hinge
hinge — 名詞
1. a small metal or strong-plastic part that connects a door, window, or lid to its
鉸鏈
門窗靠其轉動的金屬零件
a small metal or strong-plastic part that connects a door, window, or lid to its frame, so it can swing open and shut
The old wooden door swung on its rusty hinges.
那扇舊木門靠著生鏽的鉸鏈轉動。
collocation: rusty hinges / door hinge
Liang bought new brass hinges for the kitchen cabinets.
Liang 為廚房櫥櫃買了新的黃銅鉸鏈。
collocation: brass hinge / cabinet hinge
Adaeze oiled the squeaky hinge on the garden gate.
Adaeze 替花園大門上吱吱作響的鉸鏈加了油。
A broken hinge made the wardrobe door hang crooked.
一個壞掉的鉸鏈讓衣櫃門歪斜地掛著。
The carpenter replaced the old hinge on the shed door with a new stainless-steel one.
木匠把工具間門上的舊鉸鏈換成新的不鏽鋼鉸鏈。
文法句型
a [adjective] hinge
hinge + of + noun
常見錯誤
2. the single key event, factor, or decision that determines how a situation will d
關鍵
決定事件走向的關鍵因素
the single key event, factor, or decision that determines how a situation will develop — for example, the battle that decides a war, or the moment that changes a person's career
The peace treaty was the hinge that ended decades of conflict.
那項和平條約是結束數十年衝突的關鍵。
pattern: 'the hinge that [causes an outcome]'
Historians see that battle as the hinge of the entire war.
歷史學家將那場戰役視為整場戰爭的關鍵。
collocation: hinge of the war
For Putri, that job interview was the hinge of her career.
對 Putri 來說，那次工作面試是她職涯的關鍵。
The court's decision became the hinge on which the case turned.
法院的判決成了決定這個案件走向的關鍵。
Climate scientists called the summit the hinge of the planet's future.
氣候科學家稱該峰會為地球未來的關鍵。
- turning point
the moment when a situation begins to change significantly; more common and less formal than 'hinge'
- linchpin
the person or thing that holds everything together; slightly different in meaning — it keeps a system stable rather than determines its direction
- crux
the most important part of a problem or argument; more about disputes and logic than events
文法句型
the hinge of + noun
the hinge on which + clause
用法筆記
Almost always used in a singular form within a definite or possessive phrase — 'the hinge of something' — to highlight the one decisive element in a chain of events.
常見錯誤
hinge — 動詞
1. to depend entirely on one specific thing for success, a decision, or a result —
取決
完全依靠某個因素決定結果
to depend entirely on one specific thing for success, a decision, or a result — for example, a project's future depending on whether the money arrives
The whole project hinges on whether the bank approves the loan.
整個專案取決於銀行是否核准貸款。
hinge on + whether-clause
Dahlia's promotion hinges on the results of this quarter.
Dahlia 的晉升取決於這一季的業績。
Our vacation plans hinge on the weather forecast this weekend.
我們的度假計畫取決於這週末的天氣預報。
The success of the event hinges on Ziad's team finishing the setup on time.
活動的成功與否取決於 Ziad 的團隊能否按時完成布置。
Everything hinges upon the result of the medical test tomorrow.
一切都取決於明天那項醫療檢查的結果。
- depend on
the most common and neutral alternative; works for both events and personal reliance
- rest on
slightly more formal; emphasises that the outcome is supported by the condition
- be contingent on
formal register; used in legal, academic, or technical contexts
- revolve around
suggests the condition is the central concern, not necessarily the only deciding factor
- be independent of
the opposite meaning — not affected by a particular condition
文法句型
hinge on + noun phrase
hinge on + whether/if clause
hinge upon + noun phrase
用法筆記
The preposition 'on' or 'upon' is always required — 'hinge' alone does not carry the dependent meaning. 'Upon' is a slightly more formal variant of 'on' that appears more often in writing. The subject is typically an abstract noun (success, future, decision, outcome). The condition it depends on is frequently expressed with a whether-clause or a noun phrase.
常見錯誤
2. (of a door, window, or lid that has hinges) to swing inward or outward around it
翻轉
門窗繞著鉸鏈旋轉打開
(of a door, window, or lid that has hinges) to swing inward or outward around its hinged edge when pushed or pulled
The heavy iron gate hinged open as Caio pushed it.
Caio 一推，那扇沉重的鐵門就繞著鉸鏈打開了。
pattern: hinge + open + [cause]
Each panel of the folding screen hinges outward when you pull it.
折疊屏風的每一片板子，只要一拉就會向外翻轉。
The trapdoor hinged upward and a ladder appeared below it.
地板門向上翻開，下方出現了一道梯子。
The window hinges inward, so you have to pull it from the top.
那扇窗戶是向內翻轉的，所以你得從上方拉。
文法句型
hinge + adverb (open/shut/outward/inward)
用法筆記
Subject must be something that has a hinge attached. The verb describes the movement of that object around its hinged edge, not sounds like creaking or speed of motion.
常見錯誤
3. to fix a hinge onto something, or to connect one object to another using a hinge
裝鉸鏈
在物體上安裝鉸鏈
to fix a hinge onto something, or to connect one object to another using a hinge, so that it can swing open and shut
Christopher hinged the new door to the frame himself.
Christopher 自己用鉸鏈把新門裝到門框上。
pattern: hinge + [object] + to + [frame]
The craftsman hinged the lid of the wooden chest with great care.
工匠細心地用鉸鏈將木箱的蓋子固定好。
Mira carefully hinged the cabinet door so it would close smoothly.
Mira 仔細地將櫥櫃門裝上鉸鏈，讓它能夠順利關上。
Each panel is hinged to the next one, allowing the screen to fold flat.
每一片板子都用鉸鏈相接，讓屏風能折疊平整。
- attach with hinges
a clearer, more explanatory phrase; good for giving instructions
- mount on hinges
suggests the hinge is the method of mounting; used for gates and large doors
文法句型
hinge + noun + to + noun
be hinged to + noun
用法筆記
Common in DIY, woodworking, and construction contexts. The passive form ('be hinged to') is frequent when describing how an object is designed rather than the act of installation.