speaking
speaking — 名詞
1. the activity of delivering a formal talk to a live audience at events such as co
演講
在公開場合向聽眾發表談話
the activity of delivering a formal talk to a live audience at events such as conferences, ceremonies, or meetings
Romi took a course in public speaking to overcome her fear of presentations at work.
Romi 報名了公開演講課程，以克服她在工作彙報時的緊張。
collocation: public speaking course
The conference featured a workshop on speaking skills for new managers who lead team meetings.
會議中有一場關於主管團隊會議發言技巧的工作坊。
Many find speaking before a large audience more stressful than a private chat.
很多人覺得在眾人面前講話比私人對話壓力更大。
Lan's natural speaking style made her the favourite speaker at the graduation ceremony.
Lan 自然的演講風格使她成為畢業典禮上最受歡迎的講者。
After months of practice, Eitan gave a short talk at the charity dinner.
練習幾個月後，Eitan 在慈善晚會上發表了簡短談話。
- oratory
formal; refers specifically to the art of skilled public speaking
- speech-making
more concrete; describes the act of delivering speeches
- elocution
formal; focuses on style, pronunciation, and clear expression
- listening
the complementary skill of receiving spoken messages
用法筆記
Uncountable noun in this sense. Often combined with adjectives such as 'public', 'after-dinner', or 'formal' to specify the type of event.
常見錯誤
speaking — 字尾
1. used after the name of a language to describe a person, group, or community that
說…語的
與語言名稱連用，表示使用該語言溝通
used after the name of a language to describe a person, group, or community that regularly communicates using that language
The clinic needs an English-speaking receptionist to help foreign patients.
診所需要一位說英語的接待員來協助外籍病患。
suffix: [language]-speaking for ability/use
Sirin works as a guide for French-speaking tourists visiting the old city.
Sirin 擔任說法語的觀光客遊覽舊城區的導遊。
The school serves a growing population of Spanish-speaking students from Latin America.
該校有愈來愈多來自拉丁美洲的說西語學生。
Emre joined a German-speaking book club to practise reading and conversation outside class.
Emre 加入了一個德語讀書會，在課外練習閱讀和會話。
- non-speaking
used contrastively, e.g. 'non-English-speaking residents'
文法句型
[language]-speaking + noun
用法筆記
Always attached after a language name with a hyphen. Can describe either individuals (English-speaking staff) or populations (Spanish-speaking neighbourhood). Do not remove the language name — 'speaking' alone does not function as a suffix.
常見錯誤
speaking — 形容詞
1. having the physical ability to produce words as a form of communication, often u
能說話的
具有言語能力或能發出語音
having the physical ability to produce words as a form of communication, often used in contrast with being unable to speak or with devices designed to produce speech
The hospital uses a speaking device for patients unable to form words on their own.
醫院使用一種語音裝置，協助無法自己說話的病人。
before noun: speaking device
Chiara's grandfather remained speaking until his final week, able to hold short talks.
Chiara 的祖父直到生病的最後一週仍然能說話，可以進行簡短對話。
not gradable — used predicatively to describe ongoing ability
This talking doll is the first speaking toy made by the company for children.
這款新出的會說話娃娃是該公司第一款能發出語音的兒童玩具。
Researchers are developing a speaking robot that gives safety instructions to elderly people living alone.
研究人員正在開發一款會說話的機器人，可以為獨居老人提供簡單的安全指示。
- vocal
neutral; describes having a voice or using the voice
- mute
describes a person unable to speak
- non-speaking
describes a role, person, or device lacking speech capacity
文法句型
speaking + noun (device / person / toy)
用法筆記
Not gradable — something is either capable of speech or not. When used predicatively (e.g. 'remained speaking'), this sense emphasises that the ability is still present. More commonly appears before a noun (speaking device, speaking doll, speaking clock).
常見錯誤
2. describing a place, region, or group of people where a particular language is us
…語區的
指某地區居民日常使用某種語言
describing a place, region, or group of people where a particular language is used as the main form of daily communication
Abigail grew up in a Spanish-speaking neighbourhood of Miami where shop signs were in Spanish.
Abigail 在邁阿密一個西語區長大，那裡的商店招牌大多用西班牙文書寫。
collocation: Spanish-speaking neighbourhood
The survey examined healthcare access in rural French-speaking regions of West Africa.
該調查探討了西非法語區農村的醫療資源取得情況。
Ignacio moved to a German-speaking canton in Switzerland to work at a local engineering firm.
Ignacio 搬到瑞士一個德語區，在當地一家工程公司工作。
The conference brought together educators from all Portuguese-speaking countries to share teaching methods.
會議匯集了所有葡語系國家的教育工作者，共同分享教學方法。
- non-speaking
used contrastively for regions not using a specified language
文法句型
[language]-speaking + population / country / region / community
用法筆記
Describes a population group or territory, not an individual person. To describe an individual who uses a particular language, use the suffix sense instead (e.g. 'a French-speaking guide'). This sense focuses on the demographic or geographic characteristic.
常見錯誤
3. connected with the act of addressing an audience or taking part in spoken commun
談話的
與發表演講或談話有關的
connected with the act of addressing an audience or taking part in spoken communication
The CEO accepted a speaking engagement at the annual industry summit in Tokyo.
執行長接受了在東京年度產業峰會上演講的邀約。
fixed collocation: speaking engagement
Lan prepared a short speaking segment for the school assembly on plastic waste.
Lan 準備了一段三分鐘的談話內容，要在學校集會上分享塑膠廢棄物的議題。
The senator's speaking tour across the Midwest attracted large crowds at every stop.
這位參議員在中西部的巡迴演講每站都吸引了大量聽眾。
Christopher's role as team leader includes speaking duties like giving weekly updates and leading meetings.
Christopher 身為團隊領導，需要負責發言工作，包括每週報告和主持會議。
- written
describes communication done through writing rather than speech
文法句型
speaking + engagement / tour / part / role / duties
用法筆記
This sense appears mainly in fixed combinations: 'speaking engagement', 'speaking tour', 'speaking part/role', 'speaking duties'. It cannot be used freely with any event noun — you would not say 'a speaking meeting' or 'a speaking class'.
常見錯誤
4. so full of meaning or emotion that it seems to communicate clearly without the n
傳神的
表情或景象意味深長，無需言語即可傳達
so full of meaning or emotion that it seems to communicate clearly without the need for words — for example, a look of gratitude on someone's face, or a silence that expresses more than speech could
The portrait captured a speaking expression on the old woman's face, full of quiet sadness.
這幅肖像捕捉到老婦人臉上傳神的表情，充滿了淡淡的哀傷。
register: literary — speaking expression / look
Élise's silence was more speaking than any words she could have chosen to defend herself.
Élise 的沉默比任何她為自己辯護的話語都更加傳神。
The photograph offered a speaking reminder of the destruction left by the earthquake.
那張照片傳神地提醒人們地震造成的破壞。
The wooden chair had speaking scratches that told of decades of use by five generations.
那張舊木椅上的刮痕和印記非常傳神，訴說著五代人多年使用的故事。
- eloquent
formal and more common; can describe both speech and non-verbal expression
- expressive
more common across registers; wider application
- meaningful
less formal; broader, includes non-emotional significance
- expressionless
showing no emotion or meaning at all
- blank
empty of expression or significance
文法句型
speaking + look / expression / silence / reminder / likeness
用法筆記
Literary or formal register. Describes expressions, looks, silences, or inanimate objects whose appearance communicates meaning powerfully. Not used for spoken language — it describes communication without speech.