triggering
/ˈtrɪɡərɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · [trˈɪɡɚɪŋ] /ˈtrɪɡərɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · [trˈɪɡɚɪŋ] /ˈtri-gər How to pronounce trigger (audio)/ (ame, mw)
triggering — 形容詞
- triggeringpositive
- more triggeringcomparative
- most triggeringsuperlative
1. describes something that makes a person suddenly feel very upset, anxious, or fr
引發創傷的
引發強烈負面情緒的
describes something that makes a person suddenly feel very upset, anxious, or frightened because it brings back memories of a painful past event
The war scenes were too triggering for Fatima, who lived through conflict as a child.
戰爭場景對 Fatima 來說太容易引發創傷，因為她童年經歷過戰亂。
triggering + for + person who experienced trauma
Some social media posts now carry a warning if they contain triggering content.
有些社群媒體貼文現在會附上警語，標明內容可能引發創傷。
triggering content — common collocation in online contexts
Loud arguments can be triggering for people who grew up in unstable homes.
激烈的爭吵對在不穩定家庭中長大的人來說，可能引發強烈的情緒反應。
The therapist advised Amir to avoid triggering situations until he felt stronger.
治療師建議 Amir 在感到更堅強之前，避免接觸可能引發創傷的場合。
The old photographs were unexpectedly triggering for Elena.
那些舊照片出乎意料地引發了 Elena 的創傷反應。
- upsetting
less specific; can refer to any emotional distress, not just trauma-related
- distressing
more formal, emphasises emotional pain but not exclusively trauma-linked
- traumatic
stronger; describes the event itself rather than the reminder effect
文法句型
triggering + for + person
triggering + to + infinitive
用法筆記
Often used in mental health contexts. Many online forums and media platforms label content as 'triggering' to warn users who have experienced trauma.
常見錯誤
triggering — 名詞
1. an event, action, or condition that causes something else to happen or begin
觸發因素
觸發某事件或過程的事物
an event, action, or condition that causes something else to happen or begin
The rise in oil prices acted as a trigger for widespread inflation across the region.
油價上漲成為該地區普遍通貨膨脹的誘因。
act as a trigger for — cause-and-effect pattern
Work stress can be a trigger for migraine headaches in some people.
工作壓力對某些人來說可能觸發偏頭痛。
be a trigger for + medical condition
Loud noise is a common trigger for seizures in patients with certain types of epilepsy.
對於某些類型的癲癇患者來說，巨大噪音是一個常見的觸發因素。
Ananya identified the triggers that made her feel anxious during exam season.
Ananya 找出了自己在考試季節感到焦慮的觸發因素。
The report's release served as the trigger for an urgent board meeting.
那份報告的發布引發了一場緊急的董事會會議。
文法句型
trigger for + noun
trigger of + noun
act as a trigger
用法筆記
This sense is very productive in science, medicine, and business writing. The pattern 'trigger for [outcome]' is especially common in health contexts.
常見錯誤
2. the small curved piece of metal that you press with your finger to make a gun fi
扳機
槍械或機械裝置的撥動零件
the small curved piece of metal that you press with your finger to make a gun fire, or a similar part on a device that releases a spring or catch
Kwame kept his finger off the trigger until he reached the shooting range.
Kwame 的手指一直遠離扳機，直到抵達射擊場。
keep finger away from the trigger — safety instruction pattern
The hunter squeezed the trigger gently and the rifle fired with a loud crack.
獵人輕輕扣下扳機，步槍發出巨大的爆裂聲。
squeeze the trigger — common verb + noun collocation
A safety lock on the trigger prevents the gun from firing by accident.
扳機上的安全鎖可以防止槍枝意外走火。
Before cleaning the rifle, Mei checked that the trigger mechanism was completely disconnected.
在清理步槍之前，Mei 確認扳機機構已完全斷開連接。
文法句型
the trigger of + noun
pull/squeeze the trigger
用法筆記
The verb phrase 'pull the trigger' is far more common in everyday English than the noun alone. 'Squeeze the trigger' is preferred in formal marksmanship contexts.
常見錯誤
triggering — 動詞
- triggeringpresent simple I / you / we / they
- triggerings3rd person singular
- triggeringing-ing form
- triggeringedpast simple
1. to make something begin to happen, especially a process, reaction, or series of
引發；觸發
使某個過程或反應開始發生
to make something begin to happen, especially a process, reaction, or series of events
The announcement triggered a wave of panic selling on the stock market.
