An uppercut is a punch that travels upwards — the fist comes from low down and drives up into the other person's chin or body. It is a boxing word first of all, and boxing has names for each kind of punch: a jab goes straight out, a hook swings in from the side, an uppercut comes up from below. The reason it has its own name is that it works differently: because it lands under the chin, it snaps the head back and is one of the punches most likely to knock someone out.

An uppercut上鉤拳 is a punch that travels upwards是一種向上打的拳 — the fist comes from low down拳頭從低處出發 and drives up into the other person's chin or body往上打進對方的下巴或身體。It is a boxing word first of all這個字首先是拳擊用語, and boxing has names for each kind of punch而拳擊裡每種拳都有名字: a jab goes straight out刺拳是直直打出去, a hook swings in from the side鉤拳是從側面掃過來, an uppercut comes up from below上鉤拳則是從下方往上打。The reason it has its own name is that it works differently它會有自己的名字是因為打法不一樣: because it lands under the chin因為它打在下巴底下, it snaps the head back會讓頭往後彈, and is one of the punches most likely to knock someone out是最容易把人打昏的拳之一。

It is mostly a noun — 'he threw a left uppercut', 'she caught him with an uppercut' — and it can be a verb too, though that is much less common.

It is mostly a noun這個字大多當名詞用 — 'he threw a left uppercut'他打出一記左上鉤拳, 'she caught him with an uppercut'她用上鉤拳打中他 — and it can be a verb too也可以當動詞, though that is much less common不過這種用法少見很多。

Outside the ring, you will hear it in fighting video games, where the uppercut is usually a big special move, and in newspaper writing where a sudden sharp attack in politics or business is called an uppercut. That figurative use is journalist-style, not everyday speech.

Outside the ring在拳擊場外, you will hear it in fighting video games你會在格鬥電玩裡聽到這個字, where the uppercut is usually a big special move裡面的上鉤拳通常是一記大絕招, and in newspaper writing也會出現在新聞寫作裡, where a sudden sharp attack in politics or business is called an uppercut政治或商業上突然猛烈的攻擊被稱為上鉤拳。That figurative use這種比喻用法 is journalist-style是記者體的寫法, not everyday speech不是日常口語。

Note that the word is about the direction the punch travels, not about which hand you use, so 'left uppercut' and 'right uppercut' are both normal.

Note that the word is about the direction the punch travels這個字指的是拳頭打出去的方向, not about which hand you use不是指用哪一隻手, so 'left uppercut'左上鉤拳 and 'right uppercut'右上鉤拳 are both normal都很常見。