「character」作動詞時，主要表示「刻畫、描繪」或「賦予特色」。
刻畫、描繪
EN: to inscribe, engrave, or write characters
翻譯: 刻上文字或符號；書寫。
描述、塑造
EN: to describe or portray the qualities of someone/something
翻譯: 描述或塑造某人/某物的特質。
賦予特色
EN: to give a distinctive character to something
翻譯: 使某事物具有獨特的特徵或風格。
小提醒：注意「character」作動詞使用時較為正式或文學化，在日常口語中較少見，通常會用更簡單的動詞如「describe」、「portray」或「carve」來替代。
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Real-life Examples of "Character" from YouTube Videos
Synthetic Media: Virtual Influencers & Live Animation: Figments (S19) - YC Gaming Tech Talks 2020
Y Combinator
“this robot with a jetpack here it's name is morales. it's our first character. it's a robot created to crush humanity at super smash brothers ultimate uh.”
1. to describe the distinctive nature or features of someone or something
描述（某人或某物）的特質或特徵
The author skillfully characters the protagonist as a conflicted hero.
作者巧妙地將主角刻畫成一個內心矛盾的英雄。
The report characters the economic situation as unstable.
這份報告將經濟形勢描述為不穩定。
2. to inscribe or write characters (letters, symbols) on a surface
在表面上刻寫或書寫字元（字母、符號）
The ancient stone was charactered with runes.
這塊古老的石頭上刻有盧恩符文。
He carefully charactered his initials on the leather cover.
他小心翼翼地在皮革封面上刻下自己名字的縮寫。
3. to give a particular quality or character to something
賦予某物特定的品質或特性
The local cuisine is charactered by its use of fresh herbs.
當地菜餚的特色在於使用新鮮香草。
His leadership charactered the entire organization with a sense of urgency.
他的領導為整個組織賦予了一種緊迫感。
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| character + noun | 刻畫…的特徵 | The novel brilliantly character the protagonist's inner conflict. (這部小說精彩地刻畫了主角的內心衝突。) |
| be + character + as + noun/adjective | 被描繪為… | He is character as a tragic hero in the biography. (他在傳記中被描繪為一位悲劇英雄。) |
| character + someone/something + as + noun/adjective | 將…描繪成… | The artist character the landscape as a living entity. (這位藝術家將風景描繪成一個有生命的實體。) |
| character + oneself + as + noun/adjective | 將自己表現為… | She character herself as a fearless leader. (她將自己表現為一位無所畏懼的領袖。) |
EN:He is best known for his character as a detective in the TV series.
翻譯:他最為人熟知的是他在電視劇中扮演的偵探角色。
描述內在特質或品德時用 character of，指扮演的角色或身份時則用 character as。
character vs depict
「character」強調刻畫或塑造（人物）的本質與特質，而「depict」則側重於描繪或再現（場景、事件）的外在形象或畫面。
character vs describe
「character」專注於定義或呈現核心特質與性格，而「describe」則是對外貌、細節或過程進行一般性的敘述。
character vs portray
「character」側重於文字上對內在本質的定義與刻畫，而「portray」則強調（尤其在表演或藝術中）對形象的生動呈現或演繹。
當引述他人對某人或某事的描述時，口語中常會用 "character" 來開頭，帶有「形容為...」、「說成是...」的意味。 EN: He was characterized as a stubborn old man by his neighbors. 翻譯: 鄰居們把他形容成一個頑固的老頭。
EN:Don't characterize my caution as fear.
翻譯:別把我的謹慎說成是膽小。
在對話中，使用 "character" 可以強調對某人或某物核心特質的定義或判定，語氣通常較為主觀或帶有評價性。 EN: I'd characterize their relationship as more competitive than friendly. 翻譯: 要我說，他們的關係與其說是友好，不如說是競爭。
EN:That one mistake shouldn't characterize your entire performance.
翻譯:不該讓那一次失誤就定義了你的整體表現。
在組織想法或短暫停頓時，有時會用 "How would I characterize this..." 或 "To characterize it..." 作為填充語，引出接下來的描述或總結。 EN: The feeling was... how should I characterize it... bittersweet. 翻譯: 那種感覺是...該怎麼形容呢...苦樂參半。
EN:To characterize the meeting in one word: unproductive.
翻譯:用一個詞來形容這次會議的話：沒效率。
正式書寫注意：在學術或正式報告中，"characterize" 是一個相當精確的術語，意指「描述...的特徵」或「將...歸類」。口語中較隨意、主觀的用法（如用於語氣強調或停頓填充）在正式寫作中應避免，應改用更客觀、有依據的陳述。
character (someone) as (something)
verb + object + as + noun/adjective
將（某人）描述或刻畫為（某種特質或角色）
character (something) in terms of (something)
verb + object + in terms of + noun
用（某種概念或角度）來描述或定義（某事物）
character vividly
verb + adverb
生動地刻畫
character (something) through (a lens/perspective)
verb + object + through + noun
透過（某種視角或鏡頭）來描繪（某事物）
character (someone/something) as being (adjective)
verb + object + as being + adjective
將（某人/某物）描述為具有（某種特質）
character (something) in a particular way
verb + object + in a + adjective + way
以一種特定的方式來描述或刻畫（某事物）
character (something) by emphasizing (something)
verb + object + by + verb-ing
透過強調（某方面）來刻畫（某事物）
×He charactered the role perfectly.
✓He portrayed the role perfectly.
「character」作為動詞的意思是「刻畫、描述」，而不是「扮演」。表示「扮演角色」應該用「portray」、「play」或「act」。
×The novel characters very well.
✓The novel characters its protagonists very well.
「character」作為及物動詞時，後面必須接賓語（被刻畫的對象）。不能單獨使用。
×The report tried to character the event as a success.
✓The report tried to characterize the event as a success.
表示「將…描述為、定性為」時，更常用且標準的動詞是「characterize」，而不是「character」。雖然「character」有類似意思，但在這個語義下「characterize」是首選。
×She is charactering the hero as flawed.
✓She is characterizing the hero as flawed. / She characters the hero as flawed.
「character」作為動詞極少使用現在分詞「charactering」形式。在需要表達進行時態或動名詞時，通常改用「characterizing」或重述句子。一般現在時第三人稱單數為「characters」。
×Can you character this person for me?
✓Can you describe this person for me?
「character」作動詞較為正式且文學化，日常對話中詢問「描述」某人時，應使用更通用的「describe」。