編輯/許哲瑋
暑假快結束了!大家有沒有玩夠呢?
(小編好想念放暑假的感覺QQ)
說到「玩」的英文,大家應該直覺會想到 “play” 這個動詞!
這次 Engoo 要和大家分享,用到 “play” 的英文片語,
學起來,可以讓你的口說、寫作更道地、更加分!
Play 的基本動詞用法
遊玩、嬉戲
在英文的語境中, “play” 通常指「小孩子嬉戲」,
若要具體表達「玩手機」、「玩弄感情」、「玩玩具」等,
則需再加上 “with” 連接「玩的東西」,如 “play with your phone/my heart”。
【例句】
The kids are playing in the pool.孩子們正在水池裡遊玩。
My dog likes to play with this dinosaur toy the most.我的狗狗最喜歡玩這隻恐龍玩具。
播放電影、音樂
遙控上常見的 “Play/Pause” ,就是指「播放/暫停」。
【例句】
The DJ played dance music all night long.DJ 放了整晚的舞曲。
The cafe was playing a movie on the TV behind the counter.咖啡廳櫃檯後的電視正在播放電影。
從事(球類)運動、玩遊戲
Play 也指從事「球類」運動和「玩遊戲」。
【例句】
I like playing soccer and tennis.我喜歡踢足球和打網球。
We play video games together each day after school.我們每天下課後都會一起打電動。
表演(音樂、樂器、演奏)、飾演
在藝術表演方面, “play” 指「演奏」樂器、開演唱會等,
或是「飾演」某角色。
【例句】
Coldplay played all of their big hits at the concert.酷玩樂團在演唱會上唱了他們所有最紅的歌。
Ed Sheeran always plays a small guitar.紅髮艾德都彈小把的吉他。
Tom Holland plays Spider Man in the Avengers franchise.Tom Holland 在復仇者聯盟系列電影飾演蜘蛛人。
Play 片語
Play along|假裝配合、配合演出、演下去
各位一定都遇過自己要「假裝同意」他人的情境吧!
這時候中文會說「配合某人演出」,英文就是 “play along”。
【例句】
I don't think this idea will work, but I'll play along for now.我覺得這個計劃不會成功,但現在我就先暫時配合一下。
Someone on the street confused me for a celebrity, so I just played along. I even gave them my autograph!有路人把我誤認為明星,然後我就配合演下去。我甚至還給了他們我的簽名照!
Play by the rules|照著規則走、依法行政、合法行事
除了在運動、遊戲、比賽等情境中指「按照規則」外,
“Play by the rules” 也可以指「奉公守法」、「依法行事」。
【例句】
The judge will be watching carefully to make sure everyone plays by the rules.裁判會緊緊盯著賽況,確保大家都按照比賽規則進行。
The accountant was arrested when it was reported that he wasn't playing by the rules.在被舉報其業務行為不合法後,那位會計師旋即遭逮捕。
Play fair|按照規則
字面直譯是 “公平的玩”,意思和 “play by the rules” 一樣,
都是指「按照規則進行」(前提是規則公平)。
【例句】
Max doesn't play fair; he'll cheat if you don't watch him carefully.Max 從不按照規則來,如果你不仔細盯著他,他就會作弊。
That's against the rules! Play fair!這違反規則了吧!公平一點好嗎!
Play dumb|裝傻
“Play dumb” 非常直觀,和中文「裝傻」幾乎一樣的用法,
只是要注意 “dumb” 的 “b” 不發音喔!
【例句】
The witnesses played dumb even though they saw what happened.雖然那位證人目睹了事發經過,但仍然裝傻。
Play dead|裝死
“Play dead“ 也是可以直接翻譯成中文的「裝死」。
【例句】
Because they can't fight back, rabbits typically play dead when they're threatened.兔子遭遇威脅時,通常會裝死,因為牠們沒有反擊的能力。
Play around|遊手好閒;捻花惹草
Play around 以「四處遊玩」的意象表達「遊手好閒」,
或是也可以指「當海王」,也就是到處和人發生關係。
(兩者都很具象化呢!)
【例句】
Instead of working, she's just been playing around on her phone all afternoon.她該工作時不工作,整個下午就在滑手機、遊手好閒。
His girlfriend broke up with him because he was playing around with other women.他女友和他分手,因為他當時四處把妹、捻花惹草。
Play ball|乖乖配合
除了字面上「玩球」的意思, “play ball” 也指「乖乖配合」,
如配合警方辦案、盤查等等。
【例句】
The police warned the suspect that he could be arrested if he didn't play ball.警方警告嫌疑人,若不乖乖配合,可能會將其逮捕。
Play down|謙虛、降低、弱化、淡化
“Play down” 指「表現得不在乎、不重要」,
可能是一種自我安慰、催眠,或是謙虛的作法。
【例句】
The executive tried to play down the strong competition from his company's rivals.那位公司高層試圖淡化來自競品的激烈競爭。
Mark always plays down the praise he receives.Mark 總是對於所受讚譽謙虛。
Play by ear|隨機應變、即興演奏
字面上就是「聽到什麼演什麼」,除了在音樂相關情境外,
也指「隨機應變」、「隨遇而安」。
【例句】
We don't have detailed plans for our vacation; we're just going to play it by ear.我們沒有特別為假期排詳細行程,到時候再隨機應變就好。
My son can play any song he hears on a guitar by ear.我兒子光用聽的就可以用吉他演奏出所有歌曲。
Play someone for a fool|欺騙某人
意思就是「把某人當白癡耍」。
【例句】
The criminal played his victims for fools, stealing millions of dollars over many years.這位罪犯把受害者當笨蛋耍,每年都竊得數百萬元。
Play second fiddle|當配角、輔助
“Fiddle” 即是 “violin”(小提琴),而樂隊裡最受矚目的位置是「第一小提琴」,
英文裡以此典故,延伸出 “play second fiddle” 的用法,指「當配角」。
【例句】
Although she's the best athlete on the team, Nicky's comfortable playing second fiddle to her teammate.雖然 Nicky 是隊上最厲害的選手,但她覺得作為隊友的輔助也不錯。
I'm tired of playing second fiddle to you. I deserve to be the star!我不想再當你的配角了!我應該要是最耀眼的那顆星!
Play a role/part|扮演重要角色、有一席之地
如同前面提過的, play 可以指「飾演角色」,如 “play a role”,
此用法的延伸意是在某事中「佔有一席之地」、「扮演重要角色」。
【例句】
The businessman played a major part in launching several successful companies.在數家成功企業創立的過程中,這位商人皆扮演舉足輕重的角色。
Play favorites|偏心
當你有「最愛」(favorite)的人,難免會對他偏心、特別照顧,
而 “play favorite” 的用法即是指「偏心」。
【例句】
The boss doesn't play favorites; he rewards good work no matter who does it.老闆不會偏心;不管是誰,只要表現得好都會有獎勵。
Play a trick/joke (on someone)|捉弄某人
這個片語也很好理解,就是在某人身上「開玩笑」、「耍伎倆」,
意思等同 “to tease someone”。
【例句】
John loves playing jokes on his friends, but sometimes he takes them too far!John 喜歡捉弄朋友,但有時候會玩到太過火!
這篇分享的片語都超級實用!
收起暑假的「玩」心,把這些片語好好學起來,
相信在新學期的英文課、英文溝通或雅思、托福測驗,
都能有加分的效果喔!