touch

touch — 動詞

1. to bring a hand, fingers, or any body part into light contact with a person or s

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

觸摸；碰

用手或身體輕觸

to bring a hand, fingers, or any body part into light contact with a person or surface, usually briefly and with little force

例句

Maja gently touched the baby's cheek with her finger.

Maja 用手指輕輕觸摸了嬰兒的臉頰。

touch + body part with gentle adverb

Visitors are asked not to touch the paintings in the museum.

參觀者被要求不要觸摸博物館裡的畫作。

passive: be asked not to touch [something]

同義詞
  • feel

    implies exploring texture or temperature through touch, not just brief contact

  • brush

    suggests a very light, passing contact

  • stroke

    implies moving the hand gently over a surface, not a single contact

文法句型

touch + object (the thing or person being touched)

用法筆記

This sense often pairs with an adverb of manner such as 'gently', 'softly', or 'lightly'. The object is typically a person, animal, or surface that can be felt.

常見錯誤

❌She touch the table.
✅She touched the table.
💡'touch' is a regular verb that takes -ed in the past tense.
❌He touched to the wall.
✅He touched the wall.
💡'touch' takes a direct object without a preposition.

2. when objects or surfaces are placed so closely that they meet or press against e

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

相接；接觸

兩物之間沒有空隙

when objects or surfaces are placed so closely that they meet or press against each other, leaving no space in between

例句

The two garden walls almost touch at the back corner.

兩道花園圍牆在後方的角落幾乎相接。

two things + touch (no space between)

The branches of the old trees touch above the garden path.

那些老樹的枝條在花園小徑上方交錯碰觸。

同義詞
  • meet

    can suggest intentional contact or two surfaces coming together at a point

  • adjoin

    more formal; implies surfaces are next to each other and in contact over a length

  • connect

    implies joining or linking; often used for parts designed to fit together

反義詞
  • separate

    implies a gap or distance between things

文法句型

[two or more things] touch

[something] touches [something else]

用法筆記

Frequently appears with 'almost', 'barely', or 'nearly' to indicate near-contact. In the transitive form, the subject is usually one object and the object is another: 'The shelf touches the ceiling.'

常見錯誤

❌The two tables are touching each others.
✅The two tables are touching each other.
💡'each other' is already plural; no 's' needed.
❌The chair touches in the wall.
✅The chair touches the wall.
💡no preposition is needed between 'touch' and its object.

3. to cause harm to someone or damage to something, especially by moving, handling,

3.動詞及物C2
釋義

損害；破壞

造成傷害或損壞

to cause harm to someone or damage to something, especially by moving, handling, or coming into contact with it in a way that spoils or alters it

例句

The frost touched the rose petals and turned them brown.

霜害侵襲了玫瑰花瓣，使它們變成了褐色。

natural element + object = damage

Please do not touch the settings on the control panel.

請勿隨意調整控制面板上的設定。

negative command: do not touch [something delicate]

同義詞
  • damage

    more direct; does not require physical contact ('rain damaged the roof')

  • spoil

    suggests ruining the appearance or quality of something

  • harm

    broader; can apply to people, health, or reputation

反義詞
  • protect

    implies keeping something safe from harm

  • preserve

    implies maintaining something in its original condition

文法句型

touch + object (the thing that gets damaged)

用法筆記

Often appears in warnings or negative commands ('don't touch'). Unlike sense 1, this sense carries a negative consequence — the contact itself causes damage, or the speaker wants to prevent damage. Distinguish from sense 1: in this sense, the focus is on the unwanted result, not the contact itself.

常見錯誤

❌ 'Don't touch the paintings' (meaning don't damage them) — works when context is clear, but 'touch' in this sense implies harm, so specify if you mean light contact vs. damage.

4. to consume food or drink, particularly when one chooses not to have any of a giv

4.動詞及物
釋義

食用；喝

吃或喝（用於否定句）

to consume food or drink, particularly when one chooses not to have any of a given type — this sense almost always appears in negated statements

例句

The patient had not touched any food for two full days.

