firm

firm — 形容詞

1. having a surface that gives only a little when you press it, without being as ha

1.形容詞A2
釋義

堅實的

按壓時不會輕易變形的

having a surface that gives only a little when you press it, without being as hard as metal, stone, or wood

例句

The mattress at the hotel was firm enough to support Christopher's bad back.

飯店的床墊夠堅實，足以支撐 Christopher 的背痛。

collocation: firm mattress / firm pillow

Yuki pressed the avocado gently and found it still too firm to eat.

Yuki 輕輕按了按酪梨，發現它還太硬不能吃。

同義詞
  • solid

    emphasises that every part of the object is equally firm, with no hollow spaces

  • stiff

    describes something that is difficult to bend, like cardboard or a new pair of shoes

  • taut

    used for surfaces stretched tight, such as skin or fabric; less common in everyday speech

反義詞
  • soft

    yields noticeably when pressed

  • squishy

    informal; very soft and wet, like overripe fruit

文法句型

firm + noun

be + firm

用法筆記

Often describes natural or manufactured materials that hold their shape under pressure — fruit, soil, cheese, foam, or building surfaces.

常見錯誤

❌The rock is very firm.
✅The rock is very hard.
💡Rocks and metals are 'hard,' not 'firm,' because they do not yield at all when pressed.

2. held in place so securely that it does not move, wobble, or come loose

2.形容詞B1
釋義

牢固的

固定妥當、不會鬆動的

held in place so securely that it does not move, wobble, or come loose

例句

Make sure the ladder is firm against the wall before you climb up.

爬上去之前，要確認梯子牢牢靠在牆上。

pattern: firm against/in/on + [surface]

The shelf did not feel firm, so Noa added another metal bracket.

這層架子感覺不太穩固，於是 Noa 加裝了一個金屬托架。

同義詞
  • secure

    implied to be safely attached; slightly more formal

  • stable

    emphasises that an object will not tip over or collapse

  • tight

    used when something is screwed, tied, or wedged into place

反義詞
  • loose

    not held in place; can move freely

  • wobbly

    informal; moves from side to side because it is not fixed properly

文法句型

firm + against/in/on + noun

be + firm

用法筆記

Common with prepositions indicating the surface or location something is fixed to (against the wall, in the ground, on the frame). The object is typically something that could come loose: a fixture, a fastener, or a support.

常見錯誤

❌The nail is firm.
✅The nail is firmly in place / secure.
💡As a bare adjective, 'firm' sounds unnatural for a single fastener; use 'firmly fixed' or 'secure.'

3. refusing to change a belief, decision, or position despite pressure or persuasio

3.形容詞B1
釋義

堅定的

立場或信念不受他人影響的

refusing to change a belief, decision, or position despite pressure or persuasion from others

例句

Élise remained firm in her decision to study medicine despite the high cost of tuition.

Élise 堅持她要讀醫學院的決定，儘管學費很高。

pattern: firm + in/about + [belief/decision]

Brooke is firm in her belief that regular exercise improves both body and mind.

Brooke 堅信規律運動能改善身心。

同義詞
  • resolute

    more formal; suggests determination in the face of difficulty

  • steadfast

    literary; implies loyalty and unwavering commitment over time

  • unbending

    slightly negative; suggests refusal to compromise even when it would be reasonable

反義詞
  • hesitant

    unsure and likely to change one's mind

  • flexible

    willing to adjust one's position or opinion

文法句型

firm + in/about + noun/gerund

firm + with + noun

remain/stay + firm

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 5 (CERTAIN): this sense describes a person's refusal to change their position; sense 5 describes a fact or arrangement that is reliably established. You can be firm in a belief that turns out to be wrong; a firm fact cannot be wrong.

常見錯誤

❌I am firm that he is the best candidate.
✅I firmly believe that he is the best candidate.
💡'Firm' as a predicate adjective does not naturally take a that-clause; use 'firmly believe' instead.

