waft
waft — 動詞
1. For a smell, smoke, sound, or a light current of air — to move smoothly through
飄盪；飄送
在空氣中輕輕移動或使…移動
For a smell, smoke, sound, or a light current of air — to move smoothly through the air without force. If you waft something, you gently push or carry it through the air, often with your hand or a movement of air.
The sweet smell of jasmine wafted through the open kitchen window.
茉莉花的香味從敞開的廚房窗戶飄了進來。
waft + through + [place] for movement direction
Hana wafted the smoke from the grill away with a folded newspaper.
Hana 用折好的報紙把烤架冒出的煙輕輕扇走。
transitive: waft + object + away
A faint melody wafted across the lake from the distant church.
遠處教堂傳來一陣微弱的旋律，飄蕩過湖面。
Christopher opened the balcony door so fresh air could waft into the stuffy room.
Christopher 打開陽台門，好讓新鮮空氣飄進悶熱的房間。
- drift
More passive and directionless; can be on water or air. Drift suggests being carried by a current, while waft implies gentle movement through air only.
- float
Stays suspended rather than moving across a distance. A balloon floats; a scent wafts across a room.
- glide
Smooth, controlled movement, often with purpose. Glide implies more intention than waft, which is passive and wind-driven.
- blast
Moves with force and speed, the opposite of waft's gentleness.
文法句型
waft + adverb/preposition
waft + object + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
Often followed by a prepositional phrase indicating direction (through, across, into, up, over). The subject is typically a lightweight substance — a smell, smoke, steam, sound, or a light breeze. When used transitively, the object is something light that can be moved by a gentle push of air.
常見錯誤
waft — 名詞
1. A small amount of a smell, smoke, or other lightweight substance that travels ge
一陣（氣味）
飄過空氣的少量氣味或煙
A small amount of a smell, smoke, or other lightweight substance that travels gently through the air, often in a brief or passing way.
A rich waft of coffee drew Vivek into the small café on the corner.
一陣濃郁的咖啡香氣飄來，把 Vivek 吸引到街角的小咖啡館。
a waft of + [scent] + verb of movement
Bao detected a faint waft of smoke from the kitchen and went to check.
Bao 聞到一陣淡淡的煙味從廚房飄來，於是過去查看。
a waft of smoke — common collocation
As Élise opened the old trunk, a sweet waft of dried lavender reached her.
Élise 打開舊皮箱時，一股甜美的薰衣草香氣朝她飄來。
Each time the door swung open, a waft of cooking smells escaped into the hall.
每當門被推開時，就有一縷烹飪的味道飄進走廊。
- whiff
More sudden and short-lived than a waft. A whiff is a quick sniff of a smell; a waft can last a little longer as the air carries it.
- puff
Implies a small burst of air or smoke, often from one source. A puff of smoke from a pipe vs. a waft of smoke drifting across the room.
- hint
Very faint trace of a smell. Hint emphasises weakness; waft emphasises gentle movement.
文法句型
a waft of + [scent/smoke/substance]
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the pattern a waft of + noun (scent, smoke, perfume, steam, aroma). It refers to a brief or passing encounter with the substance, not a continuous flow.
常見錯誤
2. A long, narrow flag or pennant used on ships or in coastal settings to send sign
信號旗
用於信號或顯示風向的窄長旗子
A long, narrow flag or pennant used on ships or in coastal settings to send signals or to show the direction of the wind.
A bright orange waft flew from the mast to show the wind direction.
一面亮橙色的信號旗在桅杆上飄動，顯示風向。
waft as nautical signal flag
The navy vessel hoisted a long blue waft as a signal during the exercise.
那艘海軍艦艇在演習期間升起一面長長的藍色信號旗。
Lucía spotted the faded waft hanging from the pole near the harbour.
Lucía 看到港口附近的柱子上掛著一面褪色的信號旗。
The old fisherman pointed at the tattered waft above the pier.
老漁夫指著碼頭上方那面破損的信號旗。
- pennant
The more common term for a long, narrow flag used on ships. Waft is much rarer and more specialised.
- flag
General term for any piece of cloth used as a symbol or signal. Waft refers specifically to a long, tapering shape.
- streamer
Like a waft in shape but usually decorative rather than functional for signalling.
用法筆記
This is a specialised nautical term. In modern everyday English, most speakers use flag or pennant instead. The word appears mainly in historical or maritime writing.