1. to cleverly plan or invent something, often a scheme or device
巧妙地策劃或發明(常指計謀或裝置)
He contrived a plan to escape from the prison.
他策劃了一個逃離監獄的計畫。
The engineer contrived a simple solution to the complex problem.
這位工程師為這個複雜的問題設計了一個簡單的解決方案。
contrive 指透過巧妙或不尋常的計畫來達成某事,常帶有刻意安排或發明的意味。
巧妙策劃
EN: to cleverly plan or arrange something, often in a deceptive way
翻譯: 巧妙地策劃或安排某事,通常帶有欺瞞的意味
設法做到
EN: to manage to do something despite difficulties
翻譯: 儘管有困難,仍設法做到某事
發明/設計
EN: to invent or design something with skill
翻譯: 運用技巧發明或設計出某物
小提醒:注意 contrive 常帶有負面含義,暗示某事是刻意、不自然或勉強為之的結果,而非自然發生。
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Contrive" from YouTube Videos
Read Montague: What we're learning from 5,000 brains
TED
“So what we do is we go into two areas- One area is called experimental economics, The other area is called behavioral economics, And we steal their games And we contrive them to our own purposes.”
1. to cleverly plan or invent something, often a scheme or device
巧妙地策劃或發明(常指計謀或裝置)
He contrived a plan to escape from the prison.
他策劃了一個逃離監獄的計畫。
The engineer contrived a simple solution to the complex problem.
這位工程師為這個複雜的問題設計了一個簡單的解決方案。
2. to manage to do something despite difficulties
(儘管困難)設法做到
She contrived to finish the project on time despite the limited resources.
儘管資源有限,她還是設法準時完成了專案。
Somehow, he contrived to get a ticket to the sold-out concert.
不知怎的,他設法弄到了一張售罄音樂會的門票。
3. to create or bring about in an artificial or forced way
人為地或刻意地製造出
The plot of the movie felt contrived and unrealistic.
這部電影的情節感覺很刻意且不真實。
He contrived an excuse to leave the meeting early.
他編造了一個提早離開會議的藉口。
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| contrive + to + V | 設法做到…;想方設法… | He contrived to make the meeting despite the traffic jam. (儘管交通堵塞,他還是設法趕上了會議。) |
| contrive + noun | 設計出;發明出;人為地製造 | The prisoners contrived an ingenious escape plan. (囚犯們設計出一個巧妙的逃脫計畫。) |
| contrive + that-clause | 策劃使…發生;設法做到… | She contrived that they would meet by "accident." (她策劃了一場讓他們「偶然」相遇的戲碼。) |
| be contrived | 顯得做作或不自然 | The plot of the movie felt contrived and predictable. (這部電影的情節感覺很做作且可預測。) |
to do 來表示設法達成的「目的」或「結果」是自然的搭配。對比範例: EN: They contrived to escape from the prison using only a spoon. 翻譯: 他們僅用一把湯匙就設法從監獄逃脫了。
EN:She contrived to meet him "accidentally" at the coffee shop.
翻譯:她費盡心機,安排了一場在咖啡店的「巧遇」。
一律使用 contrive to do 來表達設法或刻意安排去做某事,避免使用 contrive doing。
contrive vs devise
「contrive」常帶有「刻意、不自然」的負面含義,而「devise」則較為中性,指「設計或想出」解決方案。
contrive vs manage
「contrive」強調透過巧妙(有時是欺騙性)的手段「設法做到」;「manage」則較通用,指「成功處理或達成」。
contrive vs fabricate
兩者都有「人為製造」之意,但「contrive」側重「策劃、設計」出情境或藉口;「fabricate」則更直接指「捏造、偽造」事實或物品。
在轉述他人的計畫或想法時,常用來表示「設法做到」或「想出辦法」。 EN: She was telling me how she managed to contrive a meeting with the CEO. 翻譯: 她跟我說她是如何設法安排與執行長會面的。
EN:He contrived to get everyone a ticket, even though it was sold out.
翻譯:他居然想辦法幫每個人都弄到了票,儘管票早就賣光了。
常用於帶有驚訝、不以為然或略帶諷刺的語氣,強調事情的「刻意安排」或「不自然」。 EN: Did you see how he contrived to take all the credit? 翻譯: 你有看到他如何處心積慮地把功勞全攬在自己身上嗎?
EN:Somehow, she always contrives to be the center of attention.
翻譯:不知怎的,她總是有辦法讓自己成為眾人矚目的焦點。
在思考如何描述一個複雜或精心策劃的狀況時,可作為短暫停頓後的用詞。 EN: The whole situation was... well, contrived, to be honest. 翻譯: 整個情況嘛... 說實話,是人為設計的。
EN:We need to... contrive a reason for him to leave the room.
翻譯:我們需要... 想出一個理由讓他離開房間。
正式寫作注意:在正式或學術寫作中,contrive 可能帶有負面意涵(如「不自然的」、「人為捏造的」)。若想表達中性的「設計」或「發明」,建議改用 design, devise, 或 invent 等詞。
contrive to do something
verb + to-infinitive
設法做到某事;通常指透過巧妙或費力的安排達成
contrive a way
verb + noun phrase
想出一個辦法;策劃出一條途徑
contrive an excuse
verb + noun phrase
編造一個藉口;捏造理由
contrive a meeting
verb + noun phrase
策劃一次會面;刻意安排相遇
contrive a smile
verb + noun phrase
強顏歡笑;擠出笑容
somehow contrive
adverb + verb
以某種方式設法做到;總算想出辦法
contrive a plot
verb + noun phrase
策劃陰謀;構思情節(文學)
×He contrived a new method to solve the problem.
✓He devised a new method to solve the problem.
「contrive」通常帶有負面含義,暗示用計謀或不自然的方式達成某事,或用於「contrive to do」結構。對於中性或正面的「設計、發明」,應使用「devise」或「invent」。
×She contrived the meeting between them.
✓She engineered / arranged the meeting between them.
「contrive」用於「安排」時,常暗示不自然、刻意或帶有操縱意圖。若只是中性或善意的安排,使用「arrange」或「engineer」更為自然。
×I will contrive a plan for the trip.
✓I will come up with / formulate a plan for the trip.
「contrive」不適用於日常、非正式的計劃制定。它聽起來過於正式且帶有負面色彩。應使用「come up with」、「formulate」或「make」。
×Despite the rain, they contrived having a picnic.
✓Despite the rain, they contrived to have a picnic.
「contrive」作「設法做到」解時,其後應接不定詞「to + 動詞原形」(contrive to do sth),而非動名詞。這是固定文法結構。
×The dialogue in the movie felt very contrive.
✓The dialogue in the movie felt very contrived.
「contrive」是動詞。其形容詞形式是「contrived」,意為「不自然的、人為造作的」。在此語境下必須使用形容詞。