slur
slur — 動詞
- slurpresent simple I / you / we / they
- slurshe / she / it
- slurredpast simple
- slurring-ing form
1. to speak without making each sound separate so that words run together and becom
含糊地說
發音不清、字音含糊
to speak without making each sound separate so that words run together and become hard to follow — often caused by tiredness, illness, or drinking too much alcohol.
Felix was so exhausted after the drive that his words began to slur badly.
Felix 開車開得太累了，說起話來開始含糊不清。
intransitive: words / speech + slurs
The old recording was poor, and the witness seemed to slur several key names.
舊錄音的品質很差，那名證人有好幾個關鍵名字都唸得含糊不清。
transitive: slur + object
A high fever made Mei's speech sound thick and slurred during the phone call.
Mei 因為發高燒，在電話裡的聲音聽起來又厚又含糊。
The doctor noticed that the patient's speech was slightly slurred after the accident.
醫生注意到那名患者車禍後的說話聲有些含糊。
When people are very tired, they often slur the ends of their sentences without noticing.
人非常疲倦的時候，常常會不自覺地把句子尾音唸得含糊。
- enunciate
to pronounce each sound clearly and distinctly
文法句型
slur + noun phrase
speech + slurs
用法筆記
Often used in the passive form (speech is slurred) or as a participial adjective (slurred speech). The intransitive pattern (his words slurred) is slightly less common.
常見錯誤
2. to make a series of tones flow together without any break when singing or playin
圓滑演奏
連奏，流暢銜接音符
to make a series of tones flow together without any break when singing or playing an instrument, producing a smooth connected sound.
The violin teacher showed Gabriela how to slur the first three notes of the melody.
小提琴老師示範給 Gabriela 看，如何把旋律的前三個音圓滑地連起來。
slur + notes as object
In Baroque music, performers often slur pairs of eighth notes to create a gentle flow.
在巴洛克音樂中，演奏者常把八分音符兩兩一組圓滑地連起來，營造柔和的流動感。
Luca practised every evening until he could smoothly slur each phrase on his cello.
Luca 每天練習，直到能在大提琴上順暢地把每個樂句圓滑連奏出來。
The choir director asked the sopranos to slur the ascending passage without taking a breath.
合唱團指揮要求女高音部一口氣圓滑地唱完上行樂句。
- play legato
an Italian musical term meaning the same thing; used more commonly in written instructions than as a verb
- connect
a simpler, non-technical way to describe the same smooth transition
- play staccato
to play each note short and separate from the next
文法句型
slur + musical notes
用法筆記
This is a music-specific term. The result is called legato, and the opposite (short, separate notes) is staccato. The written symbol in sheet music is also called a slur (see noun sense 4).
3. to say unfair or damaging things about someone that harm their good name or publ
詆毀；中傷
說壞話損害名譽
to say unfair or damaging things about someone that harm their good name or public image.
The article unfairly slurred the professor's reputation without offering any real evidence.
那篇文章在沒有任何證據的情況下，不公平地詆毀了那位教授的名譽。
slur + reputation as object
Ravindra felt the comments during the debate were meant to slur his character.
Ravindra 覺得辯論中的那些發言意在詆毀他的人格。
Politicians sometimes slur each other's names during election campaigns to gain an advantage.
政治人物在競選期間常互相中傷對方的名聲，藉此取得優勢。
After the debate, anonymous online posts tried to slur the mayor's reputation.
辯論結束後，匿名網路貼文試圖詆毀市長的名譽。
文法句型
slur + noun phrase (reputation / character / name)
用法筆記
This sense is quite formal in modern English. The noun form (see noun senses 1 and 2) is far more common in everyday speech. When used as a verb, it frequently pairs with reputation, character, or name.
常見錯誤
slur — 名詞
- slursingular
- slursplural
1. a critical statement about someone that tends to hurt the way other people view
詆毀的話
有損他人名譽的批評
a critical statement about someone that tends to hurt the way other people view that person or their work.
Henry saw the comment as a slur on his professional reputation and demanded an apology.
Henry 認為那段話是在詆毀他的專業名譽，於是要求對方道歉。
a slur on + reputation
The politician's speech was full of slurs against the charity's management team.
那位政治人物的演講充滿了針對慈善機構管理團隊的詆毀言論。
slurs against + group
Nala decided to ignore the slur and continue her presentation without responding.
Nala 決定不理會那些詆毀的話，繼續她的簡報而不回應。
The journalist faced legal action for publishing slurs about the company's director.
