utter
utter — 動詞
1. to produce words or sounds with your voice, often in speech or as a reaction to
出聲；說
用聲音說出或發出聲音
to produce words or sounds with your voice, often in speech or as a reaction to a situation — for example, uttering a cry of surprise, a single word in court, or a prayer during a ceremony.
Haruto was so shocked that he could not utter a single word for several minutes.
Haruto 震驚到好幾分鐘說不出一個字。
negative construction: could not utter + noun
Without looking up from her book, Élise uttered a soft 'good night' to the room.
Élise 頭也不抬地輕聲對房間裡的人說了句「晚安」。
collocation: utter + direct speech
The old man uttered a low groan as he lowered himself onto the bench.
老先生一邊慢慢坐到長椅上，一邊低聲發出呻吟。
During the ceremony, the priest uttered a prayer in a language few understood.
典禮上，牧師用一種很少人懂的語言念了一段祈禱文。
Christopher uttered a cry of delight when he saw the birthday cake.
Christopher 看到生日蛋糕時，開心地叫了一聲。
- remain silent
deliberately choosing not to speak or make a sound
文法句型
utter + noun phrase (word, cry, groan, prayer, name)
utter + direct speech
用法筆記
Frequently used with a direct object that names what is said or the sound made. In everyday conversation, say, speak, or shout is more common than utter, which sounds slightly formal or literary.
常見錯誤
2. to officially release banknotes, coins, or a financial document for public use —
發行
正式發行鈔票、支票等金融票據
to officially release banknotes, coins, or a financial document for public use — a formal term used in banking and law.
The Bank of England has the sole right to utter banknotes in England and Wales.
英格蘭銀行在英格蘭與威爾斯擁有發行鈔票的專屬權。
formal/legal: utter banknotes
Authorities arrested the accountant for uttering forged cheques worth over two million dollars.
當局以開立偽造支票、總金額超過兩百萬美元為由，逮捕了那名會計師。
legal context: utter forged cheques
In the nineteenth century, private banks could still utter their own paper money.
在十九世紀，私人銀行仍然可以發行自己的紙鈔。
The treasury department quietly uttered the new fifty-dollar notes last Tuesday.
財政部上週二悄悄發行了新的五十元紙鈔。
文法句型
utter + banknote / cheque / currency
用法筆記
Now rare in everyday English; found mainly in legal, financial, and historical writing. The object is always a financial instrument — banknote, cheque, or currency — never a general document or announcement.
常見錯誤
utter — 形容詞
1. expressing the highest degree of a quality, so that nothing more could be added
完全；徹底
表示程度達到極點
expressing the highest degree of a quality, so that nothing more could be added — often used to intensify negative descriptions, such as utter nonsense, utter chaos, or utter failure.
After three days lost in the mountains, the hikers reached a state of utter exhaustion.
在山上迷路三天後，那些登山者達到了完全精疲力竭的狀態。
collocation: utter exhaustion
The film's reviews were an utter disaster, with critics calling it unwatchable.
那部電影的影評是一場徹底的災難，影評人說它根本看不下去。
collocation: utter disaster
Kemi rolled her eyes and told her classmates the rumor was utter nonsense.
Kemi 翻了個白眼，告訴同學那個謠言完全是胡說八道。
When Hari heard the news, his face showed utter disbelief.
Hari 聽到這個消息時，臉上露出完全難以置信的表情。
The garden fell into utter silence after the children ran inside.
孩子們跑進屋裡之後，花園陷入一片沉寂。
文法句型
utter + noun (often negative: nonsense, disaster, chaos, silence, failure)
用法筆記
Only used before a noun (attributive position), never after a linking verb. You cannot say *The silence was utter* — you must say *utter silence*. Most often found with nouns that describe negative situations, though neutral uses (utter surprise, utter bliss) also occur.