darling
darling — 名詞
1. someone you love very much and feel a close emotional bond with
心愛的人
深受喜愛或珍視的對象
someone you love very much and feel a close emotional bond with
Layla kept a photograph of her late grandmother, who had always been her darling.
Layla保留了一張已故祖母的照片，祖母一直都是她心愛的人。
possessive pattern: her darling / my darling
To his parents, Hyun remained their darling even after he moved abroad for work.
對Hyun的父母來說，即使他出國工作，他依然是他們心愛的孩子。
The locket held a tiny picture of Maeve, who was her husband's darling.
那個小盒子裡放著Maeve的一張小照片，她是丈夫心愛的人。
Every letter Esteban wrote to his mother ended with a sentence calling her his darling.
Esteban寫給母親的每封信，結尾都會寫一句話，稱呼她為他心愛的人。
- beloved
more formal and literary; less common in everyday speech
- sweetheart
informal; used especially between romantic partners
- dear
more general; can describe anyone you care about, not only a specific person
文法句型
sb's darling
the darling of [group]
用法筆記
Frequently used with a possessive adjective (my darling, her darling) or in the structure 'the darling of + family/group'.
常見錯誤
2. someone who is especially well-liked by a group of people because of their kind,
寵兒；紅人
備受喜愛或受歡迎的人
someone who is especially well-liked by a group of people because of their kind, friendly, or charming nature
With his easy smile and helpful manner, Ishaan quickly became the darling of the office.
Ishaan笑容親切、樂於助人，很快就成了辦公室的寵兒。
collocation: the darling of [place/group]
The young actress was Hollywood's darling for nearly a decade after her first hit film.
那位年輕女演員自首部賣座電影後，將近十年都是好萊塢的寵兒。
Aunt Nila was a darling to everyone in the village for always lending a hand.
Nila阿姨是村裡每個人的寵兒，因為她總是樂於伸出援手。
At the animal shelter, one spotted puppy quickly became the darling of the volunteers.
在動物收容所裡，一隻有斑點的小狗很快就成了志工們的寵兒。
文法句型
the darling of [group/place]
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used with a definite article or a possessive before 'darling', followed by 'of' or a possessive noun showing the group.
darling — 形容詞
1. used before a name or as a form of address to show that you feel love and affect
親愛的
對所愛之人的暱稱或稱呼
used before a name or as a form of address to show that you feel love and affection for the person you are speaking or writing to
Darling Yasmin, I am counting the days until we meet again, wrote Reuben from overseas.
Reuben從海外寫道：「親愛的Yasmin，我每天都在數著我們重逢的日子。」
letter opening: 'Darling [name],'
Putri answered the phone saying, 'Hello, darling, I have been waiting.'
Putri接起電話說：「嗨，親愛的，我一直在等你。」
A note on the table said 'My darling Ada' and ended with a small heart.
桌上的紙條以「我親愛的Ada」開頭，結尾畫了一顆小愛心。
Goodnight, my darling children, the babysitter said as she tucked them into bed.
保母幫孩子們蓋好被子，說：「晚安，我親愛的孩子們。」
- dear
slightly less emotional; feels more everyday and casual
- love
used mostly in British English as a form of address; can sound familiar
- sweetheart
similar warmth but more often used between romantic partners
文法句型
darling [name]
my darling [noun]
[letter]: Darling ...,
用法筆記
Common in letters and messages ('Darling John,…'). When spoken, it expresses warmth and is used between family members, romantic partners, or close friends. Can sound overly familiar if used with strangers.
常見錯誤
2. very pleasing to look at; charming or pretty in a way that is easy to like
迷人的
外表討喜且吸引人的
very pleasing to look at; charming or pretty in a way that is easy to like
Karim brought his date a darling little bouquet of wildflowers he had picked himself.
Karim送給約會對象一束他自己採的、迷人的小野花。
informal register: 'a darling little [noun]'
The café on the corner had darling lace curtains that reminded Yael of her grandmother.
街角那家咖啡館有迷人的蕾絲窗簾，讓Yael想起她的祖母。
Ada found a darling vintage dress at the market for only ten dollars.
Ada在市場裡找到一件迷人的復古洋裝，只要十美元。
The cottage looked absolutely darling with its blue shutters and flower boxes.
那間小屋的藍色百葉窗和花箱看起來迷人極了。
- ugly
direct opposite in appearance
文法句型
darling [noun]
look / seem darling
用法筆記
Informal and slightly old-fashioned in some regions. More common in American English than British English today. Often used to describe small, cute things (a darling hat, a darling cottage) rather than people.