nigh
nigh — 副詞
1. at a short distance from a place or a short time before an event; close by in sp
接近；臨近
在空間或時間上靠近
at a short distance from a place or a short time before an event; close by in space or impending in time — used mainly in literary or formal contexts as a more poetic alternative to 'near'.
Élise stood on the cliff's edge, knowing the sea was nigh.
Élise 站在懸崖邊，知道大海就在不遠處。
archaic adverb for 'near' after a copular verb
As winter drew nigh, the villagers stored firewood and grain.
冬天臨近時，村民們儲存了木柴和穀物。
draw nigh — literary collocation for time approaching
The hour of the ceremony was nigh, and the hall grew quiet.
典禮的時刻將至，大廳裡安靜了下來。
Théo built a shelter nigh the river, where the fishing was best.
Théo 在河邊附近搭建了一個庇護所，那裡的魚最好釣。
- far
distant in space or time
文法句型
nigh + noun phrase (prepositional use)
draw nigh
用法筆記
In modern English, 'near' has almost entirely replaced 'nigh' in this sense. The word survives in fixed literary phrases such as 'draw nigh' (approach) and 'nigh on' (almost).
常見錯誤
2. to a degree that falls just short of a state or amount; very nearly — used in th
將近；幾乎
接近某個數量或狀態，幾近
to a degree that falls just short of a state or amount; very nearly — used in the fixed phrase 'nigh on' (or 'nigh onto') to mean 'almost' when describing quantities, durations, or conditions.
It has been nigh on forty years since the old mill closed.
距離老磨坊關閉已經將近四十年了。
nigh on + quantity phrase
The rescue team worked for nigh on three days without rest.
救援隊幾乎連續工作了三天，沒有休息。
Mauricio's patience was nigh exhausted after the third delay.
第三次延誤之後，Mauricio 的耐心幾乎耗盡了。
Wei felt the task was nigh impossible without proper tools.
Wei 認為沒有適當的工具，這項任務幾乎不可能完成。
The journey took nigh on six hours through heavy snow.
在厚厚的積雪中，路程花了將近六個小時。
文法句型
nigh on + number/time phrase
nigh + adjective
用法筆記
In this sense 'nigh' is almost always followed by 'on' (or 'onto') before a number or time phrase. Without 'on', it occurs before adjectives like 'impossible', 'certain', 'exhausted' — but this is very rare today.
常見錯誤
nigh — 形容詞
1. located a short distance away or about to happen soon — describing something phy
靠近；將至
距離近或即將發生
located a short distance away or about to happen soon — describing something physically close or an event that is imminent, used in literary style.
The end of the long drought was nigh at last.
漫長乾旱的終結終於來臨了。
Noa knew that harvest time was nigh from the colour of the wheat.
Noa 從麥子的顏色就知道收穫時節將近了。
predicative use: be nigh
In the nigh forest, wolves could be heard at dusk.
在附近的森林裡，黃昏時可以聽到狼嚎。
Nora gazed across the valley to the nigh hills, still green with spring.
Nora 眺望山谷對面那些近處的山丘，山上仍是一片春天的翠綠。
文法句型
be nigh
the nigh [noun]
用法筆記
As an adjective, 'nigh' is almost entirely replaced by 'near' in modern English except in regional British dialects and deliberate literary style. The attributive position ('the nigh hills') is especially rare.
常見錯誤
2. taking a short, straight line from one point to another — used of a route, way,
捷徑的；直的
路線短而直接
taking a short, straight line from one point to another — used of a route, way, or path that cuts across rather than following a winding course.
The shepherd knew a nigh path across the moor to the village.
牧羊人知道一條穿過荒野直達村莊的捷徑。
the nigh path — a direct, short route
Emre took the nigh road through the fields, saving half an hour.
Emre 走了穿過田野的直路，節省了半小時。
Old maps showed a nigh way between the two market towns.
古老的地圖上標示著兩個集鎮之間的一條捷徑。
Christopher found a nigh path through the woods that bypassed the main road.
Christopher 找到一條穿過樹林的捷徑，避開了主要道路。
- circuitous
taking a long, winding route
文法句型
the nigh way/road/path
用法筆記
This sense is almost entirely archaic. It survives mainly in historical fiction or dialect. In modern English, 'short cut' or 'direct route' would be used instead.
