A monotone is a sound that stays on the same note: it does not rise or fall, and it does not grow louder or softer, so it often feels dull. When someone speaks or sings in a monotone, the voice is flat, and listeners may think the person is bored, nervous, or just reading words with no feeling.

A monotone is a sound that stays on the same note:Monotone單調音是停留在同一個音上的聲音 it does not rise or fall,它不會升高或降低 and it does not grow louder or softer,也不會變大聲或變小聲 so it often feels dull.所以常常讓人覺得沉悶 When someone speaks or sings in a monotone,當一個人用monotone的方式說話或唱歌 the voice is flat,聲音會很平 and listeners may think the person is bored, nervous, or just reading words with no feeling.聽的人可能會覺得這個人很無聊、很緊張,或只是毫無感情地照著字唸。

Teachers say “Don’t read in a monotone” when they want expression. You can use it as a noun (speak in a monotone) or as an adjective (a monotone voice).

when they want expression,想要學生唸得有感情時 Teachers say "Don't read in a monotone".老師會說「Don't read in a monotone不要唸得那麼平」 You can use it as a noun (speak in a monotone)你可以把它當名詞用(speak in a monotone用單調的聲音說話) or as an adjective (a monotone voice).也可以當形容詞用(a monotone voice單調的聲音)。

People stretch it to any unchanging drone — a fan, a machine, rain on a roof. There is also a later maths sense (a line that only goes one way), but the voice sense is the one you meet in ordinary English.

People stretch it to any unchanging drone —人們也會把它用在任何一成不變的嗡嗡聲上 a fan, a machine, rain on a roof.電風扇、機器、雨打在屋頂上的聲音 There is also a later maths sense (a line that only goes one way),後來還有一個數學上的意思(一條只往一個方向走的線) but the voice sense is the one you meet in ordinary English.但你在日常英文裡遇到的,還是聲音的那個意思。