1. to make something less hard, severe, or intense
使某物變軟、變溫和或減輕
She used fabric softener to soft the towels.
她使用衣物柔軟精來讓毛巾變柔軟。
The company decided to soft their stance on the policy.
公司決定放緩他們對該政策的強硬立場。
「soft」作動詞時,主要用於高爾夫球術語,表示輕柔地擊球,或在特定語境中表示使某物變軟或態度軟化。
輕擊(高爾夫)
EN: to hit a golf ball softly onto the green
翻譯: (高爾夫)輕柔地將球擊上果嶺
使變柔軟
EN: to make something less hard or firm
翻譯: 使某物變得不那麼堅硬或牢固
使態度軟化
EN: to cause someone's attitude or position to become less severe
翻譯: 使某人的態度或立場變得不那麼強硬
小提醒:「soft」作動詞的用法相當有限且專業,最常見於運動(如高爾夫)情境。在一般情況下,它更常作為形容詞使用。
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Soft" from YouTube Videos
Why are these 32 symbols found in caves all over Europe | Genevieve von Petzinger | TED
TED
“You now walk the same path as these early artists And in this surreal otherworldly place, it's almost possible to imagine that you hear the muffled footfall of skin boots on soft earth or that you see the flickering of a torch around the next bend.”
1. to make something less hard, severe, or intense
使某物變軟、變溫和或減輕
She used fabric softener to soft the towels.
她使用衣物柔軟精來讓毛巾變柔軟。
The company decided to soft their stance on the policy.
公司決定放緩他們對該政策的強硬立場。
2. to reduce the impact or force of something
減輕某事物的衝擊或力道
He tried to soft the blow of the bad news.
他試圖減輕這個壞消息的打擊。
The cushion helped to soft the fall.
墊子有助於緩衝墜落的力道。
3. to make a sound or light less harsh or bright
使聲音或光線變柔和、不刺耳或不刺眼
Can you soft the lights for a more relaxed atmosphere?
你能把燈光調暗一點,營造更放鬆的氛圍嗎?
The engineer used a filter to soft the edges of the sound.
工程師使用濾波器來讓聲音的邊緣變柔和。
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| soft + noun | 使...變軟 | She used conditioner to soft her hair. (她用了潤髮乳來軟化她的頭髮。) |
| soft + up | 軟化(態度、立場等) | The politician tried to soft up the opposition before the vote. (那位政治人物試圖在投票前軟化反對派的立場。) |
| soft + on + noun | 對...寬容或軟弱 | The judge was criticized for being soft on repeat offenders. (這位法官因對累犯過於寬容而受到批評。) |
| soft + the blow | 減輕打擊或壞消息的影響 | He tried to soft the blow by offering his support. (他試圖透過提供支持來減輕這個打擊。) |
EN:Be soft with the antique vase when you dust it.
翻譯:擦拭那個古董花瓶時要輕柔些。
EN:The new manager is too soft on employees who break the rules.
翻譯:新經理對違規的員工太過心軟。
EN:She has a gentle voice and is always soft with children.
翻譯:她聲音溫柔,對待孩子總是很輕聲細語。
指「對…寬容」時用 soft on,指「對待…輕柔」時則用 soft with。
soft vs cushion
「soft」強調使某物變軟或減輕衝擊的動作;「cushion」則專指用軟墊緩衝或減輕衝擊,更具體且常用於物理保護。
soft vs moderate
「soft」側重使事物變溫和、不尖銳;「moderate」強調調節強度或速度至中等程度,常用於控制速率或激烈程度。
soft vs mellow
「soft」指使事物物理上或比喻上變軟;「mellow」專指使性格、聲音或味道變醇厚、柔和,常帶隨時間成熟的意味。
在口語中,'soft' 有時用來引述或模仿他人對某事物過於溫和或軟弱的評價。 EN: He said the manager was being too soft on the team. 翻譯: 他說經理對團隊太軟了。
EN:I know you think I'm soft, but I just prefer to avoid conflict.
翻譯:我知道你覺得我太軟弱,但我只是寧願避免衝突。
在特定語境下,'soft' 可用來強調某物缺乏硬度、強度或清晰度,帶有主觀評價的語氣。 EN: That's a soft no—I think she might change her mind. 翻譯: 那是個軟性的拒絕——我覺得她可能會改變主意。
EN:The rules here are way too soft; nobody follows them.
翻譯:這裡的規定太軟了,根本沒人在遵守。
在非正式對話中,'soft' 偶爾會作為填充詞,用於思考或緩和接下來要說的批評或不同意見。 EN: It's a, soft... not great idea, to be honest. 翻譯: 這個,該怎麼說呢...不是個好主意,老實說。
EN:Your plan is, soft... a bit unrealistic given the timeline.
翻譯:你的計畫,嗯...考慮到時間線,有點不切實際。
正式寫作注意:上述所有口語用法都極度不正式,且高度依賴語境和語氣。在學術、商業或任何正式書面文件中,應避免使用,並改用更精確、標準的詞彙(如 lenient, weak, vague, hesitant 等)。
soft land
verb + noun
使(太空船、探測器等)平穩著陸;比喻使(經濟、政策等)平穩過渡或實現軟著陸
soft-pedal
verb (transitive)
降低...的調門;淡化處理;對...輕描淡寫
soft-soap
verb (transitive)
用奉承話討好;用甜言蜜語勸說
soft launch
verb + noun
(產品、服務等)進行軟性發布、小範圍試營運
soft sell
verb + noun
進行軟性推銷、溫和銷售(以低調、提供資訊的方式說服,而非強力推銷)
soft close
verb + noun
(對會議、活動、門等)輕聲關閉;使(門、抽屜)緩慢安靜地關上
×He softed the pillow.
✓He softened the pillow.
「soft」是形容詞,不能直接當動詞使用。要表達「使…變軟」的意思,應使用其對應的動詞形式「soften」。
×She softens the butter by leaving it out yesterday.
✓She softened the butter by leaving it out yesterday.
動詞「soften」是規則動詞,過去式為「softened」。描述過去發生的動作時,應使用過去式,而非現在式。
×His apology helped to soften.
✓His apology helped to soften the tension.
動詞「soften」通常為及物動詞,需要接一個受詞(如:soften something)。使用時應明確指出被軟化的事物。
×He tried to soft his boss before asking for a raise.
✓He tried to soften up his boss before asking for a raise.
「soft」不能作動詞。片語動詞「soften (someone) up」意指「(透過討好等)使某人態度軟化、更易說服」,這是固定用法。
×The clay was soft by the potter.
✓The clay was softened by the potter.
在被動語態中,動詞應使用過去分詞形式。「soft」是形容詞,其對應動詞的過去分詞是「softened」。