員在馬路上挖溝，以便修復一條破裂的瓦斯管。
- ditch
as a verb, 'ditch' can mean 'dig a ditch', and is more common in everyday English
文法句型
trench + noun (ground/field/road)
用法筆記
Unlike carve (sense 1), which applies to hard surfaces such as wood, stone, or metal, trench (sense 3) specifically refers to digging in earth or soft ground — for drainage pipes, irrigation channels, or utility lines.
常見錯誤
4. to gradually take away something that belongs to someone else, such as their rig
侵犯
逐漸侵犯他人的權利或領域
to gradually take away something that belongs to someone else, such as their rights, land, or time, often in a way that is not fair
The new law was criticized for trenching upon the rights of ordinary citizens.
這項新法律被批評為侵犯了一般公民的權利。
trench upon + rights/liberties — formal pattern
Neighbouring farmers began to trench on land that had belonged to the village for generations.
鄰近的農民開始侵占這個村莊世代擁有的土地。
The growing business slowly trenched upon the quiet residential area, building shops and offices.
這家成長中的企業逐漸蠶食了寧靜的住宅區，興建商店和辦公室。
Tunde felt that the new rules trenched on his freedom to choose his own working hours.
Tunde 覺得新規定侵犯了他選擇工作時間的自由。
- respect
to respect boundaries rather than cross them
文法句型
trench on/upon + noun
用法筆記
Almost always followed by 'on' or 'upon'. This sense is very formal; in modern English, 'encroach' or 'infringe' are far more common. 'Trench upon' may sound old-fashioned or literary.
常見錯誤
5. to be very near to a particular state, quality, or condition, especially one tha
瀕臨
接近某種極端狀態或特質
to be very near to a particular state, quality, or condition, especially one that is extreme or negative
What he asked for — twice the usual salary — trenched on the unreasonable.
他提出的要求——兩倍於平時的薪資——瀕臨不合理的程度。
trench on + the + adjective — nominalised quality
By interrupting every question, the speaker's comments trenched on rudeness.
這位演講者打斷每一個提問，她的言論已經瀕臨無禮。
The violence in the film is so graphic that it trenches on what most people consider acceptable.
這部電影的暴力畫面太過寫實，已經瀕臨多數觀眾能夠接受的底線。
Layla's enthusiasm for the project trenched on obsession, a preoccupation that consumed her every waking moment.
Layla 對這個計畫的熱情瀕臨痴迷，這股執著佔據了她清醒的每一刻。
文法句型
trench on + noun
用法筆記
Often used to describe behaviour or qualities that are close to being unacceptable. The closely related word 'verge' is much more common. 'Trench on' in this sense is primarily literary.
常見錯誤
6. to perform the activity of digging trenches, describing the general work rather
挖掘壕溝
為軍事或農業目的挖掘壕溝
to perform the activity of digging trenches, describing the general work rather than focusing on a specific object being dug into
Trenching through the freezing night, the soldiers prepared defensive positions for the morning attack.
在寒夜中挖掘戰壕，士兵們為清晨的進攻做好了防禦部署。
trenching — present participle as fronted adverbial
For hours under the hot sun, Eitan and his unit kept trenching as they built defensive lines across the ridge.
Eitan 和他的部隊在烈日下持續挖掘了好幾個小時的戰壕，在山脊上建立防線。
kept trenching — continuous aspect with activity verb
From dawn until dusk, the prisoners of war were forced to trench without a break.
從黎明到黃昏，戰俘們被迫不停地挖掘戰壕，不得休息。
Every spring, farmers in this region trench to prepare the rice paddies for planting season.
每年春天，這個地區的農民都會挖掘壕溝，為水稻種植季做準備。
- dig
general word; 'trench' is more specific about the shape and purpose of the digging
文法句型
trench + adverb (deeply / constantly)
用法筆記
Distinguish from verb/3 (DIG DITCH): verb/3 is transitive and requires an object (what is being trenched). This sense is intransitive — it describes the general activity of digging trenches, not the act of cutting a trench into a specific surface. Also distinct from verb/2 (FORTIFY), which focuses on surrounding or defending a position with trenches.