whispering
whispering — 動詞
1. to use only your breath to produce words in a very low sound, intended for the e
低語；悄聲說
用氣音小聲說話
to use only your breath to produce words in a very low sound, intended for the ears of just the one person nearest to you.
Haruto leaned over and whispered the answer to his friend during the test.
Haruto 靠過去，在考試中低聲把答案告訴朋友。
whisper + [object] + to + [person]
The children were whispering in the library while their grandmother looked for books.
孩子們在圖書館裡低聲交談，而他們的祖母正在找書。
intransitive: were whispering (no object)
"The train is arriving," whispered Kemi, pointing toward the platform.
「火車要進站了，」Kemi 低聲說道，指著月臺方向。
Mathieu whispered a funny comment to a friend during the long speech.
Mathieu 在冗長的演講中對旁邊的朋友低聲說了句笑話。
Lara whispered hello to the woman sitting next to her on the bus.
Lara 低聲向公車上坐在她旁邊的女子說了聲哈囉。
文法句型
whisper + to + person
whisper + something
whisper + speech
用法筆記
Frequently followed by to when the listener is named. The object of whisper is the words spoken, not the person being spoken to.
常見錯誤
2. to let it be known in a quiet, off-the-record way that a particular situation or
私下暗示
私下暗示某事可能是真的
to let it be known in a quiet, off-the-record way that a particular situation or claim could be the case, without openly confirming it.
Some members of the board are whispering that the CEO may resign soon.
有些董事會成員私下暗示，執行長可能很快就會辭職。
whisper + that-clause for private suggestion
The staff were whispering that the school might close at the end of the year.
員工們私下暗示，學校可能在年底關閉。
Sari had heard them whispering about a possible merger between the two firms.
Sari 聽到他們私下暗示那兩家公司可能合併的事。
For months, people had whispered that the actor was planning to retire from films.
幾個月來，大家私下都在暗示那位演員打算息影。
- confirm
state something is true in an open, official way
文法句型
whisper + that-clause
用法筆記
Almost always takes a that-clause or is followed by about. The subject is typically an unspecified group of people when the truth is uncertain.
常見錯誤
whispering — 名詞
1. the act or sound of talking in a very quiet voice that only people nearby can he
低語；耳語
低聲說話的動作或聲音
the act or sound of talking in a very quiet voice that only people nearby can hear.
The librarian told Caleb to stop his whispering and focus on the book.
圖書館員叫 Caleb 停止低聲交談，專心看書。
uncountable: stop + [possessive] + whispering
A soft whispering came from the back row of the crowded theater.
從擁擠的戲院後排傳來了輕聲細語。
All that could be heard was the whispering of students waiting for their exam.
唯一聽得見的，是等待考試的學生們的低語聲。
Christopher could hear the constant whispering of the two women seated behind him.
Christopher 可以聽到身後兩名女子不停的竊竊私語。
- shouting
loud speech that is clearly audible to everyone
用法筆記
Uncountable — do not use a or an with it. To refer to a single instance, use a whisper instead.
常見錯誤
2. information or a story that is passed privately from person to person, often wit
謠傳
私下流傳的未經證實消息
information or a story that is passed privately from person to person, often without being confirmed as true.
There has been much whispering around the office about who will get the promotion.
辦公室裡有很多關於誰會獲得晉升的傳言。
there is + whispering + about + [topic]
The whispering about the actor's personal life spread quickly across social media.
關於那位演員私生活的傳言迅速在社群媒體上傳開。
Imran tried to ignore the whispering that followed him into the meeting room.
Imran 試著忽略跟著他進會議室的閒言閒語。
All the whispering turned out to be false when the company issued a statement.
公司發表聲明後，所有的傳言都被證實是假的。
- gossip
more personal and often about people's private lives; can be countable or uncountable
- speculation
more formal; thinking about possibilities without certain knowledge
- fact
information that is known to be true
- confirmation
official or certain information that removes doubt
用法筆記
Uncountable — refers to the collective activity of spreading private talk. Often followed by about.
常見錯誤
3. a soft, gentle sound that is similar to what someone whispering makes, often pro
沙沙聲
類似低語的細微自然聲響
a soft, gentle sound that is similar to what someone whispering makes, often produced by natural things such as wind, water, or leaves.
The whispering of the wind through the bamboo was peaceful and calming.
風穿過竹林的沙沙聲讓人感到平靜又放鬆。
the whispering of + [wind]
Mert could hear the whispering of leaves as he walked through the park.
Mert 走過公園時，可以聽到樹葉的沙沙聲。
hear + the whispering of + [leaves]
The gentle whispering of the stream helped Imani fall asleep quickly.
小溪輕柔的沙沙聲讓 Imani 很快就睡著了。
There was only the whispering of rain against the window all night long.
整夜只有雨水打在窗上的沙沙聲。
文法句型
the whispering of + [wind/leaves/water]
用法筆記
Often used with of followed by a natural element (wind, leaves, water, rain). More common in descriptive or literary writing than everyday speech.
whispering — 形容詞
1. making a low, soft, continuous sound that is barely audible, like a quiet voice
低語般的
發出輕柔連綿細響的
making a low, soft, continuous sound that is barely audible, like a quiet voice speaking.
The whispering stream ran through the middle of the forest.
那條低語般的小溪流過森林中央。
From the kitchen came the whispering sound of a pot of water boiling.
從廚房傳來爐子上煮水鍋低語般的聲響。
attributive: whispering + [sound]
The old house was full of whispering noises that made Maeve uneasy.
老房子充滿了低語般的響聲，讓 Maeve 感到不安。
Nia sat under the whispering branches of the willow tree reading a book.
Nia 坐在柳樹低語般的枝條下看書。
文法句型
whispering + noun
用法筆記
Used only before a noun (attributive), not after a linking verb. You cannot say 'The stream is whispering' in this sense — use whisper as a verb instead.