spell
spell — 動詞
- spellpresent simple I / you / we / they
- spellshe / she / it
- speltpast simple
- spelledpast simple
- spelling-ing form
1. To produce a word by putting its letters together in the right order, either alo
拼寫
按正確順序說出或寫出字母
To produce a word by putting its letters together in the right order, either aloud or in writing.
Lara asked her son to spell 'elephant' during his homework.
Lara 請她的兒子在寫作業時拼寫出「elephant」。
spell + noun (a word)
Can you spell your surname for me, please?
可以請你為我拼寫你的姓氏嗎？
Niran spelled every word correctly on the spelling test.
Niran 在拼字考試中每個字都拼寫正確。
Eitan learned to spell his full name when he was four.
Eitan 四歲時學會拼寫自己的全名。
The receptionist asked Hannah to spell her last name slowly.
櫃檯人員請 Hannah 慢慢拼寫她的姓氏。
- write out
more general; can mean writing full words or numbers in full form
- transcribe
more formal; often used for converting speech or another writing system into text
- misspell
to spell a word incorrectly
文法句型
spell + noun
spell + adverb (correctly, wrong)
常見錯誤
2. To be a clear sign that something unwanted or harmful is going to happen.
預示
表示不好的事即將發生
To be a clear sign that something unwanted or harmful is going to happen.
The sudden drop in sales spelled trouble for the small company.
銷售額突然下降，預示著這家小公司將面臨麻煩。
spell + trouble (collocation for bad outcome)
Those dark clouds spell rain before the picnic is over.
那些烏雲預示著野餐結束前就會下雨。
The referee's red card spelled the end of Zayd's final match.
裁判的紅牌預示著 Zayd 最後一場比賽的終結。
A mistake like that could spell disaster for the whole project.
像那樣的錯誤可能預示著整個計劃的災難。
Sven knew the delay spelled the cancellation of their holiday plans.
Sven 知道這次延誤預示著他們的假期計劃泡湯了。
文法句型
spell + trouble/disaster/doom/end (for someone)
用法筆記
Subject is usually a situation, event, or action — not a person. Typical objects: trouble, disaster, the end (of something), doom, ruin.
常見錯誤
3. To step in and take over someone's job or task for a while, giving them a chance
接替
暫時取代他人工作讓其休息
To step in and take over someone's job or task for a while, giving them a chance to rest.
Baraka spelled the tired driver at the wheel during the long trip.
Baraka 在長途旅行中接替了疲憊的駕駛。
spell + someone + at + activity
Can you spell me at the counter while I grab a coffee?
你可以接替我在櫃檯一下，讓我去買杯咖啡嗎？
Sahil came in to spell the night nurse for a few hours.
Sahil 進來接替夜班護士幾個小時。
The two fishermen spelled each other throughout the cold morning.
兩個漁夫在寒冷的早晨互相接替。
Kemi spelled her colleague at the front desk during the lunch rush.
Kemi 在午餐高峰期接替了前台的同事。
- relieve
more formal and common in all varieties of English
- stand in for
emphasises the temporary replacement rather than giving rest
- take over from
neutral; does not always imply the person needs a rest
文法句型
spell + someone
spell + someone + at + activity
用法筆記
Common in British English; less frequent in American English, where 'relieve' or 'take over for' is preferred. Often used with 'at' to name the task or location.
常見錯誤
4. To use magic words to gain control over a person or thing, placing them under an
施咒
用魔法控制某人或某物
To use magic words to gain control over a person or thing, placing them under an enchantment.
The witch spelled the prince into a deep and endless sleep.
女巫對王子施咒，使他陷入無盡的深睡。
spell + someone + into + state
In the old tale, a sorcerer spelled the entire village silent.
古老傳說中，一名巫師對整個村莊施咒，讓所有人沉默。
Ezra read about a mirror spelled to show only the truth.
Ezra 讀到一面被施咒的鏡子，只會顯示真相。
The old woman spelled the well dry, according to village gossip.
據村民傳言，那個老婦人對水井施咒，讓它乾涸了。
The sorceress spelled the knight into a state of fearless courage before the battle.
