keen
keen — 形容詞
1. feeling or showing a strong desire to take part in an activity or to see somethi
熱衷的
對某事有強烈興趣的
feeling or showing a strong desire to take part in an activity or to see something happen, often accompanied by active interest and effort.
Layla is keen to join the school debate team next term.
Layla 很渴望下學期加入學校的辯論隊。
keen + to + infinitive for personal desire
Stefan has always been keen on cycling and rides every weekend.
Stefan 一直很熱衷於騎自行車，每個週末都會去騎。
keen + on + gerund for enjoying an activity
Matthew is keen to learn Japanese before his trip to Tokyo next year.
Matthew 很想在明年去東京之前學會日語。
Eve's parents are keen for her to study science at the local university.
Eve 的父母很希望她到當地的大學攻讀理科。
- eager
more about impatience or excitement for a future event than ongoing interest
- enthusiastic
suggests livelier, more energetic interest than keen
- avid
stronger and more consuming interest, often in a hobby
- zealous
implies intense, sometimes extreme commitment
- indifferent
showing no interest at all
文法句型
keen + to + infinitive
keen + on + gerund/noun
用法筆記
In British English, 'keen on doing something' is a common everyday pattern. In American English, 'eager to' or 'enthusiastic about' are more typical for this sense.
常見錯誤
2. having a very strong or powerful effect, such as a feeling (disappointment, desi
激烈的
程度極深或非常強烈的
having a very strong or powerful effect, such as a feeling (disappointment, desire) or a situation (competition, rivalry) that involves deep intensity.
The two runners share a keen rivalry that makes every race exciting.
這兩位跑者之間的激烈競爭讓每一場比賽都充滿看頭。
keen + rivalry for intense competition
Padma felt a keen sense of disappointment when her visa application was denied.
Padma 的簽證申請被拒絕時，她感到強烈的失望。
keen + sense of + emotion noun
Sayaka took a keen interest in the stars after visiting the science museum.
Sayaka 參觀科學博物館後，對星星產生了濃厚的興趣。
There was keen competition among the students for the only scholarship.
學生們為了唯一的獎學金展開了激烈的競爭。
文法句型
keen + noun
用法筆記
This sense often pairs with abstract nouns describing feelings (disappointment, regret, desire) or competition (rivalry, contest, competition). It cannot describe physical sensations like pain.
常見錯誤
3. able to think quickly, notice small differences, or perceive things with great a
敏銳的
理解力快或感官發達的
able to think quickly, notice small differences, or perceive things with great accuracy — for example, a person with a keen mind solves problems fast, and a keen eye spots tiny details that others miss.
Mira has a keen eye for colour and always picks the perfect paint shade.
Mira 對顏色有敏銳的眼光，總能選到最完美的油漆色調。
keen + eye for perception of detail
A keen sense of smell helps the dog find food buried beneath the snow.
敏銳的嗅覺幫助這隻狗找到埋在雪下的食物。
Hoa has a keen mind for solving complex puzzles in under five minutes.
Hoa 擅長用敏銳的頭腦在五分鐘內解開複雜的謎題。
The detective's keen observation caught the tiny clue that everyone else missed.
偵探敏銳的觀察力捕捉到其他人忽略的微小線索。
- sharp
more informal and common in everyday speech
- acute
more formal; often used for senses like hearing or sight
- perceptive
focuses on understanding people and situations well
文法句型
keen + noun (mind / eye / sense)
用法筆記
Keen here describes the quality of a mental ability or physical sense — you have a 'keen mind' or 'keen eyesight,' not 'a keen person' (which would mean enthusiastic).
常見錯誤
4. (of wind or cold air) blowing with sharp force and a very low temperature, often
刺骨的
風強勁又寒冷的
(of wind or cold air) blowing with sharp force and a very low temperature, often cutting through clothing and making the skin feel as if it is being cut.
A keen wind blew across the beach, forcing everyone to put on their jackets.
一陣刺骨的寒風吹過海灘，逼得每個人都穿上了外套。
keen + wind for strong, cold air
The keen cold of the mountain air made Amani's fingers go numb within minutes.
