Word · Frequency #6090
softening
使变软；使变柔和
softening is the present participle of soften.
make something soft or softer
可指使物体变软，或使声音、光线、画面等变得柔和。
- 1.
To make something soft or softer.
使某物变软或更软
- 2.
To undermine the morale of someone (often soften up).
削弱某人的士气(常用作soften up)
- 3.
To make less harsh.
使不那么严厉
- 4.
To become soft or softer.
变软或更软
- 5.
To become or make (a consonant) more lenis, to lenite.
使(辅音)变得更柔和,软化
- 6.
To palatalize.
使腭化
变软；变柔和；使某物变软或更软；削弱某人的士气(常用作soften up)；使不那么严厉；变软或更软
In use
The heat softened the butter, making it easy to spread.
Her voice softened as she spoke to the child.
You can soften the vegetables by cooking them for a few minutes.
soften sth
You can soften the butter in the microwave.
你可以在微波炉里软化黄油。
soften (sb) up
此短语动词意为“削弱…的抵抗力”。
The soldiers tried to soften up the enemy with artillery.
士兵们试图用炮火削弱敌人。
sth softens
The butter softened in the heat.
黄油在高温下变软了。
Connections
Collocations
- soften the blow
- 减轻打击
- He tried to soften the blow with a joke.他试图用笑话来减轻打击。
- soften the light
- 柔化光线
- She used a lampshade to soften the light.她用灯罩柔化光线。
- soften someone's heart
- 使某人变心软
- The puppy's eyes softened her heart.小狗的眼神使她心软了。
- soften the impact
- 减轻冲击
- The airbag softened the impact of the crash.安全气囊减轻了碰撞的冲击。
- soften the tone
- 缓和语气
- He softened his tone when he saw her upset.看到她难过，他缓和了语气。
- soften the attitude
Learner notes
Memory Tip
想象硬面包（hard）被揉捏后变软（soften），音似‘嗖佛腾’——像佛轻轻一吹就柔和了。
Context & Register
通常用于描述物体变软或态度、语气等变得温和，在口语和书面语中均常见，具体与抽象用法均有。
Pronunciation & Spelling
These words all end in '-en' and often contain a silent 't' (as in often, listen, fasten, moisten, christen), whereas the 't' in 'soften' is pronounced. None are exact rhymes due to vowel differences and the presence of a schwa in the second syllable of these words (e.g., /ən/) compared to the syllabic /n/ in 'soften'.
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 2，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY, WORDNET.