1
the hoof/hooves of [animal]
hoof 的复数形式常用 hooves，也可用 hoofs。
The hooves of the horse were muddy.
那匹马的蹄子上沾满了泥。
蹄；蹄子
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
蹄；蹄子
the foot of an ungulate mammal, such as a horse, cow, or deer
The hooves of the horse were muddy.
那匹马的蹄子上沾满了泥。
The tip of a toe of an ungulate such as a horse, ox or deer, strengthened by a thick keratin covering.
有蹄哺乳动物的脚
the foot of an ungulate mammal
The heel of a loaf of bread.
有蹄哺乳动物脚端的角质覆盖物
the horny covering of the end of the foot in ungulate mammals
The horse hurt its hoof on the rocky path.
那匹马在石头路上伤了蹄子。
Farmers check the cow's hooves every morning to keep the animal healthy.
农民们每天早晨检查奶牛的蹄子，以保持牲畜健康。
A farrier trims each hoof carefully to prevent lameness.
蹄铁匠仔细修剪每只蹄子，以防跛行。
hoof 的复数形式常用 hooves，也可用 hoofs。
The hooves of the horse were muddy.
那匹马的蹄子上沾满了泥。
hoof it 是非正式口语表达，意为“步行前往”。
We hoofed it to the park instead of driving.
我们没有开车，而是步行去了公园。
作及物动词时，hoof 意为“用蹄踢”，主语通常为马、骡等有蹄动物。
The stallion hoofed the gate in frustration.
那匹公马沮丧地用蹄子踢着大门。
Not this
The horse has four hoof.
Use this
The horse has four hooves.
“hoof”是可数名词，表示复数时应用复数形式“hooves”。汉语名词没有单复数标记，学习者容易漏掉复数变化。
Not this
The horse hooves the ground.
Use this
The horse hoofs the ground.
“hooves”是名词“hoof”的复数形式，不能用作动词的第三人称单数。动词“hoof”（用蹄踢）的第三人称单数是“hoofs”，按规则加-s。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
偶蹄；分趾蹄
Sheep and goats have cloven hooves.
绵羊和山羊长着偶蹄。
有蹄动物
Horses, cattle, and deer are hoofed animals.
马、牛和鹿都是有蹄动物。
嗒嗒的蹄声
The clatter of hooves on the bridge startled us.
桥上嗒嗒的蹄声吓了我们一跳。
马蹄
The horse lifted its hoof so the vet could check it.
马抬起了蹄子，好让兽医检查。
修剪蹄子
The farmer trims the sheep's hooves regularly.
农夫定期给羊修剪蹄子。
步行；走路
We missed the bus, so we had to hoof it.
我们错过了公交车，所以只好步行。
边走边做地；临时凑合地
There's no time to plan properly, so we'll have to make decisions on the hoof.
没有时间好好计划，所以我们只能临时作决定。
步行；快步走
The car broke down, so we hoofed it to the nearest gas station.
车坏了，所以我们步行到最近的加油站。
露出本来面目（尤指邪恶本性）
He seemed friendly, but soon showed the cloven hoof when he refused to help.
他看起来挺友善，但拒绝帮忙时很快就露出了本来面目。
它们的蹄子是用钢铁做的。
Lyric from 'Ghost Riders in the Sky', a classic Western song written by Stan Jones and recorded by artists including Johnny Cash, describing phantom cattle with glowing red eyes and steel hooves.
出自经典西部歌曲《幽灵骑士在天空》，由斯坦·琼斯创作，约翰尼·卡什等人演唱，描写一群眼睛发红、蹄子由钢铁制成的幽灵牛。
发长 /uː/ 音 (如 food, boot)
Use hoof naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
蹄子读作huf，联想“护”：它像一层厚厚的外壳，保护马牛羊的脚底，所以叫hoof。
语域：neutral 常见场景：马术与骑马、兽医检查、动物科普/自然纪录片 作为名词指动物的蹄时，通常为中性用词，多用于兽医、骑马、动物科普或野生动物观察等话题，口语和书面语中都比较自然，没有明显的正式或随意色彩。
复数形式 hooves 与 hoofs 均正确；动词过去式/过去分词为 hoofed。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.
Watch the sound change