piercing

Compared meaning: sharp, intense, or piercing (adjective).

比较义项：形容尖锐、强烈的性质或感觉（形容词）。

• sharp

  Sharp is the general word for an object having a fine edge or point, like a knife; unlike the others, it names a physical property, not a felt sensation or sound.

  sharp 是通用词，指物体本身具有锋利的边缘或尖端（如刀），与其他几个词不同，它描述的是物体的物理性质，而不是一种被感知到的感觉或声音。

  The chef keeps his knives sharp so they cut vegetables cleanly.

  厨师把刀磨得锋利，这样切菜才干净利落。

• acute

  Acute describes the intensity of a sensation, especially pain or a medical condition, meaning very sharp in effect; it is not used for physical blades or sounds.

  acute 描述一种感觉（尤其是疼痛或病症）的强烈程度，意为“效果上非常尖锐”；它不用于形容刀刃等实物或声音。

  The doctor said her stomach pain was acute and needed immediate attention.

  医生说她的胃痛很尖锐，需要立即就医。

• piercing 本词

  Piercing describes a sound, such as a scream or alarm, that is loud, high-pitched, and sharp enough to hurt the ears; it is not used for pain or blades.

  piercing 用来形容尖叫、警报等又响又尖、刺耳到让人耳朵难受的声音；不用于形容疼痛或刀刃。

  The piercing scream from the alley made everyone stop and look.

  巷子里传来一声尖锐刺耳的尖叫，让每个人都停下脚步张望。

• stabbing

  Stabbing describes a sudden, sharp pain that feels like being pierced with something pointed; it is used only for pain, more vivid and informal than acute.

  stabbing 形容一种突然而尖锐的疼痛，感觉就像被尖锐的东西刺了一下；它只用于疼痛，比 acute 更形象、更口语化。

  He suddenly felt a stabbing pain in his chest and sat down quickly.

  他突然感到胸口一阵刺痛，猛地坐了下来。

These four words relate to sharpness, but apply differently. Sharp describes a physical edge, like a knife. Acute describes intense sensations, especially pain. Piercing describes a loud, high-pitched sound that hurts the ears. Stabbing describes a sudden, sharp pain, like being pierced.

这几个词都带有“尖锐”的意味，但适用领域不同：sharp 指物体本身锋利，acute 和 stabbing 都可形容疼痛（acute 偏医学、强调强烈，stabbing 偏口语、强调突然），piercing 则专指声音尖锐刺耳。学习者容易把 sharp 泛用到疼痛或声音的场合，应根据具体对象选用更贴切的词。

Compared meaning: sharp or strong in feeling, thought, or insight (adjective).

比较义项：感觉、思维或洞察力上的敏锐、尖锐（adj.）。

• acute

  Acute stresses the intensity of a sensation, feeling, or awareness, often in a formal or clinical tone, as in physical senses or careful analytical attention to detail.

  acute 强调某种感觉、情绪或意识的强烈程度，语气较为正式或偏医学化，常见于描述身体感官或对细节的缜密分析性关注。

  The detective had an acute awareness of small details that most people overlook.

  这位侦探对大多数人会忽略的细节有着敏锐的觉察力。

• keen

  Keen is the everyday, informal word for someone perceptive or skilled, often paired with 'eye', 'mind' or 'sense', suggesting natural talent or enthusiasm rather than intensity.

  keen 是日常口语中形容某人敏锐或有天赋的常用词，常与“眼光”、“头脑”或“感觉”搭配，强调天生的才能或热情，而非强烈程度。

  She has always had a keen eye for spotting talented young musicians.

  她一直有发掘年轻音乐天才的敏锐眼光。

• piercing 本词

  Piercing suggests a look, question, or mind that seems to see through surfaces to the truth, often with a slightly intense or unsettling effect on the person being observed.

  piercing 形容一种眼神、问题或头脑，仿佛能看穿表象、直达真相，往往会给被观察者带来一种强烈甚至令人不安的感觉。

  The professor's piercing questions revealed the flaws in our argument immediately.

  教授犀利的问题立刻揭露了我们论证中的漏洞。

Acute, keen and piercing describe a sharp sense or mind, but the tone differs. Acute is formal, stressing intensity of feeling or careful attention. Keen is everyday, a naturally sharp or skilled eye or mind. Piercing suggests a look that sees through to the truth.

这三个词都可以表示“敏锐、尖锐”，但语气和使用场合不同：acute 偏正式或专业，强调强度；keen 是日常常用词，强调天赋或热情；piercing 则强调看穿表象、直指本质，语气较强烈。这里不比较 keen 表示“渴望的，热衷的”（如 keen on doing something）和 piercing 表示“尖锐刺耳的（声音）”（如 a piercing scream）这两个义项。