4. applied with steady physical strength and control, especially when holding, grip

4.形容詞B1
釋義

穩健的

動作或抓握穩定有力的

applied with steady physical strength and control, especially when holding, gripping, or pressing something

例句

The elderly man still had a firm grip on the stair railing as he walked.

那位老先生走路時仍緊緊抓著樓梯扶手。

collocation: firm grip / firm handshake / firm hold

Devika gave Antonia a firm handshake before walking into the interview room.

Devika 在走進面試室前，和 Antonia 用力握了握手。

同義詞
  • strong

    more general; can describe any display of physical power

  • steady

    emphasises lack of shaking or trembling rather than pressure

  • tight

    implies a grip that is close and hard to escape; slightly more informal

反義詞
  • weak

    lacking physical strength; easy to break free from

  • shaky

    trembling or unsteady; the opposite of a controlled hold

文法句型

firm + noun (grip/handshake/hold)

be + firm

用法筆記

Commonly describes a physical grip, handshake, or touch, but also extends to a person's voice or step when these convey steadiness. The key difference from sense 1 (FIRM TEXTURE) is that this sense focuses on the action or application of strength rather than the object's own quality.

5. reliably fixed and not subject to future change, especially in a business or pla

5.形容詞B2
釋義

確定的

可靠且不會更改的

reliably fixed and not subject to future change, especially in a business or planning context — for example, a definite date, a confirmed offer, or solid evidence

例句

The company received a firm offer of two million dollars for the office building.

這家公司收到一份兩百萬美元購買辦公大樓的確定報價。

collocation: firm offer / firm date / firm evidence

Noa had no firm evidence that anyone had broken into the house that night.

Noa 沒有任何確切證據顯示當晚有人闖入房子。

同義詞
  • definite

    more common in everyday speech; clearly decided and not vague

  • concrete

    suggests specific and tangible rather than abstract or theoretical

  • fixed

    emphasises that something has been set and will not move or change

反義詞

文法句型

firm + noun (offer/date/evidence/deadline/agreement)

用法筆記

Used with nouns like 'evidence,' 'date,' 'offer,' 'deadline,' and 'agreement' — things that are established and will not be altered. In business contexts, a 'firm offer' is legally binding once accepted. Do not use this sense for people; it describes arrangements and facts.

常見錯誤

❌I am firm that the meeting is on Monday.
✅I am certain that the meeting is on Monday.
💡Use 'certain' for a person's confidence; use 'firm' for the arrangement itself ('a firm date').

6. showing authority and control in the way you speak or act, making others underst

6.形容詞B2
釋義

果斷的

態度強勢且堅決的

showing authority and control in the way you speak or act, making others understand that you will not be persuaded or pushed around

例句

The teacher used a firm voice to stop the argument between the two students.

老師用果斷的語氣制止了兩名學生的爭吵。

collocation: firm voice / firm tone / firm approach

Folake gave a firm reply when the salesman tried to pressure her into buying.

銷售員試圖給 Folake 施壓時，她給了對方一個果斷的答覆。

同義詞
  • assertive

    more formal; describes confident, direct communication without aggression

  • forceful

    implies stronger pressure and a greater display of power

  • strict

    focuses on enforcement of rules rather than personal authority

反義詞
  • timid

    shy and lacking confidence; easily pushed around

  • lenient

    not strict enough; allows things that should be controlled

文法句型

firm + noun (voice/tone/approach/response)

be + firm + with + noun

用法筆記

Often paired with 'but fair' or 'but polite' to soften the sense, since being firm in this sense can sound harsh if used alone. The collocation 'firm but fair' is a fixed expression in management and parenting contexts.

常見錯誤

❌She was firm to the children.
✅She was firm with the children.
💡The preposition is always 'with' when referring to the person being dealt with.

firm — 副詞

firm — 名詞

firm — 動詞