Word · Frequency #18589
undertone
潜在的意思；弦外之音；暗流
An underlying or implied quality, message, or feeling expressed indirectly.
- 1.
An auditory tone of low pitch or volume.
低音；低声调
- 2.
An implicit message perceived subtly alongside, but not detracting noticeably from, the explicit message conveyed in or by a book, film, speech or similar (contrast with overtone); an undercurrent.
隐含信息；潜在含义；暗流
- 3.
A pale colour, or one seen underneath another colour.
底色；浅色
- 4.
A low state of the physical faculties.
(身体机能的)低潮状态
低声；低音；淡色；底色；衬底颜色；（身体）虚弱状态；低迷状态；低音；低声调；隐含信息；潜在含义；暗流
In use
Her praise carried a jealous undertone.
The conversation seemed friendly, but I detected an undertone of tension.
His speech had a hopeful undertone that inspired the audience.
in an undertone
常用于描述小声说话。
She murmured something in an undertone.
她低声咕哝了些什么。
with an undertone of [emotion/quality]
表示隐含的情感或态度。
His voice carried an undertone of resentment.
他的声音里带着一丝怨恨的意味。
an undertone of [color]
指颜色中隐约可见的底色。
The wall had an undertone of blue.
Connections
Collocations
- in an undertone
- 低声地；小声地
- She told me the secret in an undertone.她低声告诉我这个秘密。
- an undertone of sadness
- 一丝悲伤的意味
- There was an undertone of sadness in his voice.他的声音里带着一丝悲伤的意味。
- a political undertone
- 政治色彩；政治含义
- The movie has a political undertone.这部电影带有政治色彩。
- an ironic undertone
- 讽刺的弦外之音
- Her praise had an ironic undertone.她的赞扬带有讽刺的弦外之音。
- an undertone of anxiety
- 隐隐的焦虑；焦虑的暗流
- Underneath his calm exterior, there was an undertone of anxiety.在他平静的外表下，隐隐藏着一丝焦虑。
- a warm undertone
Learner notes
Memory Tip
记住“under”（下面）+“tone”（音调）：低声或藏在话语下的含义，就像水面下的暗流。
Context & Register
语域：neutral 常见场景：quiet conversation、music/acoustics、literary description 在‘低声/低音’这一义项下，语体为中性，既不算正式也不算随意，通常用在描写说话声或声音的场合，如 speak in an undertone（低声说话）。
Grammar Note
常用单数形式表示低音或底色，但复数形式也正确。
Pronunciation & Spelling
词尾为 -tone 的词（tone, stone, atone, overtone）都读作 /təʊn/，与 undertone 的词尾发音相同。但注意：undertone 的重音在第一个音节，tone 和 atone 的重音在最后一个音节，因此它们并不与 undertone 完全押韵；overtone 的重音也在第一个音节，与 undertone 节奏相似，但开头元音不同。另注意 done /dʌn/ 和 gone /ɡɒn/ 虽然以 -one 结尾，但发音与 -tone 完全不同。
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.