ghost
ghost — 名詞
1. the supposed form of someone who has died, which some people claim appears to li
鬼魂；幽靈
死者的靈魂，據說活人能看到或聽到
the supposed form of someone who has died, which some people claim appears to living people as a sight or sound.
The old castle is said to be haunted by the ghost of a medieval king.
據說那座古城堡有一位中世紀國王的鬼魂出沒。
be haunted by the ghost of [person]
Amihan told her younger brother not to be afraid of ghosts hiding under the bed.
Amihan 告訴弟弟不要害怕躲在床底下的鬼。
Some visitors claim to have seen a ghost walking through the hospital's main hallway.
有些訪客聲稱在醫院的主要走廊看見鬼魂走過。
In the old film, the ghost appears only when the clock strikes midnight.
在那部老電影中，鬼魂只有在午夜鐘響時才會出現。
Benjamin felt a sudden cold wind and wondered whether a ghost was standing nearby.
Benjamin 感到一陣冷風，不禁猜想附近是否有鬼魂。
- spirit
broader term; can refer to any non-physical being, not only the dead
- specter
more literary; often suggests a frightening or threatening ghost
- apparition
emphasises the sudden or strange appearance of a ghost-like figure
2. an unpleasant memory from the past that continues to affect someone's present li
陰影；遺憾
過去不好的記憶，持續影響現在
an unpleasant memory from the past that continues to affect someone's present life or feelings.
The ghost of the financial crisis still affects the local housing market.
金融危機的陰影仍然影響著當地的房地產市場。
the ghost of [negative event] + affect
Ravindra felt the ghost of his failed relationship every time he walked past the park.
Ravindra 每次走過那座公園時，都會感受到那段失敗戀情的陰影。
The ghost of past mistakes continued to damage the company's reputation years later.
過去失誤的陰影在多年後仍持續損害那家公司的聲譽。
Ayesha could not escape the ghost of her childhood in that small town.
Ayesha 無法逃離在那個小鎮度過的童年陰影。
文法句型
ghost of [something bad]
用法筆記
Usually followed by 'of' and a noun phrase referring to a past event or situation. The ghost is not a real spirit but a figurative memory that feels present.
常見錯誤
3. a very small amount or slight sign of something, especially an emotion or qualit
一絲；些微
極少量的某種抽象事物
a very small amount or slight sign of something, especially an emotion or quality.
There was not a ghost of a chance that the team would win the match.
那支球隊根本沒有一絲獲勝的機會。
not a ghost of a chance
A ghost of a smile crossed Elena's face when she heard the good news.
Elena 聽到好消息時，臉上掠過一絲笑意。
a ghost of a smile
Hassan thought he saw a ghost of recognition in the stranger's eyes.
Hassan 覺得在那個陌生人的眼中看到一絲熟悉的神情。
The old photograph showed only a ghost of an image that was barely visible.
那張老照片上只剩下幾乎看不見的模糊影像。
文法句型
a ghost of [something]
not a ghost of a [noun]
用法筆記
Used in fixed expressions like 'a ghost of a + noun' or 'not a ghost of a + noun'. The noun is typically something abstract such as 'a chance', 'a smile', or 'a hope'.
常見錯誤
4. a person employed to write a book, article, or speech for another person who the
代筆；寫手
為他人撰寫作品但由對方署名的人
a person employed to write a book, article, or speech for another person who then publishes it under their own name.
The famous singer hired a ghost to write her autobiography.
那位知名歌手僱了一位代筆寫手來寫她的自傳。
hire a ghost to write
Many politicians rely on ghosts to prepare their public speeches.
許多政治人物依賴代筆寫手來準備公開演講稿。
Christopher worked as a ghost for a well-known novelist for over five years.
Christopher 在一家知名小說家旗下當了五年的代筆寫手。
The publisher refused to reveal the names of the ghosts who wrote the series.
出版社拒絕透露撰寫該系列作品的代筆寫手姓名。
- ghostwriter
the full, more formal term for the same role
- co-writer
someone who writes with another and is credited, unlike a ghost who is not named
- author
the credited writer who is named on the work
用法筆記
Commonly shortened from 'ghostwriter'. The word 'ghost' alone in this sense is informal and used mainly in the publishing industry.
ghost — 動詞
1. to create a book, speech, or other written piece for someone else, who then pres
代筆；捉刀
為他人創作但由對方署名發表
to create a book, speech, or other written piece for someone else, who then presents it as their own work.
