turn

/tɜːn/ (bre, ipa) · /tɜːrn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtərn/ (ame, mw) · /tɝːn/ (ame, ipa)

turn — 動詞

  • turnpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • turnshe / she / it
  • turnedpast simple
  • turning-ing form

1. To go around a centre point in a full circle, or to make an object go around lik

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

旋轉;轉動

圍繞中心點移動,或使物體如此移動

To go around a centre point in a full circle, or to make an object go around like this — for example, a wheel turning or someone turning a handle.

例句

The Earth turns on its axis once every twenty-four hours.

地球每二十四小時繞著地軸旋轉一圈。

intransitive: turn on + [axis]

Mira turned the handle slowly and pushed the old wooden door open.

Mira 轉動門把,輕輕推開了那扇舊木門。

transitive: turn + [object] to operate

同義詞
  • rotate

    more technical or formal; used for scientific or mechanical contexts

  • revolve

    implies moving in a circle around something outside the object itself, like a planet around the sun

  • spin

    suggests fast, continuous rotation; less controlled than 'turn'

文法句型

turn + (around/on) [axis or central point]

turn + [object] + (around/on [point])

用法筆記

The subject is often a wheel, handle, key, planet, or machine part. When transitive, the object is the thing you rotate.

常見錯誤

She spin the handle to open the door.
She turned the handle to open the door.
💡'spin' suggests fast, continuous rotation; 'turn' is better for a single movement to a specific position.

2. to move your body or part of your body so that it faces a different direction, o

2.動詞及物B1
釋義

轉身;轉體

讓身體或身體部位轉向不同方向

to move your body or part of your body so that it faces a different direction, often by rotating in place.

例句

Diya turned around when she heard someone call her name from behind.

Diya 聽到有人從後面喊她的名字,便轉過身來。

turn around: rotate body to face the opposite direction

The dancers turned gracefully in time with the music during the performance.

舞者們隨著音樂節奏優雅地轉圈。

同義詞
  • twist

    suggests moving only the upper body while the lower body stays still

  • swivel

    implies a smooth, controlled rotation, often while sitting on a chair

文法句型

turn + [body part]

turn + [reflexive] + around/round

用法筆記

Common with 'around' or 'round' to imply a full or partial rotation of the body. Frequent reflexive pattern: 'turn yourself around'.

3. To go or face a new way instead of continuing in the same direction — for instan

3.動詞及物 / 不及物A2
釋義

轉向;轉彎

改變行進或面向的方向

To go or face a new way instead of continuing in the same direction — for instance, turning your car left onto a side street or turning your body to look behind you.

例句

Turn left at the traffic lights and the post office will be on your right.

在紅綠燈處向左轉,郵局就在你的右手邊。

imperative: turn + [direction] + at [landmark]

The narrow path turns sharply after the big oak tree near the river.

河邊那棵大橡樹之後,狹窄的小徑突然急轉彎。

intransitive: path/road + turns + [adverb]

同義詞
  • change direction

    more explicit and formal; used when clarity is needed

  • veer

    implies a sudden or uncontrolled change of direction

  • swerve

    suggests a quick movement to avoid something

反義詞
  • go straight

    continuing in the same direction without turning

文法句型

turn + [direction] (left/right/back)

turn + into/onto [road/street]

turn + [vehicle/thing] + [direction]

用法筆記

This is the most common everyday sense of 'turn'. Often used with direction words (left, right, back, around) and prepositions like 'into' and 'onto'.

常見錯誤

Please left turn at the corner.
Please turn left at the corner.
💡In English, the verb 'turn' comes before the direction word.

4. In cricket, when the ball bounces off the ground and changes direction sharply i

4.動詞不及物B2
釋義

轉彎

板球中球落地後改變方向

In cricket, when the ball bounces off the ground and changes direction sharply instead of travelling in a straight line.

例句

The ball turned sharply off the pitch and surprised the batsman completely.

