sing

sing — verb

1. to produce musical sounds using your voice, usually by saying words that follow

1.動詞及物 / 不及物A1
釋義

to produce musical sounds using your voice, usually by saying words that follow a tune

例句

Kwame sang a traditional folk song at his grandmother's birthday party.

transitive: sing + song

The children sang together in the school choir every Wednesday afternoon.

intransitive: sing + adverb of manner

同義詞
  • chant

    repeat words on a single or limited pitch, often religious or rhythmic

  • hum

    sing with closed lips, producing no words

  • croon

    sing softly and gently, usually love songs

  • warble

    sing with trills and runs, often describing birds

反義詞
  • whisper

    speak very softly without musical pitch

文法句型

sing + noun phrase (song/tune)

sing + to/for + noun

sing + object + direct object

用法筆記

Intransitive use is more common than transitive. The direct object is typically a song, tune, or hymn.

常見錯誤

❌I want to sing a music.
✅I want to sing a song.
💡'music' is an abstract concept; you sing a specific 'song' or 'tune.'
❌She sang for him a song.
✅She sang him a song.' or 'She sang a song for him.
💡When using both indirect and direct objects, the indirect object comes first without a preposition.

2. to make a continuous high sound, like the noise of a thin metal object or of air

2.動詞不及物B1
釋義

to make a continuous high sound, like the noise of a thin metal object or of air moving quickly through a narrow space

例句

The old kettle began to sing just before the water came to a boil.

subject: inanimate object (kettle)

Sana heard the wind sing through the crack in her bedroom window.

perception verb + sing + preposition through

同義詞
  • whistle

    sharper, more piercing sound, usually made by air or a person

  • ring

    clear resonant sound, often of metal or a bell

  • buzz

    lower, vibrating sound like that of a bee or machine

反義詞
  • hum

    lower-pitched continuous sound

文法句型

sing + preposition (through/past/with)

sing + adverb

用法筆記

Frequently used with inanimate subjects such as kettles, wind, bullets, and wires. The sound is typically thin, high-pitched, and continuous.

3. when a bird makes its natural musical calls

3.動詞不及物A2
釋義

when a bird makes its natural musical calls

例句

Every morning the sparrows sing outside Min's bedroom window.

habitual: every morning + sing

A blackbird sang from the highest branch of the old oak tree.

preposition: sing from + location

同義詞
  • chirp

    short, high-pitched bird sound, usually small birds

  • twitter

    light, quick series of chirps

  • warble

    long flowing song with trills, typical of some songbirds

文法句型

sing + preposition (from/in/on)

sing + adverb of time

用法筆記

Subject is almost always a bird or bird species. Do not use this sense for human musical performance — that belongs to verb/1.

常見錯誤

❌The cat sang on the fence.
✅The bird sang on the fence.
💡Only birds sing with this meaning. For other animals, use a different verb like 'meow,' 'bark,' or 'howl.'

4. to move someone into a particular condition or place by singing to them

4.動詞及物B2
釋義

to move someone into a particular condition or place by singing to them

例句

Darius sang his little sister to sleep after reading her a bedtime story.

sing + noun + to + state (to sleep)

The nanny would sing the children into a calmer mood whenever they were upset.

sing + noun + into + state

同義詞
  • lull

    soothe or calm someone, often without singing

  • serenade

    perform music for someone, especially romantically, outdoors at night

文法句型

sing + noun phrase + preposition/adverb

sing + noun phrase + to-infinitive

用法筆記

Frequently used with a result phrase such as 'to sleep,' 'into a mood,' or 'away.' The singing is the method by which a change happens.

5. to tell the police or other authorities about someone's secret or criminal activ

5.動詞不及物C1
釋義

to tell the police or other authorities about someone's secret or criminal activities, especially in exchange for a lighter punishment

例句

The driver began to sing as soon as the detective offered him a shorter sentence.

collocation: begin to sing

Kwame refused to sing, even after hours of questioning in the police station.

negative: refused to sing

同義詞
  • inform

    neutral term; less colourful but used in all contexts

  • rat out

    slang, even more informal than 'sing', strongly negative

  • confess

    admit one's own guilt, not necessarily about others

反義詞

文法句型

sing + to + police/authorities

sing + about + noun phrase

用法筆記

Slang term from American criminal jargon, drawn from the phrase 'sing like a canary.' Typically used in informal law-enforcement contexts.

常見錯誤

❌The witness sang about what she saw in court.
✅The witness told the court what she saw.
💡'sing' is slang for informing on accomplices, not for giving general testimony.

sing — noun