darken
darken — 動詞
1. If the sky or a room darkens, it becomes dark as the sun goes down, a storm arri
變暗；轉暗
天空或房間變暗
If the sky or a room darkens, it becomes dark as the sun goes down, a storm arrives, or the light fades away.
The sky began to darken as the storm moved closer to the village.
當暴風雨逐漸逼近村莊時，天空開始變暗。
pattern: sky + begin + to darken
We hurried home when we saw the evening sky darken behind the hills.
我們看到傍晚的天空在山丘後方逐漸轉暗，便趕緊回家。
The room darkened suddenly after the librarian pulled the heavy curtains shut.
圖書館員拉上厚重的窗簾後，房間突然變暗。
The sky outside the window began to darken while the children were still playing in the park.
窗外的天空開始變暗的時候，孩子們還在公園裡玩耍。
- brighten
the direct opposite; used for both sky and rooms
文法句型
subject (the sky, a room) + darken
用法筆記
The subject is usually the sky, the evening, or an indoor space. This sense is less common in everyday speech than 'get dark' — use 'darken' for more formal or descriptive writing.
2. When a colour or surface darkens, it changes to a shade that is deeper, closer t
變深
顏色變得較深
When a colour or surface darkens, it changes to a shade that is deeper, closer to black, or less bright than before.
The oak wood darkens naturally over time if it is not treated with a sealant.
橡木如果沒有塗上保護漆，顏色會隨著時間自然變深。
pattern: material + darken + over time
Liang watched the paint darken as it dried on the old wooden fence.
Liang 看著油漆在舊木籬笆上乾燥後顏色逐漸變深。
His leather jacket had darkened in places from years of wear and rain.
他的皮夾克經過多年的磨損與雨淋，有些地方已經變深。
The leaves of the maple tree darken to a deep red by the middle of autumn.
楓樹的葉子在秋中期會變成深紅色。
- deepen
more literary; often used for the intensity of a colour
- grow darker
more conversational; longer but more natural in speech
- lighten
direct opposite; becoming brighter or paler in colour
文法句型
subject (material, colour, surface) + darken
用法筆記
Common with natural materials (wood, leather, metal) and paints. Use 'fade' for the opposite direction (lighter, not darker).
3. To turn off the lights, close the curtains, or block the light so that a room or
使變暗
關燈或遮光使房間變暗
To turn off the lights, close the curtains, or block the light so that a room or building becomes dark.
Eleni darkened the bedroom so the baby could sleep without any light.
Eleni 使臥室變暗，這樣嬰兒就能在沒有任何光線的情況下入睡。
pattern: darken + room + so + [purpose]
The stage crew darkened the theatre before the opening scene began.
舞台工作人員在開場前將劇院的燈光調暗。
Brandon darkened the room by covering the windows with thick black fabric.
Brandon 用厚實的黑色布料遮住窗戶，使房間變暗。
The nurse darkened the patient's room so he could rest more comfortably.
護士讓病人的房間變暗，好讓他能更舒服地休息。
- dim
less extreme; reduces light but doesn't eliminate it completely
- light up
to make a space bright; opposite of darkening a room
文法句型
darken + object (room, building)
用法筆記
This sense is deliberately transitive — someone actively makes a space dark. In everyday conversation, 'turn off the lights' or 'close the curtains' is more common than 'darken the room'.
常見錯誤
4. To add a darker shade to something or to change its colour so that it becomes le
加深
使顏色變得更深
To add a darker shade to something or to change its colour so that it becomes less bright and more like a deep tone.
Ritu darkened the blue paint by mixing in a small amount of black.
Ritu 加入了少量黑色顏料來加深藍色油漆。
pattern: darken + [colour] + by mixing + [substance]
The artist darkened the shadows under the tree with a soft charcoal pencil.
藝術家用柔軟的炭筆加深了樹下的陰影。
Amira darkened her eyebrows with a special cream before the ceremony began.
Amira 在典禮開始前用一種特別的乳霜加深了她的眉毛顏色。
Pim darkened the background of the drawing by adding more ink around the edges.