球在球場上落地後急轉方向,讓打擊手完全措手不及。

cricket-specific: ball + turns + off [surface]

Spinners spend years practising to make the ball turn more effectively on dry pitches.

旋球投手花了好幾年練習,才能在乾燥的球場上讓球更有效地旋轉。

同義詞
  • spin

    a related but distinct term: 'spin' describes how the bowler makes the ball turn

文法句型

ball + turns + (sharply/suddenly/away from)

用法筆記

This sense is specific to cricket. The subject is always a ball, and the context is almost always about spin bowling.

5. To reposition something like a page, a piece of food, or a card so the underside

5.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

翻轉;翻動

移動物體使其不同面朝上

To reposition something like a page, a piece of food, or a card so the underside faces up, or to be repositioned like this.

例句

Eric turned the page and continued reading the next chapter of the book.

Eric 翻了一頁,繼續讀那本書的下一章。

turn the page: common collocation for reading

The chef turned the steak with a pair of metal tongs to cook it evenly.

主廚用一把金屬夾子把牛排翻面,讓它均勻受熱。

同義詞
  • flip

    suggests a quicker, lighter movement, often with the hand

  • invert

    formal; means to turn upside down completely

  • reverse

    implies changing the order or side, often used for clothing or surfaces

文法句型

turn + [object] + over/around/upside down

turn + the page

用法筆記

Very common with page, mattress, card, soil, or food being cooked. The particle 'over' or 'around' often follows to make the action explicit.

6. to change from one state, quality, or form into another, such as when leaves cha

6.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

變成;轉變為

從一種狀態變成另一種

to change from one state, quality, or form into another, such as when leaves change colour in autumn or when milk goes sour.

例句

The leaves turn bright orange and red when autumn arrives each year.

每年秋天來臨時,樹葉就會變成亮橘色和紅色。

linking verb: turn + [colour adjective]

The milk turned sour because the children forgot to put it back in the fridge.

牛奶酸掉了,因為孩子們忘了把它放回冰箱。

turn + [adjective describing unwanted state]

同義詞
  • become

    more general and neutral; 'turn' often implies a more noticeable or dramatic change

  • change into

    more explicit about the transformation; used with nouns

  • go

    informal, used with negative states only: go bad, go mad, go wrong

反義詞
  • stay

    to remain in the same state or condition

  • remain

    formal, to continue being the same

文法句型

turn + [adjective]

turn + into + [noun]

turn + [noun]

用法筆記

This is a linking verb (copular) sense, similar to 'become'. It is followed by an adjective (turn cold, turn red) or 'into' + noun (turn into a monster). Do not confuse with sense 5 (FLIP OVER) which is about physical position rather than change of state.

常見錯誤

The weather turned to be cold.
The weather turned cold.
💡With adjectives, do not add 'to be'; use 'turn' + adjective directly.

7. to reach a particular age, especially a round-number birthday such as twenty, th

7.動詞不及物C1
釋義

屆滿

達到某個歲數

to reach a particular age, especially a round-number birthday such as twenty, thirty, or forty

例句

Allison turned thirty last week and celebrated with a party at her favourite restaurant.

Allison 上週滿三十歲,在她最喜歡的餐廳辦了一場派對慶祝。

turn + age for milestone birthday

Christopher will turn eighteen just before the summer trip with his classmates.

Christopher 會在暑假和同學出遊前滿十八歲。

同義詞
  • reach

    more general and less tied to the birthday context

  • hit

    informal, common in American English for milestone ages

文法句型

turn + number (age)

用法筆記

Subject is always a person, and the age is always a specific number. Do not add 'years old' after the number.

常見錯誤

She turned thirty years old last week.
She turned thirty last week.
💡The word 'turn' already includes the idea of reaching an age; adding 'years old' is redundant.