那位病人已經整整兩天沒吃任何東西了。

negative: not touch + food

Linh never touches alcohol at parties or social events.

Linh 在派對或社交場合從不碰酒。

never touch + alcohol

同義詞
  • eat

    neutral and direct; works in any context

  • drink

    specific to liquids, while 'touch' covers both food and drink

  • consume

    more formal; covers both eating and drinking

文法句型

not touch + food/drink

never touch + [type of food/drink]

用法筆記

Almost exclusively appears in negative contexts — 'not touch', 'never touch', 'could not touch'. The positive form ('touch food') is very rare in modern English. This sense is conversational and slightly informal.

常見錯誤

❌ 'I didn't touch the cake' — This could mean either 'I didn't eat it' or 'I didn't physically contact it'. Context clarifies, but often 'eat' or 'drink' is clearer for learners.

5. to affect someone emotionally, especially by making them feel sympathy, sadness,

5.動詞及物
釋義

感動；觸動

觸動情感，引起同情

to affect someone emotionally, especially by making them feel sympathy, sadness, or warm feelings — for example, a kind act, a sad story, or a beautiful piece of music that makes you feel moved

例句

The story of the lost dog touched everyone in the classroom.

那隻走失小狗的故事感動了教室裡的每一個人。

story + touch + person emotionally

Valentina was deeply touched by the kindness of her new neighbors.

Valentina 被新鄰居的善意深深感動。

passive: be deeply touched by [kind action]

同義詞
  • move

    very similar; both 'moved' and 'touched' imply emotional impact, but 'move' can be stronger

  • affect

    broader; can be positive, negative, or neutral

  • stir

    suggests arousing a deep emotional response, often with lasting effect

反義詞
  • leave cold

    idiom meaning to fail to affect someone emotionally

文法句型

touch + person (emotionally)

be touched by + something

用法筆記

Very common in the passive voice ('touched by something'). The adverb 'deeply' is a frequent intensifier. Unlike 'affect', which can be neutral, this sense always carries a warm or sympathetic emotional charge. Distinguish from sense 3: sense 3 implies physical harm, while this sense implies emotional impact.

常見錯誤

❌ 'The bad news touched him' (meaning upset him mildly) — While possible, 'touched' usually implies warm/sympathetic feelings. For upsetting news, use 'affected' or 'upset'.

❌I was touched of his help.
✅I was touched by his help.
💡'touched' takes 'by', not 'of'.

6. to equal the standard of quality or skill of another person or thing — this sens

6.動詞及物
釋義

比得上；達到

達到相同標準（用於否定句）

to equal the standard of quality or skill of another person or thing — this sense nearly always occurs within a negated clause, stating that one thing cannot match another

例句

No other singer in the competition could touch her voice.

比賽中沒有其他歌手能比得上她的歌聲。

negative: cannot touch [someone's ability]

The quality of this cheaper fabric cannot touch pure silk.

這種便宜布料的品質根本比不上純絲。

cannot touch [higher quality thing]

同義詞
  • match

    more neutral; can be used in positive and negative sentences

  • rival

    suggests being nearly as good; slightly more formal

  • equal

    implies reaching exactly the same standard

反義詞
  • surpass

    implies being better than someone or something

  • exceed

    implies going beyond a standard or limit

文法句型

cannot touch + someone/something

not touch + [standard/quality]

用法筆記

Always occurs in negative constructions: 'cannot touch', 'does not touch', 'could not touch'. The positive form ('this touches that') would sound old-fashioned or poetic. The comparison is always about value, skill, or quality — not physical attributes like size or speed.

常見錯誤

❌ 'Her singing touches her teacher's.' — Positive form is unusual and old-fashioned. Use negative: 'Her singing does not touch her teacher's.'

❌ 'My score can't touch yours.' — While the grammar is fine, this is quite informal. 'Match' or 'reach' are clearer for most written contexts.

touch — 名詞