Word · CEFR B1 · Frequency #2623
whisper
低语；耳语；私语
the act of speaking in a very quiet voice, or the soft sound made by this
- 1.
The act of speaking in a quiet voice, especially without vibration of the vocal cords; the sound thus produced.
低声说话的行为,尤指声带不振动；由此发出的声音。
- 2.
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
声带不振动地轻声说话
- 3.
A faint trace or hint (of something).
微弱的痕迹或提示。
- 4.
a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind
轻柔的声响,如丝绸摩擦或风吹树叶的声音
- 5.
A low rustling sound, like that of the wind in leaves.
像风吹树叶那样的低沉的沙沙声。
- 6.
A projection of intention and influence caused by sending thoughts or desires outward through softly-spoken words or subtle mental or energetic means.
通过轻声说话或微妙的精神或能量方式向外发送思想或愿望,从而投射意图和影响。
一丝；一缕；些许；沙沙声；窸窣声；意念投射；意图与影响的外向投射；低声说话的行为,尤指声带不振动；由此发出的声音。；声带不振动地轻声说话
In use
She asked for a glass of water in a whisper.
His voice dropped to a whisper when he told us the secret.
I heard a whisper from the next room but couldn't understand the words.
a whisper
She spoke in a whisper.
她低声说话。
in a whisper
用作状语，表示以低语方式。
He answered in a whisper.
他低声回答。
whisper of something
常用于比喻，表示细微的声音或迹象。
A whisper of wind moved the leaves.
一阵低语般的风拂动了树叶。
Connections
Collocations
- in a whisper
- 低声；悄声
- They spoke in a whisper so as not to wake the baby.他们低声说话，以免吵醒宝宝。
- a stage whisper
- 故意让人听见的低语；舞台耳语
- She said in a stage whisper, "I can't stand him."她用故意让人听见的耳语说：‘我受不了他。’
- a whisper of a smile
- 一丝笑意；淡淡的一笑
- A whisper of a smile crossed her face.她脸上掠过一丝笑意。
- a whisper of a chance
- 一丝机会；极小的可能性
- There isn't a whisper of a chance that he'll agree.他同意的可能性连一丝都没有。
- the whisper of leaves
- 树叶的沙沙声
- The only sound was the whisper of leaves outside the window.唯一的声音是窗外树叶的沙沙声。
Idioms & figurative uses
Learner notes
Memory Tip
记 whisper：其中藏着 wisp（一缕）——一缕轻风、一缕低语，即是耳语。
Context & Register
语域：mixed 常见场景：everyday conversation、quiet public places、literary or descriptive writing whisper 作名词时，核心义是“低声说话的声音”，在日常对话和安静场合中多用于中性语境；在书面或文学描写中，也可引申为“沙沙声”或“一丝、些许”的比喻。整体上语境跨度较大，正式与非正式场合都可能出现，需根据具体搭配判断。
Pronunciation & Spelling
与 crisper 押韵（英式读音均以 /spə/ 收尾）。注意 wisp、whistle、whisk、whiskey 都以 “whis-” 开头但发音不同：wisp /wɪsp/ 比 whisper 少一个末尾音节；whistle /ˈwɪsəl/ 中 t 不发音；whisk /wɪsk/ 以 /sk/ 结尾；whiskey /ˈwɪski/ 以 /ki/ 结尾。另注意，whisper 的首音可以是 /hw-/ 或 /w-/。
High-value vocabulary
该词属于 Oxford 核心词汇，值得优先掌握常见搭配和句型。
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 3，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 DICTIONARY_API_DEV, ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.