mute
mute — 形容詞
- mutepositive
- mutercomparative
- mutestsuperlative
1. not producing any sound or refusing to speak; choosing to stay quiet instead of
沉默；不語
不發出聲音或不說話的狀態
not producing any sound or refusing to speak; choosing to stay quiet instead of expressing your thoughts or feelings.
Baraka remained mute throughout the meeting, even when the manager asked for his opinion.
Baraka 在整場會議中保持沉默，即使主管問他意見也不發一語。
mute as predicative adjective with 'remain'
The two old friends exchanged a mute hug on the station platform before the train left.
兩位老朋友在月臺上無聲地擁抱，火車開走前一句話也沒說。
mute as attributive adjective describing an action without words
The audience fell silent when the pianist began to play the slow piece.
當鋼琴家開始彈奏慢板樂曲時，全場觀眾頓時安靜下來。
His mute refusal to answer any questions made the police officer suspicious.
他拒絕回答任何問題，這種沉默的態度讓警察起了疑心。
- silent
more general term; 'silent' can describe people, places, or things that make no sound
- speechless
temporary inability to speak due to shock or strong emotion, not a deliberate choice
- tight-lipped
informal; deliberately refusing to speak about something specific
用法筆記
This sense describes a temporary or deliberate absence of speech, not a permanent inability. 'Mute' is more emphatic than 'quiet' and suggests a conscious choice or strong emotion.
常見錯誤
2. a dated medical label for a person who cannot speak — now felt as dehumanising a
啞[冒犯]
舊時醫學用語，指無法說話（現已視為冒犯）
a dated medical label for a person who cannot speak — now felt as dehumanising and insulting. Modern alternatives include 'nonverbal' or 'speech-impaired.'
In nineteenth-century hospital records, a patient who could not speak was often described as mute.
在十九世紀的醫院記錄中，無法說話的病人常被描述為 mute。
historical/medical context — now offensive
The old asylum register listed a child as mute — a label no medical record would use today.
舊精神病院的登記冊將一名兒童列為 mute——這個標籤今日已無醫療記錄會使用。
A character in the Victorian novel was called a mute, which modern readers find very offensive.
維多利亞時代小說中有一個角色被稱為 mute，現代讀者覺得這非常冒犯。
Advocacy groups campaign to remove the word mute from archives where it labels people.
倡導團體持續呼籲，應從用來標籤人們的檔案中移除 mute 這個詞。
Teachers explain that calling someone a mute is as bad as using other old discriminatory labels.
今天的老師會說明，稱某人為 mute 與使用其他過時的歧視性標籤一樣不可接受。
- speech-impaired
modern, respectful term; focuses on the condition without defining the person
- nonverbal
modern term; often used for individuals who communicate without spoken language
用法筆記
DO NOT use this sense to describe a person. It is now considered extremely offensive, similar to other outdated medical labels that were used to define people by their disability. Use 'nonverbal,' 'speech-impaired,' or describe the specific condition instead.
常見錯誤
mute — 名詞
- mutesingular
- mutesplural
1. a small device placed inside or attached to a musical instrument such as a trump
弱音器
安裝在樂器上改變音色、降低音量的裝置
a small device placed inside or attached to a musical instrument such as a trumpet, violin, or trombone, which changes the sound by making it softer or giving it a different tone quality.
Lukas forgot his mute at home, so the trumpet solo sounded much louder than expected.
Lukas 把弱音器忘在家裡，所以小號獨奏聽起來比預期中大聲很多。
mute as a physical accessory for an instrument
The jazz trumpeter inserted a metal mute into the bell and played a soft, distant-sounding melody.
那位爵士小號手把金屬弱音器放入喇叭口，吹奏出柔和而遙遠的旋律。
Omar bought a practice mute for his violin so he could play late at night.
Omar 買了一個小提琴練習用弱音器，這樣他深夜也可以練習。
Without a mute, the brass section sounds much brighter and fills the concert hall.
沒有弱音器的話，銅管聲部聽起來明亮許多，充滿整個音樂廳。
文法句型
mute for [instrument]
用法筆記
Different instruments use different types of mutes. Brass mutes are inserted into the bell, while string mutes are clipped onto the bridge. The word is countable: 'a mute' / 'two mutes.'
常見錯誤
2. a button, switch, or icon on a phone, TV remote, computer, or other electronic d
靜音按鈕
電子裝置上關閉聲音的按鍵或圖示
a button, switch, or icon on a phone, TV remote, computer, or other electronic device that turns off the sound instantly.
Felix pressed the mute on his remote control as soon as the advertisement started playing.