山林空氣的刺骨寒冷讓 Amani 的手指在幾分鐘內就凍僵了。
Élise pulled her scarf tighter as a keen wind swept through the train station.
Élise 把圍巾拉得更緊，一陣刺骨的寒風掃過火車站。
Farmers worried about the keen frost damaging their early spring vegetables.
農民們擔心刺骨的霜凍會損害他們早春的蔬菜。
文法句型
keen + wind / cold / air
用法筆記
Only used for wind, cold, or frosty air. Not used for rain, snow, or other weather conditions. 'Biting' or 'piercing' are more common alternatives.
常見錯誤
5. of a cutting tool or blade — made with a thin, sharp edge that can slice through
鋒利的
刀刃或尖端很利的
of a cutting tool or blade — made with a thin, sharp edge that can slice through materials such as food, wood, or fabric without requiring much force, found mainly in formal or descriptive writing about knives and tools.
The old knife still has a keen blade that slices through tomatoes with ease.
這把舊刀仍有鋒利的刀刃，能輕鬆切開番茄。
Kenji sharpened the axe until its edge was as keen as a razor.
Kenji 把斧頭磨到刀刃像剃刀一樣鋒利。
keen + edge/blade for physical sharpness
The chef tested the keen edge of his knife on a piece of paper.
廚師用一張紙測試了他那把刀的鋒利刀刃。
A keen blade is essential for carving the turkey cleanly at dinner.
鋒利的刀刃是晚餐時乾淨地切開火雞的必要條件。
- sharp
the everyday word for cutting ability; keen is more literary
- razor-sharp
emphasises an extremely fine edge
文法句型
keen + blade / edge / knife
用法筆記
Mainly used in formal, literary, or descriptive writing. In everyday speech, 'sharp' is far more common than 'keen' for describing cutting tools.
常見錯誤
keen — 動詞
1. to cry out in a loud, long, high-pitched voice as a way of showing deep sadness,
哀嚎
因悲傷大聲哭喊
to cry out in a loud, long, high-pitched voice as a way of showing deep sadness, often as part of a funeral tradition where mourners express their loss through wailing.
The women keened for the dead soldier as his body was carried through the village.
當陣亡士兵的遺體被抬過村莊時，婦女們為他哀嚎慟哭。
keen + for + person in funeral context
Gabriela could hear her grandmother keening softly in the next room, lost in grief.
Gabriela 聽到祖母在隔壁房間低聲哀嚎，陷入悲痛之中。
At the funeral, the old woman began to keen in a voice that chilled everyone.
葬禮上，那位老婦人開始哀嚎，聲音讓所有人都感到心寒。
The mourners keened together in a haunting chorus that lasted until dawn.
哀悼者們一起哀嚎，發出令人難忘的哭聲，直到天明。
文法句型
keen + for + person
用法筆記
A traditional practice in Irish and Scottish funeral customs, where professional or family mourners would keen loudly. Rare in modern everyday English except in historical or literary writing.
keen — 名詞
1. a loud, sorrowful cry or song of grief made at a funeral or in memory of someone
輓歌
為死者發出的悲傷哭喊
a loud, sorrowful cry or song of grief made at a funeral or in memory of someone who has died, especially in Irish tradition where it takes the form of a rhythmic, wailing chant.
The sound of the keen echoed through the valley as the community mourned together.
輓歌的聲音在山谷中迴盪，整個社區一起哀悼。
the keen as a noun for a wailing lament
The old women raised their keen as the coffin was lowered into the ground.
棺材放入墓穴時，老婦人們唱起了輓歌。
Visitors from abroad had never heard an Irish keen before and were moved to tears.
來自國外的訪客從未聽過愛爾蘭的輓歌，聽後感動落淚。
The keen rose and fell like a sad song, carrying the village's grief.
輓歌像一首悲歌般高低起伏，承載著村莊的哀傷。
用法筆記
Often refers specifically to the Irish tradition ('caoineadh') of a wailing lament at a funeral, historically performed by professional mourners. Very rare in general use.