ping

ping — verb

1. if a small hard object pings, it makes a brief, high ringing noise, usually when

1.動詞不及物B2
釋義

if a small hard object pings, it makes a brief, high ringing noise, usually when it strikes metal, glass, or another firm surface.

例句

A small stone pinged off the side of Marcus's car as he drove past.

ping off + [surface]: stray object hitting metal

The microwave pinged loudly to tell Sarah that her soup was ready.

machine signal: device + ping

同義詞
  • ding

    very similar; often used for a single bell-like signal from a machine or counter

  • chime

    softer and more musical, often from a clock, doorbell, or set of bells

  • ring

    broader; can describe longer sounds and is the standard verb for phones and bells

反義詞
  • thud

    a low, dull sound made by something soft or heavy hitting a surface

文法句型

[hard object] + ping

ping against / on / off + [surface]

用法筆記

Subject is typically a small hard object (stone, bullet, coin) hitting a firm surface, or a machine that signals with a brief tone (microwave, oven, lift). Distinguish from sense 4, which is reserved for the unwanted knocking noise of a faulty engine.

常見錯誤

❌The drum pinged when he hit it.
✅The drum thudded when he hit it.
💡'ping' needs a high, ringing tone, not a low or dull one.
❌A pillow pinged off the wall.
✅A pillow thumped against the wall.
💡soft objects do not make a pinging sound.

2. to send someone a short text, chat, or email, often to remind them about somethi

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to send someone a short text, chat, or email, often to remind them about something or to get a quick reply.

例句

Ping me on Slack when the meeting room is free.

ping + [person] + when-clause: workplace request

Yuki pinged her boss to ask if she could leave early on Friday.

ping + [person] + to-infinitive: brief check-in

同義詞
  • message

    neutral; works in any register and across all platforms

  • text

    specifically a phone SMS or chat-app message

  • shoot

    also informal: 'shoot me an email' suggests something quick and small

文法句型

ping + [person]

ping + [person] + [message]

ping + [person] + when/if-clause

用法筆記

Informal and most common in workplace chat tools (Slack, Teams), texting, and email. Object is normally a person or small group rather than a company or system. Often paired with a follow-up clue like 'when…', 'if…', or a specific platform such as 'on WhatsApp'.

常見錯誤

❌I pinged a message to him.
✅I pinged him a message.' or 'I pinged him about the report.
💡the person is the direct object, not the message.
❌Please ping the client a formal contract by post.
✅Please send the client a formal contract by post.
💡'ping' is too casual for paper documents or formal writing.

3. to send a tiny test signal from your computer to another device or server on a n

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

to send a tiny test signal from your computer to another device or server on a network in order to check that it is online and replying.

例句

The engineer pinged the office router to find out why the WiFi kept dropping.

ping + [device]: network troubleshooting

Try pinging the server before you reboot the whole machine.

ping + [server]: standard diagnostic step

同義詞
  • probe

    broader technical term for sending any test signal; not limited to ICMP

  • poll

    to check a device repeatedly at fixed times rather than once

文法句型

ping + [server / IP address / device]

用法筆記

Used by network engineers, system administrators, and gamers to confirm whether a remote machine is reachable. Object is usually a server, IP address, router, website, or other device, not a person. Distinguish from sense 2, where the object is a person and the goal is to communicate, not to test a network.

常見錯誤

❌I pinged my friend's computer to chat.
✅I pinged my friend's computer to see if it was online.
💡sense 3 only checks reachability; you do not exchange messages this way.
❌The website was pinging slowly.
✅The ping to the website was slow.' or 'The website was responding slowly to pings.
💡the verb describes sending the test, not the speed of the response.

4. (of a car engine) to make small, repeated knocking sounds because it is not runn

4.動詞不及物C1
釋義

(of a car engine) to make small, repeated knocking sounds because it is not running smoothly, often due to a fuel problem.

例句

The old Toyota's engine started pinging as Daniel drove uphill in fourth gear.

[engine] + ping: typical fault scenario

If your engine pings, switch to a higher-grade fuel and see if the noise stops.

if-clause: troubleshooting advice

同義詞
  • knock

    the standard mechanical term, often used in 'engine knock' or 'knocking sound'

  • pink

    British informal verb for the same fault, mainly heard from older drivers and mechanics

文法句型

[engine] + ping

用法筆記

Subject is normally an engine, motor, or car itself, not a person. Used in mechanical contexts to describe a fault, not a normal sound. Distinguish from sense 1: a coin or microwave pings briefly and harmlessly, whereas an engine that pings is misfiring and may need repair.

常見錯誤

❌The driver pinged the engine.
✅The engine pinged as the driver accelerated.
💡this sense is intransitive; the engine itself is the subject.
❌My car is pinging because of cold weather.
✅My car is pinging because of low-grade fuel or wrong ignition timing.
💡pinging refers to combustion problems, not weather noise.

ping — noun