Élise ghosted the memoirs of a retired general who could not write well.
Élise 為一位不擅寫作的退役將軍代筆撰寫回憶錄。
ghost [text] for [person]
The journalist ghosted several articles for the senator's weekly newspaper column.
那位記者為參議員的每週專欄代筆寫了好幾篇文章。
Owen was paid ten thousand dollars to ghost a business leader's self-help book.
Owen 獲得一萬美元報酬，為一位商業領袖代筆撰寫自助書籍。
Tanvi had ghosted three bestselling novels before anyone knew her real name.
Tanvi 在任何人得知她的真實姓名之前，已經代筆完成了三本暢銷小說。
- co-write
implies shared credit, while 'ghost' implies the writer remains unnamed
文法句型
ghost + [text] + for + [person]
用法筆記
The subject writes the text, and the object is the text itself. The credited author is typically introduced by 'for'. This sense is most common in publishing and journalism contexts.
2. to suddenly stop all communication with someone you have a personal or romantic
搞消失；斷聯
突然不聯繫且不給任何解釋
to suddenly stop all communication with someone you have a personal or romantic relationship with, without giving them any explanation.
Walid ghosted his date after only two weeks of texting each other.
Walid 和約會對象才傳了兩週訊息就搞消失。
ghost + person after [period]
Paloma was heartbroken when her best friend ghosted her without any warning.
Paloma 被最好的朋友毫無預警地斷聯，讓她非常心碎。
Roya told her roommate that ghosting someone is a cruel way to end a friendship.
Roya 告訴室友說，搞消失是結束友誼的一種很殘忍的方式。
After three interviews, the company ghosted the candidates instead of sending a rejection letter.
三次面試之後，那家公司沒有寄出拒絕信，而是直接對求職者斷聯。
- respond
to reply to someone's messages or calls
文法句型
ghost + [person]
get ghosted
用法筆記
This is a relatively new usage that became common with online dating apps and texting. The subject stops all communication including phone calls, texts, and social media messages. Often used in passive voice: 'I got ghosted.'
常見錯誤
3. to move in a smooth, quick, and silent way that makes you very difficult to noti
溜走；滑行
平滑、快速且安靜地移動
to move in a smooth, quick, and silent way that makes you very difficult to notice.
The cat ghosted across the garden wall without making a single sound.
那隻貓悄無聲息地溜過花園圍牆，沒發出一點聲音。
ghost across/through [place]
Min ghosted through the dark hallway to avoid waking the sleeping baby.
Min 悄無聲息地穿過黑暗的走廊，以免吵醒正在睡覺的寶寶。
A small fishing boat ghosted silently over the lake under the bright moonlight.
一艘小漁船在明亮的月光下靜靜地滑過湖面。
The dancer ghosted across the stage so lightly that the audience barely noticed her entrance.
那位舞者輕盈地掠過舞台，觀眾幾乎沒有注意到她的出場。
- stomp
to walk heavily and noisily
文法句型
ghost + across/through/over + [place]
用法筆記
Always used with a directional prepositional phrase (across, through, over, along). The movement is characterised by smoothness and near-silence. This sense is most common in literary and descriptive writing.
4. to continue to appear in someone's thoughts or affect their life in a troubling
糾纏；縈繞
像鬼魂一樣持續困擾某人
to continue to appear in someone's thoughts or affect their life in a troubling way for a long period of time.
The memory of the car accident still ghosts Ingrid whenever she drives at night.
每當 Ingrid 在夜間開車時，那場車禍的記憶仍會縈繞心頭。
[memory/event] + ghost + person
Karim's past failures continued to ghost him during every new project he started.
Karim 過去的失敗在他開始每個新專案時仍不斷糾纏著他。
A deep feeling of regret ghosted the family for years after the terrible argument.
在那場激烈的爭吵之後，一種深深的悔恨糾纏了這個家庭好幾年。
The question of what really happened to their missing friend ghosted the whole local community.
那位失蹤的朋友究竟發生了什麼事，這個疑問縈繞著整個當地社區。
文法句型
[memory/feeling] + ghosts + [person]
用法筆記
This is a less common and more literary meaning of 'ghost'. The subject is usually an abstract thing like a memory, doubt, or feeling. It is similar to 'haunt' but emphasises the persistent, pursuing quality of the feeling.