hollow
hollow — 形容詞
1. describing something that has nothing solid in its middle — like a tree trunk wh
中空的
內部有空洞或空隙的
describing something that has nothing solid in its middle — like a tree trunk whose centre is empty, or a chocolate figure with no filling inside.
The old tree beside the stream was completely hollow inside.
溪邊那棵老樹的內部完全中空了。
Min bit into the chocolate egg and found it was hollow.
Min 咬了一口巧克力蛋，發現裡面是空心的。
hollow chocolate figure — contrasts with solid
The builders used hollow concrete blocks to keep the walls light.
建築工人使用中空水泥磚，減輕牆壁的重量。
Birds had built a nest inside the hollow part of the fence post.
鳥兒在籬笆柱的中空處築了一個巢。
A hollow log can make a safe hiding place for small animals.
一根中空的圓木可以成為小動物安全的藏身處。
- solid
filled with material throughout; the opposite of 'hollow' in physical description
用法筆記
Commonly used to describe objects that are empty by design (chocolate, blocks) or by natural decay (tree trunks, logs).
常見錯誤
2. curving inward or appearing deeply set in the face, especially the cheeks or the
凹陷的
臉頰或眼睛因疲勞、老化而內陷
curving inward or appearing deeply set in the face, especially the cheeks or the area around the eyes, often as a result of tiredness, illness, or old age.
After three nights without proper sleep, Ramón's cheeks looked hollow.
連續三晚沒睡好，Ramón 的臉頰看起來凹陷了下去。
hollow cheeks after lack of sleep
The patient's hollow eyes told the nurse she needed more rest.
病人凹陷的雙眼告訴護理師，她需要多休息。
hollow eyes — set deep in face
Élise noticed that her grandmother's face had grown more hollow over the winter.
Élise 注意到祖母的臉在冬天過後變得更加消瘦凹陷。
A diet with too little food can give a person hollow cheeks and a thin frame.
飲食攝取太少會讓人臉頰凹陷、身形消瘦。
The hollow look around her eyes was the first sign that something was wrong.
她雙眼凹陷的樣子，是身體出問題的第一個徵兆。
- full
opposite for describing cheeks; 'full cheeks' means round and healthy-looking
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used for cheeks, eyes, or the face. Not used for other body parts.
常見錯誤
3. lacking real meaning, truth, or honest feeling — used to describe promises, apol
空洞；虛假
缺乏真實價值或誠意的
lacking real meaning, truth, or honest feeling — used to describe promises, apologies, praise, or victories that feel empty or without substance.
The politician's hollow promises did not fool anyone in the audience.
那位政客空洞的承諾，沒有騙到台下任何一個人。
collocation: hollow promises
Ayesha knew her apology sounded hollow, even though she meant every word.
Ayesha 知道自己的道歉聽起來很虛假，儘管她句句真心。
sounded hollow — perceptual verb pattern
Winning the trophy without her best friend beside her felt like a hollow victory.
沒有好朋友陪在身邊，贏得獎盃感覺像是一場空洞的勝利。
The company's hollow expressions of regret did nothing to change public opinion.
該公司空洞的致歉，完全沒有改變公眾的觀感。
His speech was so full of hollow phrases that no one clapped at the end.
他的演講充斥空洞的詞藻，到最後沒有人鼓掌。
- empty
nearly interchangeable in this abstract sense, but 'hollow' emphasises the shallowness more strongly
- meaningless
focuses on lack of significance rather than lack of sincerity
- superficial
describes something that only appears meaningful on the surface
- vain
emphasises futility; 'vain' often suggests the effort was wasted, not just insincere
- sincere
genuine and honest; the direct opposite of 'hollow' in abstract senses
- meaningful
full of real value or significance
用法筆記
Frequently modifies abstract nouns such as 'promise', 'victory', 'apology', 'praise', 'threat', and 'gesture'. Often used with linking verbs like 'sound', 'feel', and 'ring' (as in 'ring hollow').
常見錯誤
4. describing a low, echoing sound like the noise made when you knock on or hit an
低沉回響的
聲音像敲擊空容器般的低沉
describing a low, echoing sound like the noise made when you knock on or hit an empty container.
When Ramón knocked on the wall, it made a hollow sound.
Ramón 敲了敲牆壁，傳來一陣空洞的聲響。
make a hollow sound — verb-object pattern
The hollow echo of their footsteps travelled down the long empty hallway.
他們腳步的空洞回音，在長長的空走廊上迴盪。
hollow echo — sound description
A hollow thud came from the metal box when it hit the stone floor.
金屬盒子撞上石地板時，發出了一聲沉悶的空響。
Chidi tapped the old drum and was surprised by the hollow note it produced.
Chidi 輕敲舊鼓，驚訝於它發出的空洞聲響。
hollow — 名詞
1. a hole, empty space, or low area inside or on the surface of something — for exa
洞；凹陷處
物體表面或內部的空洞或低窪
a hole, empty space, or low area inside or on the surface of something — for example, a gap in a tree trunk, a dip in the ground, or a space inside a rock.
The rabbit disappeared into a hollow beneath the roots of the oak tree.
兔子鑽進了橡樹根底下的一個洞裡。
into a hollow — prepositional phrase showing destination
Rainwater had collected in a small hollow on the garden path.