廣告一開始播放，Felix 就按下了遙控器上的靜音鍵。
press the mute (button) on a remote
The mute on the classroom speaker system was broken, so every noise came through loudly.
教室廣播系統的靜音按鈕壞了，所以每一個聲音都很大聲地傳出來。
Talia hit the mute on her phone before entering the cinema to avoid disturbing others.
Talia 在進電影院前按下了手機的靜音鍵，以免打擾到別人。
Many video players put the mute icon in the bottom corner of the screen.
許多影片播放器會把靜音圖示放在螢幕的右下角。
- silence button
less common; more literal but perfectly understandable
- volume up
increases sound instead of stopping it
文法句型
the mute
press the mute (button)
用法筆記
Often used with 'press,' 'hit,' 'tap,' or 'click': 'press the mute,' 'tap the mute icon.' The definite article ('the mute') is common: 'I can't find the mute.'
3. the state or condition of a microphone, phone, or other device being silenced so
靜音狀態
裝置被設定為不發出聲音的狀態
the state or condition of a microphone, phone, or other device being silenced so that no sound comes out or is transmitted.
Hyun's microphone was on mute, so nobody in the video call could hear his question.
Hyun 的麥克風處於靜音狀態，所以視訊會議中沒有人聽到他的問題。
on mute — describes the state of a device
Please put your phones on mute while the teacher is explaining today's lesson.
老師講課時，請將手機調成靜音模式。
put [device] on mute — common instruction pattern
The TV was on mute during dinner, but the family kept an eye on the subtitles.
晚餐時電視處於靜音狀態，但全家人仍不時看著字幕。
Vivek realised his laptop was still on mute after the online exam had already started.
線上考試已經開始了，Vivek 才發現筆電還開著靜音模式。
- silent mode
more common for phones; 'silent mode' typically disables ringtone but not all sounds
- silenced
adjective describing the result, not the state
- unmuted
the opposite state, where sound is active
文法句型
on mute
put [device] on mute
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in the fixed phrase 'on mute' + 'put/turn (something) on mute.' This is different from the noun meaning 'mute button' — here it describes a state, not the physical control.
常見錯誤
4. an extremely offensive word used in the past to refer to a person who cannot spe
啞巴
舊時對無法說話者的歧視性稱呼
an extremely offensive word used in the past to refer to a person who cannot speak. This term is no longer acceptable in modern English and causes serious offence.
The historical novel used the word mute to describe a character who communicated through sign language.
那本歷史小說用 mute 這個詞來描述一位用手語溝通的角色。
literary/historical context only — not acceptable in modern use
Medical records from the 1920s sometimes classified patients as deaf-mutes, a label now considered deeply disrespectful.
1920 年代的醫療記錄有時將病人歸類為 deaf-mute，這個標籤如今被認為極不尊重。
historical medical usage — never use today
The charity's old name contained the word mute, but they changed it years ago.
那個慈善機構的舊名稱包含 mute 這個詞，但他們多年前已經改名了。
An elderly relative mentioned being called a mute at school, and the memory still upset them.
一位年長親戚回憶起在學校被人叫 mute，而那段記憶至今仍讓他們感到難過。
A museum display about 19th-century medicine included the term mute alongside other outdated labels.
某個關於十九世紀醫學的博物館展覽中，mute 一詞與其他過時標籤並列展示。
用法筆記
WARNING: This is one of the most offensive words in English when used to describe a person. Never refer to anyone as 'a mute' or 'mutes.' Acceptable alternatives include 'a person who does not speak,' 'a nonverbal person,' or 'a person with a speech disability.'
常見錯誤
mute — 動詞
- mutepresent simple I / you / we / they
- mutes3rd person singular
- muting-ing form
- mutedpast simple
1. to reduce or stop any sound coming from a device, a musical instrument, or any o
消音；靜音
關閉或調低裝置的聲音
to reduce or stop any sound coming from a device, a musical instrument, or any other source — for example, muting a phone, a TV, or the noise of traffic outside a window.
Sirin muted the television when the doorbell rang so she could hear who was outside.
門鈴響了，Sirin 把電視調成靜音，這樣才能聽到門外是誰。
mute + device (television) in a concrete scenario
Talia muted her phone before the movie started in the cinema.
電影開演前，Talia 把手機切換成靜音模式。
The loud construction noise was partly muted by the thick double-glazed windows of the apartment.
公寓的雙層玻璃窗稍微隔絕了外面嘈雜的施工噪音。
Vivek muted the video game console so his younger brother could sleep in the next room.
