好词典

breath

UK /breθ/US /brɛθ/

词源

源自古英语 'bræð'(气味,蒸汽),与古高地德语 'bradam'(呼吸)同源,最终源自原始日耳曼语词根 *brēþ-。

noun

❶ 指空气通过鼻子或嘴巴进出肺部的过程,是维持生命的基本生理活动。

“She took a deep breath before diving into the water.”

(她在潜入水中前深吸了一口气。)

“His breath was visible in the cold morning air.”

(在寒冷的晨雾中,他呼出的气清晰可见。)

❶ 比喻短暂的时间或瞬间,常用于强调某事发生得非常快。

“In the space of a breath, the opportunity was gone.”

(转瞬之间,机会就消失了。)

“He answered the question without a breath of hesitation.”

(他毫不犹豫地回答了问题。)

同义词:respiration, exhalation, puff

常见短语

take a deep breath — 深呼吸,常用于放松心情或准备做某事之前。

“Take a deep breath and try to calm down.”

(深呼吸,试着冷静下来。)

out of breath — 气喘吁吁,形容因剧烈运动或紧张而导致呼吸急促的状态。

“After climbing the stairs, I was completely out of breath.”

(爬完楼梯后,我完全上气不接下气。)

a breath of fresh air — 字面指新鲜空气,比喻令人耳目一新的人或事物。

“Her new ideas were like a breath of fresh air in the meeting.”

(她的新想法给会议带来了一股清新的气息。)