花園小徑上的一個小凹坑積滿了雨水。
Ramón kept the spare key in a hollow in the stone wall behind the gate.
Ramón 把備用鑰匙藏在大門後面石牆的一個洞裡。
The ground had a deep hollow where the old tree roots had rotted away.
地上有一個很深的凹洞，是原來的老樹根腐爛後留下的。
- bump
a raised area on a surface; the opposite of a depression or hollow
用法筆記
Often used with a prepositional phrase specifying location: 'a hollow in [something]'. Different from 'hole' — a 'hollow' is usually a depression or cavity rather than an opening that goes all the way through.
常見錯誤
2. a small valley or sheltered basin of land, usually bounded by hills or low mount
山谷
山丘間的小谷地
a small valley or sheltered basin of land, usually bounded by hills or low mountains.
Their farm sat in a quiet hollow between two forested hills.
他們的農場坐落在兩座樹木茂密的小山之間一處寧靜的山谷裡。
in a quiet hollow — location description
Defne's family had lived in that hollow for three generations.
Defne 的家族已經在那個山谷裡住了三代。
A small stream wound through the hollow, watering the rice paddies on both sides.
一條小溪蜿蜒流過山谷，灌溉著兩旁的稻田。
The village of about thirty houses lay in a sheltered hollow near the coast.
一個約有三十戶人家的小村莊，坐落在海邊一處有遮蔽的山谷中。
- ridge
the raised crest of a hill; the opposite of a valley or hollow in the landscape
用法筆記
This sense is most common in place names (e.g., 'Sleepy Hollow') and in rural or literary descriptions of the landscape. In everyday conversation, 'valley' is far more frequent than 'hollow' for this meaning.
hollow — 動詞
1. to take out the inner part of something so that only the outer shell or surface
挖空
去除內部使只剩外殼
to take out the inner part of something so that only the outer shell or surface remains — for example, removing the flesh from a pumpkin to make a lantern, or clearing the inside of a log.
Christopher hollowed out the pumpkin and put a candle inside it.
Christopher 把南瓜挖空，在裡面放了一根蠟燭。
hollow out — phrasal verb for removing insides
To make a simple canoe, you first need to hollow a large tree trunk.
要做一艘簡單的獨木舟，首先需要把大樹幹挖空。
The children hollowed the inside of the log to create a secret hiding spot.
孩子們把圓木的內部挖空，做成一個祕密藏身處。
Min hollowed out the loaf of bread to make a bowl for the soup.
Min 把一條麵包的內部挖空，做成裝湯的碗。
- fill
to put material into a space; the opposite of removing the inside
文法句型
hollow + object
hollow out + object
hollow + object + out
用法筆記
Very commonly used with the particle 'out' to form the phrasal verb 'hollow out'. The particle can split: 'hollow the pumpkin out' or 'hollow out the pumpkin' — both are correct.
常見錯誤
2. to create or form a three-dimensional shape by removing interior material — for
挖出形狀
透過挖空內部來塑形
to create or form a three-dimensional shape by removing interior material — for example, carving a dish from a block of wood or cutting a space into a cliff face.
The artist hollowed a small bowl from a single piece of oak wood.
藝術家用一塊橡木挖出了一個小碗。
hollow + shaped object + from + material
Wren hollowed out a space in the cliff to make a small shelter for hikers.
Wren 在懸崖上鑿出一個空間，為登山者搭建一座小型避難所。
hollow out + a space — creating a cavity for a purpose
The carpenter hollowed a groove along the edge of the board to fit the glass panel.
木匠沿著木板邊緣挖出一道凹槽，用來嵌入玻璃板。
Pim hollowed a shallow basin from the clay block to use as an ashtray.
Pim 從黏土塊中挖出一個淺盆當作菸灰缸使用。
- mould
to shape by adding material to a form, rather than removing it
文法句型
hollow + object + from/in
hollow out + object
用法筆記
This sense overlaps with sense 1 but is distinguished by its focus on the finished shape or object as the direct object (e.g., 'hollow a bowl') rather than the material the material being removed (e.g., 'hollow a pumpkin').
3. to gradually become empty inside or develop a cavity over time, usually because
變空；凹陷
逐漸變成中空或凹陷狀態
to gradually become empty inside or develop a cavity over time, usually because of natural processes like decay, erosion, or growth.
Over centuries, the sandstone cliff slowly hollowed from wind and rain.
數百年來，砂岩峭壁在風雨的侵蝕下慢慢變得中空。
hollow + from + cause — intransitive pattern
The stem of the bamboo plant hollows naturally as it reaches full height.
竹子的莖在長到最高時自然會變成中空。
The heart of the old oak had hollowed so much that only the bark held it up.
那棵老橡樹的中心已經腐朽中空到只剩樹皮在支撐。
Some plant stems hollow as they grow, creating tubes for water to travel through.
有些植物的莖在生長過程中會變成中空，形成輸送水分的管道。
- erode
describes gradual wearing away; 'erode' is broader and includes surface-level wearing, while 'hollow' is specifically from the inside out
- solidify
to become firm and solid; the opposite of becoming hollow
文法句型
hollow + (over time)
hollow + from [cause]
用法筆記
Intransitive — no direct object. The subject becomes hollow through a natural or gradual process. This sense is much less common than the transitive uses (senses 1 and 2).