nail
nail — 名詞
1. a thin metal rod with a sharp tip and a flat top; people drive it into wood or o
釘子
金屬製固定用細長物件
a thin metal rod with a sharp tip and a flat top; people drive it into wood or other material using a hammer to fasten parts together or keep things in place.
Hamza used a hammer to drive the long nail into the wooden beam.
Hamza 用鎚子將長釘子敲進木樑中。
'drive a nail' collocation for hammering in
The old fence had rusty nails sticking out from the wood.
舊籬笆上有生鏽的釘子從木頭裡露出來。
Lisa pulled the bent nail out with the claw end of her hammer.
Lisa 用鎚子的彎頭端把彎掉的釘子拔出來。
A single nail in the wall held up the heavy kitchen clock.
牆上的一根釘子撐起了那面沉重的廚房時鐘。
文法句型
drive/hammer a nail
pull out a nail
用法筆記
Common verb partners include 'drive', 'hammer', 'pull out'. The head of a nail is the flat end you strike; the point is the end you push into the material.
常見錯誤
2. a thin, hard surface that covers the end parts of human fingers and toes.
指甲
手指或腳趾末端的硬質覆蓋層
a thin, hard surface that covers the end parts of human fingers and toes.
Renata painted her nails bright red for the wedding ceremony.
Renata 為了婚禮把指甲塗成鮮紅色。
'paint your nails' common phrase for applying colour
Jude trimmed his nails short before starting guitar lessons.
Jude 在上吉他課前把指甲剪短了。
The doctor checked Tamar's fingernails for signs of infection.
醫生檢查了 Tamar 的指甲是否有感染跡象。
Biting your nails can damage the skin and make your fingertips sore.
咬指甲會傷害皮膚，讓指尖疼痛。
- fingernail
specifically a nail on a finger, not a toe
- toenail
specifically a nail on a toe, thicker and slower-growing than a fingernail
- claw
a curved, pointed nail on an animal such as a cat or bird
文法句型
cut/trim your nails
paint your nails
用法筆記
Often used in the plural ('nails') when referring generally. Common verbs: 'cut', 'trim', 'file', 'paint', 'bite'. 'Fingernail' and 'toenail' are more specific compounds.
常見錯誤
nail — 動詞
1. to attach or fix one thing to another by hitting a nail through it with a hammer
釘
用釘子把東西固定住
to attach or fix one thing to another by hitting a nail through it with a hammer.
Sahil nailed a wooden board across the broken kitchen window.
Sahil 用一塊木板釘住了廚房破掉的窗戶。
'nail + across/onto [surface]' preposition pattern
The carpenter nailed the floorboards down before the family moved in.
木工把地板釘牢後，那家人就搬進來了。
A metal sign was nailed to the wooden gatepost at the entrance.
一塊金屬標誌被釘在入口處的木門柱上。
Kevin nailed the shelf brackets into the wall with four long nails.
Kevin 用四根長釘子把層板托架釘進牆裡。
- hammer
focuses on the striking action rather than the fastening result; 'hammer the nail in' vs 'nail the board on'
文法句型
nail + object + preposition + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often requires a prepositional phrase showing position ('onto', 'to', 'across', 'down'). The object is usually the item being fastened, not the nail itself.
常見錯誤
2. to catch a person in the middle of a wrongful act and present proof that they ar
逮到；揪出
抓到某人做錯事或證明其有罪
to catch a person in the middle of a wrongful act and present proof that they are responsible for it.
The detective finally nailed the burglar with DNA evidence from the scene.
警探終於用現場的 DNA 證據逮到了那名竊賊。
'nail + with [evidence]' pattern for proving guilt
Élise got nailed for copying answers during the final chemistry exam.
Élise 因為在期末化學考試中抄答案被抓到了。
'get nailed for [offence]' passive construction
Security cameras nailed the shoplifter leaving the store with stolen goods.
監視器拍到那名順手牽羊的竊賊帶著贓物離開商店。
The newspaper investigation nailed the factory for dumping waste into the river.
報紙的調查報導揪出了那家工廠往河裡傾倒廢料的行為。
文法句型
nail + someone + for + noun/gerund
get nailed + for + noun/gerund
用法筆記
Often used with 'for' to state the wrongdoing ('nailed for cheating'). The passive form 'get nailed' is very common in everyday speech. More formal alternatives: 'caught', 'convicted', 'exposed'.
3. to do something with complete success and skill, so that the result is exactly r
完美達成
完美地完成某事
to do something with complete success and skill, so that the result is exactly right.
Asher nailed his guitar solo during the school talent show.
Asher 在學校才藝表演中完美彈奏了吉他獨奏。
'nail + [performance/achievement]' informal success pattern
Wei studied every evening for a month and nailed the final chemistry exam.
Wei 每天晚上讀書，讀了整整一個月，終於順利通過了期末化學考試。
The comedian nailed every punchline and had the audience laughing all night.
那位喜劇演員每一個笑點都發揮得淋漓盡致，逗得觀眾整晚笑個不停。
Quan nailed his job interview and received a job offer the same afternoon.
Quan 在求職面試中表現出色，當天下午就收到了錄取通知。
- ace
mainly used for tests and exams; slightly narrower than 'nail'
- crush
slang, emphasizes defeating or dominating the challenge
- succeed
neutral/formal register; does not carry the 'perfect result' implication
- perfect
as a verb, it means to make something flawless through practice, rather than succeed on the first attempt
文法句型
nail + object
nail it (no object)
用法筆記
Very common in informal spoken English. The fixed phrase 'nail it' (without an object) is frequently used as an exclamation of success. In formal writing, use 'succeed', 'achieve', or 'perform perfectly' instead.
常見錯誤
4. to strike a person or thing very hard, whether on purpose or by accident.
猛擊
用力擊打某人或某物
to strike a person or thing very hard, whether on purpose or by accident.
The boxer nailed his opponent with a powerful right hook to the jaw.
那名拳擊手以一記強勁的右鉤拳猛擊對手的下巴。
A loose baseball nailed Joaquín on the shoulder during warm-up practice.
一顆鬆脫的棒球在熱身練習時猛力擊中了 Joaquín 的肩膀。
'nail someone on [body part]' pattern for hit location
Wei accidentally nailed his thumb with the hammer while fixing the shelf.
Wei 修理層架時不小心用鎚子狠狠敲到了自己的拇指。
The heavy gate swung open and nailed Maja in the ribs as she walked past.
那扇沉重的門猛然甩開，狠狠撞在正好走過的 Maja 的肋骨上。
- tap
to hit gently and lightly, the opposite of striking with force
文法句型
nail + someone + preposition + body part/noun
用法筆記
Informal and physical. Can describe accidental or intentional hits. The prepositional phrase after the object usually names the body part struck ('on the shoulder', 'in the ribs'). Not used for gentle or light contact.