“by heart”是英语中常用的介词短语,核心含义是“凭记忆;牢记;能背诵”,强调对内容的熟练记忆,无需参考文本即可复述或使用。
表示“通过记忆掌握(内容)”,常用来描述对诗歌、台词、歌词、公式、电话号码等具体内容的熟练背诵或牢记。
“by heart”通常与动词(如learn, know, say, recite, have等)搭配使用,结构为:
例:
I need to learn this poem by heart for tomorrow’s exam.(我得把这首诗背下来,明天考试要用。)
She learned all the multiplication tables by heart when she was 7.(她7岁时就把所有乘法表背得滚瓜烂熟了。)
例:
Do you know your phone number by heart?(你能记住自己的电话号码吗?)
He knows all the lyrics to that song by heart—he sings it every day.(那首歌的歌词他全记得,每天都唱。)
例:
The little girl can recite the whole story by heart.(小女孩能凭记忆背诵整个故事。)
Don’t read from the paper—say it by heart!(别照着纸读,凭记忆说!)
例:
I have the address by heart, so I don’t need a map.(我记着地址呢,不用地图。)
“by heart”侧重“熟练到无需提示”的记忆,比“memorize”(记忆)更强调“脱口而出”的熟练度。
例如:Memorize the speech(记住演讲内容)≈ Learn the speech by heart(把演讲背下来),但后者更强调“能脱稿”。
通常不单独使用,需与动词搭配构成完整表达。
学习过程:Learn the new words by heart.(背新单词。)
状态描述:I know this recipe by heart.(我牢记这个食谱。)
动作表现:She recited the poem by heart at the party.(她在派对上背了那首诗。)
简单来说,“by heart”就是“不用看东西,脑子⾥记得牢牢的”,常用在需要背诵或熟练记忆的场景中~