女巫對騎士施咒，讓他在戰鬥前充滿了無畏的勇氣。
文法句型
spell + someone
be spelled + adjective/by magic
用法筆記
Mostly found in fairy tales, fantasy fiction, and archaic texts. In modern English, 'bewitch' or 'enchant' are more common verbs for this meaning.
spell — 名詞
- spellsingular
- spellsplural
1. A continuous stretch of time during which a particular activity or non-weather c
一段時間
某活動或狀態持續的期間
A continuous stretch of time during which a particular activity or non-weather condition lasts — for weather periods, see sense 2.
Hannah went through a brief spell of feeling sad last autumn.
Hannah 去年秋天經歷了一段短暫的悲傷時期。
a spell of + feeling/condition
Ziad spent a long spell working on farms in New Zealand.
Ziad 在紐西蘭的農場工作了很長一段時間。
After a quiet spell of six weeks, the phone started ringing again.
經過六週的平靜時期後，電話又開始響了。
Lara's grandfather had a dizzy spell and sat down quickly.
Lara 的祖父一陣暈眩，趕緊坐了下來。
The city enjoyed a rare spell of peace after years of fighting.
這座城市在多年戰亂後享受了一段罕見的和平時期。
文法句型
a spell of + [activity/condition]
a + [adjective] + spell
2. A brief run of one kind of weather — such as a cold spell or a warm spell.
一陣
短暫的特定天氣時段
A brief run of one kind of weather — such as a cold spell or a warm spell.
A warm spell in February brought the flowers out early.
二月的一陣暖天讓花朵提早綻放。
warm spell (weather collocation)
The cold spell lasted three days and froze every pond in town.
這一陣寒流持續了三天，凍結了鎮上的每一座池塘。
Sumin's wedding day fell during a rare sunny spell that week.
Sumin 的婚禮當天恰好碰上那一週難得的一陣晴天。
Farmers worried that the dry spell would ruin the young crops.
農夫擔心這一陣乾旱會毀掉幼苗。
A wet spell flooded the streets and closed two of the schools.
一陣豪雨淹沒了街道，關閉了兩所學校。
文法句型
a + [adjective] + spell
用法筆記
Distinguish from noun sense 1: this sense is specifically about weather conditions, while sense 1 covers any activity, state, or condition lasting over time.
3. A turn at doing a task or a shift of work, especially one that lets the usual pe
輪班
暫時接替他人工作的時段
A turn at doing a task or a shift of work, especially one that lets the usual person take a break.
Niran took a spell at the cash register while the owner ate lunch.
Niran 在老闆吃午餐時輪班看守收銀台。
take a spell at + task
After a spell on the night watch, Baraka finally went home to sleep.
Baraka 輪完夜班警衛後，終於回家睡覺了。
Each guard did a four-hour spell before the next one took over.
每個警衛輪班四小時，然後由下一個人接替。
Zayd did a spell in the kitchen washing dishes during the busy dinner.
Zayd 在忙碌的晚餐時段輪班在廚房洗碗。
Eitan's first spell behind the wheel lasted only twenty minutes.
Eitan 第一次輪班開車只持續了二十分鐘。
文法句型
do a spell + at/in + [task]
take a spell + at + [task]
用法筆記
Related to verb sense 3: the two form a pair (the noun 'spell' is the shift; the verb 'spell' is the action of taking over). Often used as 'do a spell' or 'take a spell'.
4. A set of words believed to hold magic power; also, the enchanted condition broug
咒語
具魔力的話語或受其控制的狀態
A set of words believed to hold magic power; also, the enchanted condition brought about by such words.
The witch whispered a spell and the locked door swung open.
女巫低聲念了一道咒語，鎖著的門就打開了。
whisper/cast a spell (verb collocation)
In the story, a young girl fell under a spell for a hundred years.
故事中，一個年輕女孩被咒語控制了一百年。
under a spell (enchanted state)
Ezra's grandmother claimed the old woman had cast a spell on the cow.
Ezra 的祖母聲稱那個老婦人對乳牛下了一道咒語。
The magician muttered a spell under his breath before the trick.
魔術師在表演魔術前低聲念了一道咒語。
Breaking the spell required a kiss, according to the fairy tale.
根據童話故事，破解咒語需要一個吻。
- charm
can refer to the words, an object, or the attractive quality itself
- incantation
formal; refers specifically to the spoken words of a magic ritual
- enchantment
emphasises the state of being under magic rather than the words themselves
文法句型
cast a spell (on someone)
under a spell
break a spell