3. situated on the left-hand side — used historically in horse riding and carriage
左側的
在左邊，馬匹或馬車的左側
situated on the left-hand side — used historically in horse riding and carriage driving to refer to the left side of a horse or vehicle (the side a rider mounts from).
The rider mounted from the nigh side of the horse, as was the custom.
騎馬者按照習俗從馬的左側上馬。
the nigh side — the left side (horse)
The carriage driver checked the brake on the nigh wheel before setting off.
馬車夫在出發前檢查了左輪的制動器。
In traditional harness teams, the nigh horse is led by the driver's left hand.
在傳統的挽馬隊伍中，左側的馬由車夫左手引領。
The stable hand always approached each horse from the nigh side to avoid startling it.
馬伕總是從馬的左側靠近每一匹馬，以免驚嚇到牠。
- off
the right side of a horse or carriage
文法句型
the nigh [animal/vehicle part]
用法筆記
This sense is a relic of horse-drawn transport. The opposite is 'off' (right side). Modern English uses 'left' and 'right' exclusively, except in specialised equestrian or historical contexts.
常見錯誤
nigh — 介系詞
1. at or to a short distance from a place or thing — functioning as a preposition w
在…附近
靠近某處
at or to a short distance from a place or thing — functioning as a preposition with a noun object, in contexts that require a literary or solemn tone.
The old chapel stood nigh the crossroads, shaded by elms.
古老的小教堂矗立在十字路口附近，榆樹成蔭。
nigh + noun phrase (location)
Zuri built her cottage nigh the stream, where the water ran clear.
Zuri 在溪流附近蓋了她的小屋，那裡的溪水清澈見底。
They pitched their tents nigh the ancient oak on the hill.
他們在山丘上的古橡樹附近搭起了帳篷。
Amihan planted roses nigh the garden wall, where they caught the sun.
Amihan 在花園牆邊種了玫瑰，那裡陽光充足。
- far from
distant; opposite in spatial sense
文法句型
nigh + noun phrase
用法筆記
As a preposition, 'nigh' is extremely rare in modern English. The standard preposition is 'near'. 'Nigh' appears almost exclusively in historical fiction, poetry, or deliberate archaism.
常見錯誤
nigh — 動詞
1. to come close to or draw near to a person, place, or event — used in literary st
靠近；接近
走近某處或某人
to come close to or draw near to a person, place, or event — used in literary style with a direct object, much like 'approach' but with an older, more solemn tone.
As the travellers nighed the castle, the gates swung open.
旅人們靠近城堡時，大門打開了。
nigh + direct object (approach a place)
Saira nighed the wounded deer slowly, speaking in soft tones.
Saira 輕聲細語地慢慢靠近那頭受傷的鹿。
Kevin nighed the edge of the forest and paused to listen.
Kevin 走近森林邊緣，停下來仔細聆聽。
Christopher nighed the old well and peered into its depth.
Christopher 靠近那口古井，往深處看了一眼。
- approach
the standard verb; neutral in register and much more common
- draw near to
more literary; shares the solemn feel of 'nigh'
- retreat from
to move away from
文法句型
nigh + noun phrase (object)
用法筆記
The verb 'nigh' (past tense 'nighed') is extremely rare in contemporary English. Even in literary writing, 'approach' is far more common. It typically takes a concrete object (a place or person), not an abstract one.
常見錯誤
2. to move closer in space or to become closer in time — used intransitively, witho
臨近；將至
時間或事件逐漸接近
to move closer in space or to become closer in time — used intransitively, without a direct object, referring to the subject approaching rather than approaching something else.
The winter solstice nighed, and the days grew shorter still.
冬至即將來臨，白天變得越來越短。
intransitive: event nighs (time approaches)
Noa could feel the storm nighing as the wind picked up.
Noa 感覺到風勢增強，暴風雨正在逼近。
The hour of departure nighed, and the crew prepared the ship.
起航的時刻將至，船員們準備好了船隻。
As the deadline nighed, the team worked through the night.
截止日期臨近時，團隊徹夜工作。
- recede
move further away in time or space
文法句型
nigh (with no object)
nigh + adverb phrase
用法筆記
This intransitive sense refers mainly to the passage of time or the approach of an event. It is extremely rare even in literary English — 'draw near' or 'approach' are the normal modern alternatives.