8. to reach or pass a particular time of day or night

8.動詞不及物C1
釋義

到點

時間到了某個時刻

to reach or pass a particular time of day or night

例句

It had just turned midnight when the power went out across the whole street.

剛過午夜,整條街就停電了。

it + turn + time for clock time

Ilan promised to be home before it turned ten, but he arrived much later.

Ilan 答應在十點前回家,但他到了很晚才到。

同義詞
  • become

    more general; can be used for any change of state, not just time

  • reach

    less common in everyday speech for clock time

文法句型

it + turn + time

用法筆記

Subject is almost always 'it' (dummy subject). This sense does not take an article before the time — 'it turned midnight', not 'it turned the midnight'.

常見錯誤

It turned the midnight.
It turned midnight.
💡No article is needed before the time when using 'turn'.

9. to move a switch, button, or handle on a device to change what it produces, for

9.動詞及物 / 不及物A2
釋義

調節

操作開關或旋鈕改變設備狀態

to move a switch, button, or handle on a device to change what it produces, for example starting or stopping it or making it stronger or weaker

例句

Beatrix turned the tap and filled the kettle with cold water for tea.

Beatrix 轉開水龍頭,把水壺裝滿冷水泡茶。

turn + [noun] + to operate a device

Rania turned the radio up when her favourite song came on.

Rania 在喜歡的歌播出時把收音機轉大聲。

turn + [noun] + up/down for volume

同義詞
  • adjust

    more formal; suggests fine-tuning rather than switching on or off

  • switch

    specific to electrical on/off actions; less common for water or gas

文法句型

turn + noun + on/off/up/down

用法筆記

Commonly used with on/off/up/down to indicate direction of change. The object can be any device with a control: light, radio, television, tap, oven, heating, etc.

常見錯誤

❌ 'Turn on the light, please.' — (actually correct!) Just ensure the object is placed correctly: 'Turn on the light' and 'Turn the light on' are both fine with separable phrasal verbs.

10. to injure a muscle in your foot or ankle by twisting it suddenly or in an awkwar

10.動詞及物
釋義

扭傷

突然扭轉腳踝造成肌肉損傷

to injure a muscle in your foot or ankle by twisting it suddenly or in an awkward way, causing pain and swelling

例句

Minh turned his ankle running down the stairs and had to sit for a while.

Minh 跑下樓梯時扭傷了腳踝,只好坐下來休息一會兒。

turn + possessive + ankle for injury

Sofia turned her foot on a loose stone at the park and limped home.

Sofia 在公園踩到鬆動的石頭扭傷了腳,一跛一跛地走回家。

同義詞
  • twist

    more general; can be done deliberately without injury

  • sprain

    medical term for damaging a ligament by stretching or tearing it

文法句型

turn + possessive + ankle/foot

用法筆記

The object is almost always 'ankle' or 'foot'. The passive form ('His ankle was turned') is much less common than the active form with a possessive.

常見錯誤

I turned my arm.
I turned my ankle.
💡This sense describes a specific foot or ankle injury caused by twisting; it is not used for other body parts.

11. to use a lathe to make wooden objects by cutting and smoothing them as they spin

11.動詞及物
釋義

車削

在車床上旋轉木頭並切割成形

to use a lathe to make wooden objects by cutting and smoothing them as they spin rapidly

例句

Minh turned a wooden bowl on his lathe as a birthday gift for his mother.

Minh 用車床車削了一個木碗,送給媽媽當生日禮物。

turn + [object] + on a lathe for woodworking

The craftsman turned four table legs from a single block of oak in one afternoon.

那位工匠一個下午就用一塊橡木車削出四條桌腳。

同義詞
  • shape

    general term; does not specify the method or tool

  • carve

    uses a cutting or chipping action rather than spinning on a lathe

文法句型

turn + noun + on a lathe

用法筆記

This sense belongs to woodworking and is uncommon in everyday conversation. The object can be the material (wood, oak) or the finished item (bowl, leg).

turn — 名詞