dim

dim — 形容詞

1. describing a space or area where there is not enough light to see well, because

1.形容詞A2
釋義

昏暗的

光線不足、不夠明亮的

describing a space or area where there is not enough light to see well, because only weak bulbs are used or because the sun is going down.

例句

The basement was so dim that Nora could not read the labels on the boxes.

地下室太昏暗了，Nora 看不清箱子上的標籤。

so dim that + result clause

A single dim lamp stood on the desk in the corner of the study.

書桌角落放著一盞昏暗的燈。

dim + lamp / light / bulb (attributive)

同義詞
  • faint

    suggests a light that is barely visible or at a distance

  • gloomy

    adds a feeling of sadness or depression to the lack of light

  • murky

    describes darkness that is also hard to see through, like fog or dirty water

反義詞
  • bright

    strong, clear light; the direct opposite of dim

  • brilliant

    very bright, almost too bright to look at

文法句型

dim + noun (lamp/room/street)

be + dim

linking verb + dim (grow/seem/look)

用法筆記

Often used with linking verbs like 'grow', 'seem', or 'look'. When an adverb is needed, use 'dimly': 'a dimly lit room'.

常見錯誤

❌A dimful room.
✅A dim room.
💡'dim' does not take the suffix '-ful'; it is used as a plain adjective.
❌The light is dimming.' (when describing a state)
✅The light is dim.
💡use the adjective for a fixed state; use the verb 'dim' for a change happening over time.

2. describing eyesight that is weak or unclear, especially when caused by getting o

2.形容詞B1
釋義

昏花的

視力不佳、看不清楚的

describing eyesight that is weak or unclear, especially when caused by getting older, being very tired, or having a health condition that affects your eyes.

例句

Roya rubbed her eyes, which felt dim after a long night of studying.

Roya 揉揉眼睛，熬夜唸書一整晚後她的視線變得昏花。

eyes + be / feel + dim

As her grandmother aged, her vision grew dim and she needed large-print books.

奶奶年紀越來越大，視力變得昏花，需要看大字版的書。

vision / sight + grow dim

同義詞
  • blurry

    more common in everyday speech for unclear vision

  • fuzzy

    informal; describes edges and shapes that are not sharp

  • cloudy

    often used for vision problems caused by cataracts

反義詞
  • clear

    sharp vision; able to see all details easily

  • sharp

    strong, precise eyesight

文法句型

eyes + be + dim

vision / sight + grow dim

用法筆記

Typically used of a person's eyes or vision, not of an object. Distinguish from sense 1: here 'dim' describes sight, not the light level in a room.

常見錯誤

❌My glasses are dim.
✅My vision is dim without my glasses.
💡'dim' describes the ability to see, not the glasses themselves.

3. describes a memory, image, or idea that you can only recall in an unclear or inc

3.形容詞B2
釋義

依稀的

記憶或印象模糊不清的

describes a memory, image, or idea that you can only recall in an unclear or incomplete way, as if the details have faded over time.

例句

Zola had only a dim memory of the beach holiday from her early childhood.

Zola 對兒時的海灘假期只有依稀的記憶。

a dim memory / recollection / impression of

Tamar had only a dim impression of the woman at the bus stop.

Tamar 對公車站那位女士只有依稀的印象。

dim impression / dim sense

同義詞
  • vague

    almost interchangeable; 'vague' is more common for ideas, 'dim' is more common for memories

  • faint

    suggests a memory that is barely present

  • hazy

    informal; suggests a memory that is unclear like looking through fog

反義詞
  • clear

    a memory you can recall in full detail

  • vivid

    a very strong, detailed, and lifelike memory

文法句型

a dim + memory / recollection / impression of + noun/-ing

grow dim in one's mind

用法筆記

Almost always appears with 'memory', 'recollection', or 'impression'. Not used with concrete nouns like 'table' or 'house' — you would say 'a dim memory of a house', not 'a dim house'.

常見錯誤

❌I have a dim book about the war.
✅I have a dim memory of a book about the war.
💡'dim' describes the memory, not the object itself.

4. slow at understanding or learning things that most people find easy; not natural

4.形容詞B2
釋義

愚鈍的；笨的

理解力差、不聰明的

slow at understanding or learning things that most people find easy; not naturally quick in thinking.

例句

The other kids teased Christopher for being a bit dim in maths lessons.

其他孩子笑 Christopher 數學課有點笨。

a bit / rather / very + dim (degree adverb)

His dim cousin could not work the TV remote however often he was shown.

他那個笨表弟不管學了幾次，都不會用電視遙控器。

dim (attributive before noun)

同義詞
  • dull

    similar meaning but slightly old-fashioned

  • slow

    gentler than 'dim'; often used more politely

  • dim-witted

    common compound form; slightly less harsh than 'dim' alone

反義詞
  • bright

    quick to understand; the closest opposite in register

  • sharp

    very intelligent and quick-thinking

  • clever

    able to learn and solve problems quickly

文法句型

be + dim

a bit / rather / very + dim

call + person + dim

用法筆記

Informal and can be insulting. The compound 'dim-witted' is common and slightly less harsh than calling someone 'dim' alone. Avoid in formal or polite contexts.

常見錯誤

❌He is a dim person about the problem.
✅He is a bit dim.
💡'dim' for intelligence does not take a prepositional complement like 'about'.
❌She is dim to understand.
✅She is too dim to understand.
💡when linking to an infinitive, add 'too' to express that the lack of intelligence prevents the action.

5. describing the future, chances, or situation of someone or something as unlikely

5.形容詞B2
釋義

黯淡的

前景不樂觀、不太可能成功的

describing the future, chances, or situation of someone or something as unlikely to improve or succeed.

例句

The team's chances of winning the championship looked dim after their star player got hurt.

明星球員受傷後，這支球隊奪冠的機會看起來很渺茫。

chances / prospects + look / seem dim

With the local economy struggling, the future of the small bakery seemed dim.

地方經濟不景氣，那家小麵包店的未來似乎很黯淡。

future / outlook + seem dim

同義詞
  • bleak

    stronger tone; suggests desperation or hopelessness

  • gloomy

    adds a sense of sadness to the lack of hope

  • poor

    more general; less vivid but safer in formal writing

反義詞
  • bright

    hopeful; likely to succeed — 'a bright future'

  • promising

    showing signs of future success

  • rosy

    informal; extremely positive and optimistic

文法句型

chances / prospects + look / seem dim

future / outlook + grow dim

dim + prospects / chances / future

用法筆記

Subject is almost always an abstract noun such as 'chances', 'prospects', 'future', or 'outlook'. Cannot describe a concrete object — you would not say 'a dim job'.

常見錯誤

❌His job prospects are dimming.
✅His job prospects are dim.
💡for a fixed negative state, use the adjective; use the verb 'dim' only when describing the process of becoming worse.

dim — 副詞

dim — 動詞