Word · CEFR C1 · Frequency #12113
torment
折磨；使痛苦；使备受煎熬
to cause severe suffering to someone or something
- 1.
To cause severe suffering to (stronger than to vex but weaker than to torture.)
使遭受严重痛苦(比烦扰更强烈但比折磨更弱)。
使遭受严重痛苦(比烦扰更强烈但比折磨更弱)。；使苦恼；纠缠；歪曲；拷问
In use
The memory of that terrible day still torments her at night.
He was tormented by guilt after saying those harsh words to his friend.
A throbbing headache tormented him throughout the meeting.
Verb forms
base torment · third person torments · -ing tormenting · past tormented · past participle tormented
及物动词，意为使痛苦、折磨，规则变化。
Connections
Collocations
- be tormented by
- 被……折磨；因……而痛苦
- He was tormented by guilt after the accident.事故过后，他被负罪感折磨着。
- torment oneself with
- 用……折磨自己
- She torments herself with worries about the future.她用对未来的担忧折磨自己。
- torment an animal
- 折磨动物；虐待动物
- It's cruel to torment a helpless animal.折磨无依无靠的动物是残忍的。
- tormenting pain
- 折磨人的疼痛
- The tormenting pain kept him awake all night.折磨人的疼痛让他整夜无法入睡。
- torment someone with questions
- 用问题折磨某人；追问不休
- The reporters tormented the politician with questions.记者们用问题缠着那位政治家。
Pop culture & quotes
Learner notes
Memory Tip
把 torment 看成 torn + ment：像被撕裂（torn）一样难受，就是折磨。
Context & Register
语域：neutral 常见场景：文学作品或严肃报道、日常谈话中描述痛苦或纠缠 torment 作动词时表示使遭受巨大痛苦或折磨，语气通常较强；多用于严肃语境，日常口语中也会出现，但应注意程度，避免在轻微场合显得夸张。
Pronunciation & Spelling
这些词都以 -ment 结尾，拼写相似。moment、payment、government、argument、statement 中的 -ment 弱读为 /mənt/，与 torment 的 /mɛnt/ 不同；lament 重读第二音节，读 /ləˈmɛnt/，其 /mɛnt/ 与 torment 的结尾 /mɛnt/ 相同，但所给的 torment 读音 /ˈtɔrˌmɛnt/ 重音在第一音节，因此它们并不完全押韵。
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, OCTANOVE, WIKTIONARY, WORDNET.