To strum is to play a guitar (or ukulele, banjo, mandolin) by dragging your fingers or a pick across several strings at once, so they all sound together. That is the key idea: strumming is many strings in one movement, while 'pluck' or 'pick' is one string at a time.

To strum is to play a guitar (or ukulele, banjo, mandolin)strum指的是彈吉他（或烏克麗麗、斑鳩琴、曼陀林） by dragging your fingers or a pick across several strings at once用手指或pick一次刷過好幾根弦, so they all sound together讓它們一起發出聲音。That is the key idea這就是關鍵所在: strumming is many strings in one movementstrum是一個動作刷過好幾根弦, while 'pluck' or 'pick' is one string at a time而'pluck'或'pick'是一次只彈一根弦。

It is the way most beginners play — you hold a chord with your left hand and strum with your right, up and down, keeping the beat.

It is the way most beginners play這是大多數初學者彈奏的方式 — you hold a chord with your left hand左手按住和弦 and strum with your right右手負責刷弦, up and down上下刷, keeping the beat跟著拍子走。

The word also carries a feeling of easiness and no great effort. 'He sat on the step strumming his guitar' does not mean he was performing; it means he was passing the time. Because of that, people sometimes say it a little dismissively — 'he just strums a few chords' means he is not really a skilled player.

The word also carries a feeling of easiness and no great effort這個字還帶有一種輕鬆、不費力的感覺。'He sat on the step strumming his guitar'像'He sat on the step strumming his guitar'（他坐在階梯上刷著吉他） does not mean he was performing不是說他在表演; it means he was passing the time而是說他在打發時間。Because of that正因為這樣, people sometimes say it a little dismissively有時候人講這個字會帶點輕視 — 'he just strums a few chords'像'he just strums a few chords'（他只是隨便刷幾個和弦） means he is not really a skilled player意思是他其實彈得不怎麼樣。

It works as a noun too: 'give it a strum', 'a slow strum', and 'strumming pattern' is the ordinary term for the rhythm of your up-and-down hand. Note that it is only for stringed instruments you hold; you do not strum a piano or a drum.

It works as a noun too它也可以當名詞用: 'give it a strum', 'a slow strum'像'give it a strum'（刷一下）、'a slow strum'（慢慢刷）, and 'strumming pattern' is the ordinary term for the rhythm of your up-and-down hand而'strumming pattern'則是形容你上下刷弦節奏的常見說法。Note that it is only for stringed instruments you hold要注意這個字只用在你抱著彈的弦樂器上; you do not strum a piano or a drum你不會說strum鋼琴或strum鼓。