trigger
trigger — 名詞
1. the small curved piece of metal on a gun that you press with your finger to make
扳機
槍枝上用手指按壓以擊發子彈的金屬零件
the small curved piece of metal on a gun that you press with your finger to make the weapon fire
Obi pressed the trigger slowly, and the rifle fired with a loud bang.
Obi 慢慢按下扳機，步槍發出巨大的聲響。
press/pull/squeeze the trigger — verb + trigger collocations
The security guard kept his finger on the trigger as he searched the dark room.
保安人員在搜查黑暗的房間時，手指一直放在扳機上。
finger on the trigger — idiom showing readiness
A trigger lock can prevent children from accidentally firing a gun.
扳機鎖可以防止兒童不小心擊發槍枝。
Andrei pulled the trigger, but the old gun made no sound at all.
Andrei 扣動了扳機，但那把老槍完全沒有發出任何聲音。
The hunter squeezed the trigger gently and brought down the deer in one shot.
獵人輕輕扣下扳機，一槍擊倒了那頭鹿。
文法句型
pull/squeeze/press + trigger
用法筆記
This noun sense appears in common fixed phrases: pull the trigger, squeeze the trigger, and press the trigger. The word trigger alone can also form compound nouns such as trigger lock (a safety device) and trigger finger (the finger used to fire).
常見錯誤
2. an event, situation, or piece of information that directly causes a series of de
導火線
直接引發一連串事件或發展的起因
an event, situation, or piece of information that directly causes a series of developments or a chain of actions to begin
The sudden rise in oil prices was the trigger for a global economic slowdown.
油價突然上漲是全球經濟放緩的導火線。
be the trigger for [event] — noun pattern showing causation
Shirin's careless remark became the trigger for a bitter argument between the two families.
Shirin 一句不經意的話，成了兩個家族激烈爭吵的導火線。
A single complaint from a customer can serve as the trigger that starts an investigation.
一位顧客的投訴就可以成為啟動調查的導火線。
The CEO's surprise resignation was the trigger that led to major changes inside the company.
執行長無預警辭職，是引發公司內部重大變革的導火線。
Climate scientists want to identify the trigger of each drought before it spreads across regions.
氣候科學家希望在乾旱擴散到多個地區之前，找出每次乾旱的觸發原因。
- consequence
the result that follows the starting event
- effect
what happens after the trigger sets things in motion
文法句型
trigger for [event]
trigger of [event]
serve as a trigger
用法筆記
The most common prepositional pattern is trigger for [outcome], though trigger of is also used, especially in formal or scientific writing. The phrase serve as a trigger is a formal alternative to 'be the trigger.' Unlike sense 3 (TRAUMA REMINDER), this sense does not carry a psychological or emotional connotation.
常見錯誤
3. something in the present surroundings — such as a smell, sound, image, or situat
創傷誘因
引發強烈負面情緒或痛苦回憶的刺激物
something in the present surroundings — such as a smell, sound, image, or situation — that causes a person to suddenly experience a painful memory or strong emotional distress linked to past trauma
For Isabela, rain was a trigger that brought back memories of a serious crash.
對 Isabela 來說，下雨會觸發她對一場嚴重車禍的回憶。
trigger that + verb — showing immediate psychological reaction
The therapist asked Aoi to list her personal triggers so they could work on each.
治療師請 Aoi 列出她個人的創傷誘因，以便逐一處理。
personal triggers / emotional triggers — common compound noun in therapy
Loud sounds like a car backfiring can be a serious trigger for war veterans.
像汽車回火那樣的巨響，對退伍軍人來說可能是嚴重的創傷誘因。
Meera avoids action films because explosions are a trigger she cannot control.
Meera 避免看動作片，因為爆炸畫面是她無法控制的創傷誘因。
Sari told her friends about her triggers so they would not joke about the accident.
Sari 把自己的創傷誘因告訴朋友，請他們不要再拿那場意外開玩笑。
文法句型
trigger for [person]
personal trigger
emotional trigger
用法筆記
This sense is common in clinical psychology and trauma-informed care. The phrase personal triggers or my triggers is used to describe an individual's specific sensitivities. Unlike sense 2 (STARTING CAUSE), this sense exclusively describes emotional or psychological responses connected to past trauma. Be aware that in everyday conversation some speakers use trigger loosely for anything that annoys them, but the precise meaning remains tied to trauma recall.
常見錯誤
trigger — 動詞
1. to make something suddenly begin to happen or operate, especially a process, dev
引發；觸發
使某事突然開始發生或運作
to make something suddenly begin to happen or operate, especially a process, device, or chain of events that was previously inactive
The smoke from the burnt toast triggered the fire alarm in the hallway.
烤焦的土司冒出的煙，觸發了走廊上的火災警報器。
trigger + alarm/sensor/device — activating a mechanism
Lukas's comments about the budget triggered a heated debate among the club members.
Lukas 對預算發表的言論，在俱樂部成員之間引發了一場激烈的辯論。
Eating even a small amount of peanuts can trigger a serious allergic reaction.
即使只吃少量花生，也可能引發嚴重的過敏反應。
The new factory policy triggered protests from workers across the whole region.
新工廠的政策引發了整個地區工人的抗議。
Scientists believe the undersea earthquake could trigger a tsunami along the coast.
科學家認為這場海底地震可能引發沿海地區的海嘯。
- cause
broader and more neutral; does not imply suddenness or a chain reaction
- set off
phrasal verb, very similar meaning; slightly more informal than 'trigger'
- spark
suggests starting something emotional or controversial (spark a debate, spark anger)
- activate
more technical; typically used for devices or systems rather than emotions or events
文法句型
trigger + noun phrase
trigger [event/process/device]
用法筆記
Frequently used with alarm, response, debate, reaction, protest, chain reaction, and change as the direct object. The passive form (be triggered by) is common in both formal and informal contexts. Unlike sense 2 (TRAUMA REACTION), this sense applies to physical events, devices, and neutral or positive processes, not exclusively negative emotional reactions.
常見錯誤
2. to cause someone to suddenly feel a powerful negative emotion such as fear, grie
觸發創傷
使某人因想起創傷而產生強烈負面情緒
to cause someone to suddenly feel a powerful negative emotion such as fear, grief, or panic, because something in the present reminds them of a painful event they experienced in the past
The sound of breaking glass triggered Élise, and she began to tremble uncontrollably.
玻璃破碎的聲音觸發了 Élise 的創傷回憶，她開始不由自主地發抖。
trigger + [person] — direct transitive usage
The old photograph on the shelf triggered Christopher and brought tears to his eyes.
書架上那張舊照片觸發了 Christopher 的創傷，讓他淚流滿面。
Sari was triggered by a comment her classmate made about the bus accident.
Sari 被同學提到那場公車事故的一句話觸發了創傷回憶。
The therapist warned that certain images might trigger patients who have experienced loss.
治療師警告說，某些畫面可能會觸發經歷過失落之痛的患者。
The smell of that perfume still triggers Andrei whenever he walks past the shop downtown.
每當 Andrei 走過市區那家店時，那種香水的味道仍然會觸發他的創傷。
文法句型
trigger + person
be triggered by [stimulus]
用法筆記
This verb sense is common in trauma-informed care and mental health discussions. The passive form (be triggered by) is often preferred in clinical writing because it places the focus on the stimulus rather than the person's reaction. In everyday conversation, some people use trigger loosely to mean 'annoy,' but the precise meaning requires a connection to past trauma. Distinguish from sense 1 (CAUSE TO START) where the object is an event or device, not a person's emotional state.