dabble

IPA/ˈdæbl/
KK[dˈæbəl]IPA/ˈdæbl/

dabble — 動詞

  • dabblepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • dabbleshe / she / it
  • dabbledpast simple
  • dabbling-ing form

1. to try an activity or study a subject for a short time, without giving it seriou

1.動詞不及物B2
釋義

涉獵

短暫不深入地接觸某領域

to try an activity or study a subject for a short time, without giving it serious effort or becoming deeply involved.

例句

Padma dabbled in photography during college but never took it seriously.

Padma 在大學時期曾經涉獵攝影，但從來沒有認真對待過。

dabble in [activity]

Baraka has dabbled with several programming languages over the years without mastering any.

Baraka 多年來涉獵過好幾種程式語言，但沒有一種精通。

同義詞
  • tinker

    implies working with small, practical tasks rather than creative or intellectual pursuits

  • toy with

    similar level of superficiality but suggests even less seriousness; often used with ideas

  • flirt with

    used mainly with ideas or possibilities, suggesting casual interest without action

反義詞
  • specialize

    to focus deeply on one subject rather than sampling many

  • immerse

    to become fully and seriously involved

文法句型

dabble + in + [activity/subject]

dabble + with + [activity/subject]

用法筆記

Frequently used with 'in'. The subject is usually a person, and the object of the preposition is an activity, hobby, or field of knowledge.

常見錯誤

❌She dabbles politics.
✅She dabbles in politics.
💡'dabble' requires a preposition like 'in' before the activity.

2. to play by gently putting a hand, foot, or other body part into water and moving

2.動詞不及物B2
釋義

戲水

把手腳放入水中擺動

to play by gently putting a hand, foot, or other body part into water and moving it about.

例句

The children dabbled in the shallow stream, laughing as the cool water touched their feet.

孩子們在淺淺的小溪裡戲水，清涼的水流過他們的腳，逗得他們哈哈大笑。

dabble in [body of water]

Maeve knelt by the pond and dabbled in the water, watching ripples from her fingers.

Maeve 跪在池塘邊，用手指在水裡輕輕撥弄，看著指尖泛起的漣漪。

同義詞
  • splash

    suggests more energetic, less controlled movement of water

  • paddle

    British English term for walking or playing in shallow water

  • dip

    briefly putting something into a liquid and taking it out again

文法句型

dabble + in + [body of water]

用法筆記

Unlike sense 1, this sense describes a physical action in actual water, not a figurative engagement with an activity. Often used with children or animals.