bow
bow — 動詞
1. to dip from the waist or lower your face for a moment in greeting, respect, than
鞠躬
彎身低頭致意或答謝
to dip from the waist or lower your face for a moment in greeting, respect, thanks, or obedience.
At the temple gate, Hana bowed to the old monk before speaking.
在寺門口，Hana 先向老僧人鞠躬才開口說話。
bow to + person
After the final song, the singer bowed while the crowd clapped.
最後一首歌唱完後，那位歌手在觀眾鼓掌時鞠躬致謝。
performer thanks an audience
Mr. Silva bowed his head for a moment after the prayer.
祈禱後，Mr. Silva 低頭鞠躬了一會兒。
Noa bowed slightly and thanked the host for dinner.
Noa 微微鞠躬，並謝謝主人招待晚餐。
- straighten up
moves back to an upright position instead of lowering the body
文法句型
bow to [person/audience]
bow your head
用法筆記
Usually intransitive when you greet someone or thank an audience. The transitive pattern is mainly used with words like head.
常見錯誤
2. to make the strings of a violin, cello, or similar instrument sound by moving a
運弓
用琴弓拉奏弦樂器
to make the strings of a violin, cello, or similar instrument sound by moving a bow across them.
Mei bowed the violin slowly during the quiet opening of the piece.
在樂曲安靜的開頭，Mei 慢慢運弓拉小提琴。
bow + [instrument]
The student could pluck the strings, but still could not bow them evenly.
那名學生會撥弦了，但還是沒辦法把弦用琴弓拉得很均勻。
contrast: pluck vs bow
In the orchestra pit, Ravi bowed his cello with long smooth strokes.
在樂池裡，Ravi 用又長又順的動作運弓拉大提琴。
A harsh sound came out when Zoe bowed too close to the bridge.
Zoe 運弓太靠近琴橋時，發出了刺耳的聲音。
- pluck
makes the string sound by pulling it with fingers instead of using a bow
文法句型
bow + [string instrument]
用法筆記
Only used for instruments that are played with a separate bow. Distinguish this sense from verb/3, which is about making an object curve.
常見錯誤
3. to become curved, or to make something become curved, instead of staying straigh
彎曲；弄彎
變彎或使原本筆直的東西變彎
to become curved, or to make something become curved, instead of staying straight.
Heavy snow bowed the thin branch over the garden path.
厚雪把那根細樹枝壓彎到花園小路上方。
transitive: weight bows [object]
Years of heat had bowed the wooden shelf in the middle.
多年的高溫把木架中間慢慢弄彎了。
The plastic ruler bowed when Omar pressed both ends together.
Omar 把兩端一起往內壓時，那把塑膠尺就彎曲了。
Workers bowed the metal strip to fit the round window.
工人把金屬條弄彎，好裝進圓形窗框。
- straighten
return something to a straight shape
文法句型
[object] bows under weight
bow + [object] into a curve
用法筆記
Most often used for physical things such as wood, branches, or metal under pressure or weight. Distinguish from verb/1, which describes a human gesture.
bow — 名詞
1. a short dipping movement from the waist or neck used for greeting, respect, or t
鞠躬
表示敬意或謝意的彎身動作
a short dipping movement from the waist or neck used for greeting, respect, or thanks.
The prince gave a short bow to the guests before dinner.
王子在晚餐前向賓客輕輕鞠了一躬。
give a bow
At the curtain call, each actor took a bow alone.
謝幕時，每位演員都獨自上前鞠躬致意。
take a bow
One deep bow from the child made the grandparents smile.
那個孩子深深鞠了一躬，讓祖父母笑了起來。
Aiko answered the teacher's praise with a quiet bow.
Aiko 安靜地鞠了一躬，回應老師的稱讚。
文法句型
give a bow
take a bow
用法筆記
Often appears in the phrases give a bow and take a bow. Take a bow is especially common for performers at the end of a show.
2. the end of a boat that points ahead as it moves through the water.
船頭
船或艦艇最前端的部分
the end of a boat that points ahead as it moves through the water.
Spray hit the bow as the fishing boat crossed the rough water.
那艘漁船穿過亂水時，浪花打上了船頭。
the bow of a boat
A red flag was tied near the bow of the sailboat.
一面紅旗綁在帆船的船頭附近。
Two children sat at the bow and watched for dolphins.
兩個孩子坐在船頭看海豚。
The crew painted the company name across the bow.
船員把公司名稱漆在船頭上。
- stern
the back end of a boat or ship
文法句型
the bow of a ship
用法筆記
This is a nautical word. In everyday speech, many people simply say the front of the boat.
