beaver
beaver — 名詞
1. a large animal with webbed feet, a flat tail, and big front teeth that uses bran
海狸
會築壩的大型半水棲齧齒動物
a large animal with webbed feet, a flat tail, and big front teeth that uses branches and mud to block rivers
A beaver dragged branches through the water at sunset.
一隻海狸在日落時把樹枝拖過水面。
typical action: carry branches
Two beavers built a dam near the camping bridge.
兩隻海狸在露營橋附近築了一座壩。
collocation: build a dam
The guide showed us a beaver home beside the river.
嚮導指給我們看河邊的一個海狸住處。
Mia found beaver teeth marks on the fallen tree.
Mia 在倒下的樹上發現了海狸啃咬的痕跡。
- castor
Technical or scientific name, not the usual everyday word.
用法筆記
Often appears with words about rivers, wood, and building. Unlike similar river animals such as otters, this sense strongly suggests cutting trees and making dams.
2. someone who keeps busy and does a lot of work
勤勞的人
非常努力工作的人
someone who keeps busy and does a lot of work
Everyone calls Nina a beaver during exam week.
大家在考試週都說 Nina 是個勤勞的人。
pattern: call someone a beaver
Our new intern is a real beaver, filing orders after everyone left.
我們的新實習生真是個勤快的人，大家走後還在整理訂單。
collocation: a real beaver
Since June, Marco has been a beaver, fixing fences before sunrise.
從六月開始，Marco 一直很勤快，天亮前就在修圍欄。
The coach called Ella a beaver after she swept the gym alone.
Ella 一個人掃完體育館後，教練說她真是個勤快的人。
- hard worker
Plain and neutral.
- workhorse
Suggests someone reliable who does a lot, often in a team.
- grafter
Mainly British informal; stresses effort.
用法筆記
Usually approving and informal. It describes steady, energetic effort, not simply having a hard job.
常見錯誤
3. a very rude slang word referring to a woman's genitals
女陰
粗俗用語，指女性陰部
a very rude slang word referring to a woman's genitals
The editor removed beaver because the article sounded crude.
編輯把 beaver 刪掉了，因為那篇文章聽起來很粗俗。
usage: offensive slang word
In that old film, beaver is used as a rude joke.
在那部老電影裡，beaver 被當成粗魯的笑話來用。
The teacher explained that beaver can offend many readers.
老師解釋說，beaver 這個粗俗字眼會冒犯很多讀者。
Most style guides warn writers not to use beaver.
大多數文體指南都提醒寫作者不要用 beaver。
用法筆記
Strongly offensive in many situations and usually better avoided. Neutral words such as vulva or genitals are safer when the body part itself is meant.
4. the soft hair from this animal, especially when it is used to make hats or cloth
海狸毛皮
可做帽子衣物的海狸毛
the soft hair from this animal, especially when it is used to make hats or clothing
The museum displayed a warm coat made from beaver.
博物館展出了一件用海狸毛皮做成的暖外套。
material: made from beaver
Her grandfather wore a black hat trimmed with beaver.
她祖父戴著一頂鑲著海狸毛皮的黑帽子。
collocation: trimmed with beaver
The trader sold beaver to a shop in Quebec.
那名商人把海狸毛皮賣給 Quebec 的一家店。
That old collar still has soft beaver on the inside.
那個舊衣領內側還有柔軟的海狸毛皮。
用法筆記
Used as a material name after words like coat, hat, or collar. Distinguish from sense 1, which names the living animal.
5. in the Scouts, a group for young children, usually around six to eight years old
海狸隊
童軍中約六到八歲分支
in the Scouts, a group for young children, usually around six to eight years old, in some countries
The Beavers meet in the church hall every Thursday.
海狸隊每週四都在教堂大廳集合。
proper name: the Beavers
Sam joined the Beavers when he was seven.
Sam 七歲時加入了海狸隊。
pattern: join the Beavers
The Beavers learned fire safety at the summer camp.
海狸隊在夏令營學了防火安全。
Parents helped the Beavers plant trees in the park.
家長幫海狸隊在公園裡種樹。
- Scout section
General description, not the official title.
- junior Scout group
Descriptive phrase for young members.
用法筆記
Written with a capital B when it names this Scout section. Distinguish from sense 6, which names one child in the section.
常見錯誤
6. one child who belongs to the Beavers group in the Scouts
海狸隊員
屬於海狸隊的孩子
one child who belongs to the Beavers group in the Scouts
A Beaver must bring a water bottle to camp.
每位海狸隊員都必須帶水壺去營地。
count noun: a Beaver
Lily became a Beaver after her seventh birthday.
Lily 七歲生日後成了一名海狸隊員。
pattern: become a Beaver
Each Beaver wore a blue scarf at the parade.
每個海狸隊員在遊行時都戴著藍色圍巾。
The leader asked every Beaver to line up quietly.
領隊叫每位海狸隊員安靜排好隊。
- Scout member
General description; much less specific.
- young Scout
Descriptive phrase, not the official title.
用法筆記
Usually countable and written with a capital B in Scout contexts. Distinguish from sense 5, which names the whole section.
常見錯誤
beaver — 動詞
1. to keep working busily and with a lot of effort
勤奮工作
很賣力地一直做事
to keep working busily and with a lot of effort
Rosa beavered in the kitchen before the wedding.
Rosa 在婚禮前一直在廚房裡勤奮工作。
intransitive use with place phrase
The whole team beavered all night on the school play.
整個團隊為了學校的戲劇忙了一整夜。
pattern: beaver on a task
After lunch, Ben beavered at his desk until six.
午餐後，Ben 一直在書桌前努力工作到六點。
Volunteers beavered through the rain to finish the shelter.
志工們冒著雨拚命做事，好完成那座收容所。
While others rested, Mina beavered over the final report.
別人休息時，Mina 還在為最後的報告埋頭工作。
- work
The plain, neutral verb.
- toil
Stresses hard or tiring effort.
- labour
More formal, especially in British English.
- slave away
Informal and stronger; suggests tiring, unhappy work.
用法筆記
Usually intransitive and often followed by a phrase showing the task, place, or time spent working. It suggests steady, busy effort rather than a short action.