那名記者因為刊登了詆毀公司董事的言論而面臨法律訴訟。
- compliment
a polite expression of praise or admiration
文法句型
cast a slur on + noun phrase
a slur against + noun phrase
用法筆記
Distinguish from noun sense 2 (OFFENSIVE TERM): sense 1 covers any unfair critical remark, while sense 2 targets a specific group of people based on identity. A racial slur is always sense 2, not sense 1.
2. a highly offensive word directed at people on the basis of who they are — their
歧視語
針對種族、性向等的侮辱性用語
a highly offensive word directed at people on the basis of who they are — their ethnic background, beliefs, sexuality, gender, or other group identity.
Using a racial slur is deeply hurtful and completely unacceptable in any setting.
使用種族歧視用語會深深地傷害他人，在任何場合都是完全不能接受的。
compound: racial slur
The school held a workshop on why certain words are considered slurs against particular communities.
學校舉辦了一場工作坊，討論為什麼某些詞彙被視為針對特定族群的貶抑詞。
slur against + community
Bilal reported the online post that contained a homophobic slur directed at his cousin.
Bilal 檢舉了那則網路貼文，因為裡面使用了一個針對他表弟的同性戀貶抑詞。
The comedian was criticised for using an outdated ethnic slur during the show.
那位喜劇演員因在節目中使用過時的族群貶抑詞而受到批評。
Gabriela explained to her students why that term is widely recognised as a slur today.
Gabriela 向學生解釋為什麼那個詞彙如今已被普遍視為歧視性用語。
文法句型
racial slur
homophobic slur
ethnic slur
用法筆記
⚠️ Highly sensitive term. 'Slur' in this sense refers to words that cause real harm and painful histories. In Taiwan, learners should be especially careful: some English words that seem neutral in Chinese contexts may be considered offensive slurs in Western societies. When in doubt about a word's status, avoid using it entirely. The most common modifiers are racial, ethnic, homophobic, transphobic, and sexist.
常見錯誤
3. the condition of sounding unclear when talking, with different syllables merging
含糊發音
說話含混、字音模糊的狀態
the condition of sounding unclear when talking, with different syllables merging into one another instead of staying separate.
The doctor noticed a slight slur in the patient's speech and ordered a brain scan.
醫師注意到患者說話有些含糊，於是安排了腦部掃描檢查。
a slur in + possessive + speech
Paul's voice had a heavy slur from the painkillers, making it hard to understand him.
Paul 吃了止痛藥之後說話帶著濃重的含糊，讓人很難聽懂。
The teacher could hear a slur in the student's pronunciation after the dental surgery.
老師聽得出那位學生做完牙科手術後發音有些含糊。
There was a distinct slur in the old recording that made some words impossible to catch.
舊錄音中有明顯的含糊之處，有些話根本聽不清楚。
- clarity
clear, easy-to-follow pronunciation
文法句型
a slur in + possessive + speech/voice
用法筆記
Most commonly used in the pattern 'a slur in [possessive] speech/voice.' Typically singular (a slur) or uncountable (speech was full of slur). This is the state of unclear pronunciation; compare verb sense 1, which describes the act of producing it.
4. in written music, an arc-shaped marking placed above or below a group of notes t
圓滑線
樂譜上的弧形連奏標示
in written music, an arc-shaped marking placed above or below a group of notes to indicate that they should be played without separation.
The conductor drew a slur above the violins' ascending scale in the sheet music.
指揮在樂譜上小提琴聲部的上行音階上方畫了一條圓滑線。
Bilal learned that a slur connects notes of different pitches, while a tie connects the same pitch.
Bilal 學到圓滑線連接的是不同音高的音符，而連結線連接的是同一個音。
contrast: slur vs tie
The pianist missed several slurs in the score, so the melody sounded choppy rather than smooth.
鋼琴手漏看了樂譜中的好幾條圓滑線，結果旋律聽起來斷斷續續而不是流暢的。
In the handwritten score, the slurs over the cello part were almost impossible to read.
手寫樂譜中大提琴聲部上方的圓滑記號幾乎無法辨認。
- legato mark
a more descriptive term that explains what the symbol tells the musician to do
- staccato mark
a dot above or below a note indicating it should be played short and detached
文法句型
draw a slur
a slur over/across notes
用法筆記
For learners of music: a slur (curved line) marks legato, which is the opposite of staccato. Do not confuse a slur with a tie — a tie connects two notes of the same pitch to make one longer note, while a slur connects notes of different pitches.