常見錯誤
3. a tied ribbon or lace shape with a loop on each side and loose ends hanging down
蝴蝶結
兩圈兩端的裝飾性結
a tied ribbon or lace shape with a loop on each side and loose ends hanging down.
Ella tied a neat bow on the gift box with gold ribbon.
Ella 用金色緞帶在禮盒上綁了一個整齊的蝴蝶結。
tie a bow
One side of the bow came loose as Ben ran to school.
Ben 跑去上學時，那個蝴蝶結有一邊鬆開了。
The baby wore a pink bow above one ear.
那個嬰兒在一側耳朵上方戴了一個粉紅色蝴蝶結。
Marta made a large bow from the extra lace.
Marta 用多出的蕾絲做了一個大蝴蝶結。
文法句型
tie a bow
hair bow
用法筆記
Common for ribbons, shoelaces, and hair decorations. Distinguish from bow tie, which is the name of a piece of clothing.
常見錯誤
4. a curved frame with a stretched cord that sends an arrow forward when released.
弓
射箭用的弧形武器
a curved frame with a stretched cord that sends an arrow forward when released.
The guide taught Bao how to hold the bow and arrow safely.
那位嚮導教 Bao 怎麼安全地拿弓和箭。
bow and arrow
A crack appeared in the old bow after the wet season.
雨季過後，那把舊弓出現了一道裂痕。
Rina pulled the bow back until the string touched her chin.
Rina 把弓往後拉，直到弦碰到下巴。
The museum showed a hunting bow from northern Japan.
博物館展出了一把來自日本北部的獵弓。
- longbow
a particular tall type of bow, not the general word
- recurve bow
a modern type with curved ends; more specific than the basic sense
文法句型
a bow and arrow
draw a bow
用法筆記
Most often appears in the phrase bow and arrow. This sense belongs to archery and hunting, not to modern firearms.
5. the stick with stretched hair that a violinist, cellist, or similar player moves
琴弓
拉奏小提琴等弦樂器的弓形工具
the stick with stretched hair that a violinist, cellist, or similar player moves across the strings.
The teacher asked Jun to loosen the bow after the lesson.
老師要 Jun 下課後把琴弓放鬆。
loosen the bow
Rosin on the bow helped the strings catch better.
琴弓上的松香讓琴弦更容易咬住發聲。
rosin on the bow
A hair came loose from the bow during the concert.
演出中有一根弓毛從琴弓上鬆開了。
Lena forgot her bow and had to borrow one backstage.
Lena 忘了帶琴弓，只好在後台借一把。
- violin bow
same object when used with a violin
- cello bow
same kind of tool, but made for a cello
文法句型
draw the bow across the strings
tighten / loosen the bow
用法筆記
Used for the tool itself, not for the action of playing. For the playing action, use verb/2.
6. in rowing, the seat at the boat's front.
首槳位
划船時最靠船頭的位置
in rowing, the seat at the boat's front.
After practice, Nadia moved to bow, the front seat of the boat.
練習後，Nadia 換到首槳位，也就是船最前面的座位。
bow = front seat in rowing
In practice, the coach put the lightest rower in bow, the front seat.
練習時，教練把最輕的划手放在最前面的首槳位。
Sitting in bow, Wen called the rhythm change from the front seat.
坐在首槳位的 Wen 會從船最前面喊出節奏變化。
In the new boat, bow felt less steady than the seat behind it.
在新船上，首槳位感覺比後面的座位更不穩。
- bow seat
more explicit phrase for the same rowing position
- front seat
informal description, but less exact in rowing
- stern
the opposite end of the boat in rowing language
文法句型
row in bow
用法筆記
Specialist rowing term for the seat at the boat's front. Distinguish from noun/7, which names the rower in that seat.
7. in rowing, the rower who sits in the seat at the boat's front.
首槳手
坐在船最前面座位的划手
in rowing, the rower who sits in the seat at the boat's front.
As bow, Tariq checked both oars before the race began.
身為首槳手，Tariq 在比賽開始前先檢查兩支槳。
as bow = as front rower
The coach chose Ines as bow because she stayed calm in rough water.
教練選 Ines 當首槳手，因為她在亂水裡很冷靜。
Bow, the front rower, must watch the lane line near the finish.
最前面的首槳手快到終點時，必須看著航道線。
In the photo, bow is the rower lifting one hand at the front.
在那張照片裡，首槳手就是前面舉起一隻手的那位划手。
- bowman
traditional rowing term for the same person
- front rower
plain-language description, but less exact than the sport term
- stroke
the rower at the other end who sets the rhythm
文法句型
serve as bow
用法筆記
Another specialist rowing term. It names the rower, not the seat; for the seat itself, use noun/6.