"in a tired voice" 是一个描述说话方式的介词短语,字面直译为“用疲惫的声音”,更自然的中文表达是“以疲惫的口吻”“用沙哑/乏力的声音(说话)”。
它属于英语中“in + 形容词 + voice”的固定搭配,核心功能是作方式状语,修饰表示“说话”的动词(如 say, speak, ask, answer, mutter 等),强调说话者的状态(疲惫)通过声音体现出来。
1、 基本用法:直接放在说话动词后,说明“如何说”。
He answered in a tired voice.
(他用疲惫的声音回答。)
She said goodbye to me in a tired voice.
(她以疲惫的口吻和我道别。)
2、 扩展用法:可结合从句或更长的句子,补充说话的内容。
The old man told us in a tired voice that he had walked ten miles.
(老人用疲惫的声音告诉我们,他走了十英里路。)
"I don’t want to talk about it," she muttered in a tired voice.
(“我不想谈这个,”她用沙哑的声音喃喃道。)
类似的“in + 形容词 + voice”结构还有:
in a loud voice (大声地)
in a soft voice (轻声地)
in an angry voice (生气地)
in a sweet voice (温柔地)
"in a tired voice" 本质是描述说话的“声音状态”,聚焦“疲惫”这一情绪/身体状态通过声音传递的方式,常见于叙述场景中,用来丰富人物的细节(比如熬夜后的状态、长时间劳作后的乏力)。