Vivek 把電玩主機調成靜音，以免吵醒隔壁房間的弟弟。
Please mute your laptop during the online presentation to avoid feedback and echo.
線上簡報期間請將筆電調成靜音，避免產生回音和雜音。
- silence
slightly more formal; 'silence your phone' is common in announcements
- turn off the sound
more informal and wordy; common in spoken language
文法句型
mute + noun (device / noise / sound)
用法筆記
This is the most common sense of the verb 'mute.' It is used in both casual and formal contexts. The object is almost always an electronic device or an undesirable noise.
常見錯誤
2. to switch off the microphone of a person during a video call or online meeting s
靜音
在視訊會議中關閉某人的麥克風
to switch off the microphone of a person during a video call or online meeting so that others cannot hear them.
The meeting host muted everyone in the conference call to reduce background noise.
會議主持人將電話會議中所有人的麥克風調成靜音，以減少背景噪音。
mute + person in a conference setting
Ignacio accidentally muted himself while trying to unmute and could not answer the question.
Ignacio 本來想解除靜音，卻不小心把自己關靜音了，結果無法回答問題。
reflexive: mute oneself — common mistake pattern
Aaron muted his colleague who had a loud dog barking in the background.
Aaron 把那位同事靜音了，因為對方背景裡有隻狗不斷地吠叫。
The teacher muted each student's microphone except for the one who was presenting.
老師將所有學生的麥克風都設為靜音，只留下正在報告的那位同學。
- silence
possible but less common in video-call contexts; 'mute' is the standard term
- unmute
the exact opposite — restore someone's audio
文法句型
mute + person
mute + participant
mute + microphone
用法筆記
This sense emerged with video conferencing tools (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet) and is now extremely common. The object can be a person, a participant, or a microphone. 'Unmute' is the direct opposite.
常見錯誤
❌ 'I muted the TV so people on the call could hear me.' (wrong sense — you muted the TV, not a person on the call.)
3. to attach or insert a mute device onto a musical instrument so that the sound be
安裝弱音器
在樂器上裝設弱音器以改變音色
to attach or insert a mute device onto a musical instrument so that the sound becomes quieter or changes in quality.
The trumpeter muted his horn for the jazz ballad and removed the mute for the loud finale.
小號手在演奏柔和的爵士抒情曲時裝上弱音器，到了激昂的終曲才取下。
muted ... for / removed the mute — showing both actions
Brandon muted his trombone in the hotel room so the other guests would not complain.
Brandon 在飯店房間裡給長號裝了弱音器，以免其他房客抗議。
The composer told the violins to mute their instruments for this section of the piece.
作曲家要求小提琴組在樂曲的這個段落將樂器裝上弱音器。
Orchestra players learn to mute and unmute their instruments quickly between passages.
管弦樂團的樂手學會在樂章之間迅速地裝上和取下弱音器。
- put a mute on
more informal; 'She put a mute on her trumpet'
- unmute
less common in musical contexts; musicians usually say 'remove the mute'
文法句型
mute + instrument
用法筆記
This sense is specific to musical performance. In orchestra scores, the Italian term 'con sordino' (with mute) is sometimes used instead of the English word. For brass instruments the mute is inserted into the bell; for strings it is clipped onto the bridge.
常見錯誤
❌ 'She muted the piano before playing.' — pianos do not typically use a removable mute; the correct term is 'use the soft pedal.'
4. to stop seeing a particular person's posts, messages, or updates on social media
隱藏貼文
在社群媒體上隱藏某人的貼文而不解除好友
to stop seeing a particular person's posts, messages, or updates on social media websites or apps without removing them from your friends or followers list.
Ananya muted her cousin's Instagram stories because they were posted too frequently.
Ananya 將表姐的 Instagram 限時動態設為靜音，因為對方發文頻率實在太高了。
mute + person on social media
Benjamin muted the group chat on WhatsApp to stop the constant notifications.
Benjamin 把 WhatsApp 群組對話設為靜音，以免一直被通知干擾。
mute + group chat — common pattern
You can mute a user on Twitter and still follow their account without seeing their posts.
你可以在 Twitter 上將某位使用者設為靜音，繼續追蹤對方但看不到他的貼文。
After the election, many people muted friends whose political opinions clashed with theirs.
選舉過後，許多人將政治立場不同的朋友設為靜音。
- silence notifications
more general; works for phones and apps, not just social media
- snooze
temporary version of mute on some platforms (e.g. 30 days)
文法句型
mute + person
mute + account
用法筆記
This is a relatively new sense that became common with social media platforms (Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook). Unlike 'block' or 'unfriend,' muting is invisible — the other person is not notified and remains connected to you.