這項公告引發了股市的一波恐慌性拋售。
trigger a wave of + noun — result pattern
Exercise triggers the release of endorphins that make you feel happier.
運動會促使大腦釋放讓你更快樂的腦內啡。
The new policy triggered a heated debate among teachers and parents at the school.
新政策在學校的家長和老師之間引發了一場激烈的辯論。
A single mutation in the gene can trigger a chain of health problems over time.
基因中的一個單一突變可能隨時間引發一連串健康問題。
The email from Haruto triggered an investigation into the missing files.
Haruto 寄出的電子郵件引發了對遺失檔案的調查。
文法句型
trigger + noun (process/response/reaction/event)
用法筆記
The most frequent sense of 'trigger' as a verb. Works across formal and informal registers. Common in academic, medical, and news writing.
常見錯誤
2. to cause someone to have a sudden strong negative emotional reaction, especially
觸發負面情緒
使某人突然感到痛苦或焦慮
to cause someone to have a sudden strong negative emotional reaction, especially by reminding them of something painful
Fireworks triggered Wei because they reminded him of his time in a war zone.
煙火觸發了 Wei 的情緒，因為那讓他想起在戰區的時光。
trigger + person + because-clause — explains the cause
The smell of chlorine at the swimming pool triggered Noa, who had once survived a flood as a child.
游泳池的氯氣味道觸發了 Noa 的負面情緒，她小時候曾在一場洪水中倖存。
The hospital scene in the drama triggered Yuna, who had recently lost her grandmother.
劇中的醫院場景觸發了 Yuna 的情緒，她不久前才失去了祖母。
The sound of a helicopter overhead triggered Henrik, who had been evacuated from a war zone the year before.
頭頂上直昇機的聲音觸發了 Henrik 的負面情緒，他一年前才從戰區撤離。
Reading the news article triggered unpleasant memories that he had locked away for years.
閱讀那篇新聞報導觸發了他塵封多年的痛苦回憶。
- upset
gentler; less clinical than 'trigger'
- traumatise
much stronger; implies lasting psychological damage
- distress
more formal; focuses on the emotional pain caused
文法句型
trigger + person
be triggered by + event/memory
用法筆記
This sense differs from verb/1 ('START A PROCESS') because the object is always a person and the result is an emotional state, not a logical or physical chain of events. Distinguish from the adjective 'triggering': the adjective describes the stimulus itself, while the verb describes the act of causing the reaction.
常見錯誤
3. to press the trigger of a gun or other weapon so that it fires
扣扳機
扣動槍械扳機使其發射
to press the trigger of a gun or other weapon so that it fires
The soldier hesitated before triggering his rifle at the approaching target.
那名士兵在朝接近的目標扣動步槍扳機之前猶豫了一下。
trigger + weapon — direct object pattern
Liam triggered his flare gun to signal the rescue helicopter in the distance.
Liam 扣動了信號槍的扳機，向遠處的救援直升機發出訊號。
At the firing range, Sergeant Park instructed the recruits never to trigger a weapon indoors without ear protection.
在射擊場上，Park 中士教導新兵切勿在室內扣動武器扳機，除非戴上聽力保護裝置。
The race official triggered the starting pistol and the runners dashed forward.
比賽裁判扣響了發令槍，選手們向前衝了出去。
文法句型
trigger + a weapon
用法筆記
This sense is less common than 'pull the trigger' (noun + verb construction). It is used more in technical or formal writing about firearms.
常見錯誤
4. to cause a bomb, explosion, or similar device to go off
引爆
使炸藥或裝置爆炸
to cause a bomb, explosion, or similar device to go off
The demolition team triggered the explosion exactly at noon when the area was empty.
拆除小組在正午時分區域清空後，引爆了炸藥。
trigger the explosion — transitive with controlled blast
A small electrical fault triggered a gas explosion in the old factory building.
一個小電路故障在老工廠建築內引爆了瓦斯。
The bomb squad triggered a controlled explosion inside the abandoned warehouse to destroy the device safely.
炸彈處理小組在廢棄倉庫內引爆了受控炸藥，以安全摧毀那枚裝置。
The mining crew triggered a series of explosions deep inside the mountain to break up the rock.
採礦團隊在山區深處引爆了一連串炸藥，以粉碎岩層。
- defuse
to remove the triggering mechanism and prevent an explosion
文法句型
trigger + bomb/explosion/device
用法筆記
Often used in technical or safety contexts. Can be literal (bomb, explosion) or extended (a chemical reaction, a volcano eruption).