Pim 在圖畫的邊緣多加了一些墨水，加深了背景的顏色。
- lighten
to make a colour paler or less intense
文法句型
darken + object (paint, wood, eyebrows, surface)
用法筆記
Often used in art, cosmetics, and DIY contexts. The object is the thing whose colour is being changed, not the colour itself.
常見錯誤
5. If someone's mood, expression, or the atmosphere of a situation darkens, it beco
陰沉
情況或情緒變得更糟
If someone's mood, expression, or the atmosphere of a situation darkens, it becomes more serious, sad, unhappy, or threatening.
Carlos's mood darkened when he heard the news about the cancelled flights.
聽到航班取消的消息後，Carlos 的心情變得陰沉。
pattern: mood + darken + when + [trigger]
The atmosphere in the office darkened after the manager announced the budget cuts.
經理宣布預算削減之後，辦公室裡的氣氛變得陰沉。
Zayd's expression darkened as he read the letter from the hospital.
Zayd 一邊讀著醫院寄來的信，臉色也跟著陰沉下來。
Heloísa's face darkened when she realised she had lost her wallet somewhere on the train.
Heloísa 發現錢包在火車上不見了，臉色立刻陰沉了下來。
- cloud over
more informal; often used for someone's face or mood
- turn sour
informal; specifically for situations or relationships
文法句型
subject (mood, atmosphere, expression, situation) + darken
用法筆記
The subject is always an abstract noun — mood, face, expression, atmosphere, tone. A concrete object like 'table' or 'garden' would not fit this sense.
6. To make an event, mood, or atmosphere less happy, more serious, or more worrying
使陰沉
使情況或情緒惡化
To make an event, mood, or atmosphere less happy, more serious, or more worrying than it was before.
The constant rain darkened the mood of the campers during their holiday.
持續不斷的雨勢使露營者在假期中的心情變得陰沉。
pattern: [event] + darken + mood of + [group]
The argument darkened the family gathering that had started so cheerfully.
那場爭執使原本歡樂開始的家庭聚會籠罩在陰沉的氣氛中。
News of the accident darkened the whole town's celebration that evening.
事故的消息使整個城鎮當晚的慶祝活動變得陰沉。
The teacher's harsh words darkened the joyful atmosphere of the classroom in seconds.
老師嚴厲的話語讓教室裡歡樂的氣氛在幾秒鐘內變得陰沉。
- cast a shadow over
similar meaning but more idiomatic and common in speech
- dampen
milder; reduces enjoyment rather than creating serious worry
- lift
used with 'mood' or 'spirits'; to make them happier again
文法句型
darken + object (mood, occasion, celebration, atmosphere)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 5: sense 5 is intransitive (the mood itself darkens), while sense 6 is transitive (something darkens the mood). The transitive structure is more formal and literary.
7. To spoil the good opinion that people have of someone or something, especially t
玷汙
毀壞名聲或形象
To spoil the good opinion that people have of someone or something, especially through bad actions, scandal, or negative news.
The scandal darkened the reputation of a company that had been trusted for decades.
那樁醜聞玷汙了一家數十年來深受信賴的公司的聲譽。
pattern: scandal + darken + reputation of + [entity]
Lies spread online can quickly darken a person's name beyond repair.
網路上散播的謊言可以迅速玷汙一個人的名聲，且難以補救。
Sana refused to let a single mistake darken her career after years of hard work.
Sana 不願讓一個錯誤毀掉她多年努力建立的事業。
The politician's dishonest actions darkened the image of the entire government in the public eye.
那位政治人物的不誠實行為玷汙了整個政府在公眾眼中的形象。
- restore
to bring back a good reputation after it has been damaged
文法句型
darken + object (reputation, name, character, image)
用法筆記
This is a formal, literary sense. In everyday English, speakers are far more likely to use 'damage', 'ruin', or 'tarnish' with 'reputation'. 'Darken' in this sense carries a slightly old-fashioned or serious tone.