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sharp
/ʃɑːp/
The primary image is one of precision and penetration. Whether it refers to a physical blade or a mental faculty, the word implies a lack of bluntness, blurriness, or hesitation. When applied to intelligence, it carries a positive connotation of alertness and efficiency, though it can veer into 'harshness' if used to describe someone's tone of voice (e.g., a sharp remark). In the context of movement or time, it signifies an abrupt transition or a strict boundary. Unlike 'quick,' which describes speed, 'sharp' emphasizes the sudden change in direction or the exactitude of a moment.
💬Trò chuyện
pick me up from campus at 5 sharp or i'm gonna lose it.
chill. i'm mid-game, don't be such a tryhard.
Ý nghĩa
Quick to understand, learn, or notice things; intellectually acute.
"She has a sharp mind for business strategy."
Ví dụ
Watch out! That sharp piece of glass is everywhere!
I'll be there at eight sharp, no excuses this time.
Wow, you have a really sharp eye for detail, huh?
Stop! That's a sharp turn; we're going to fly off!
I need a sharp knife for these tomatoes, please.
Look, just sharp the pencil and get back to work!
He's surprisingly sharp for someone who never went to college.
The price jump was way too sharp for my budget.
Be there at noon sharp or the deal is off!
Careful, those sharp edges will rip your skin right open.
Cụm từ kết hợp
sharp knife
A blade with a keen edge capable of cutting easily.
sharp mind
An intellectually acute or quick-witted mentality.
sharp turn
A sudden and distinct change in direction.
ten o'clock sharp
Exactly at ten o'clock; precisely on time.
sharp increase
A rapid and sudden rise in amount or degree.
Thành ngữ & Tục ngữ
sharp as a tack
Mentally alert; very intelligent.
a sharp tongue
A tendency to speak in a critical, harsh, or sarcastic manner.
sharp practice
Dishonest or unethical behavior in business dealings.
keep a sharp eye on
To watch something or someone very closely and carefully.
Bối cảnh văn hóa
In the realm of music theory, a "sharp" is far more than just a symbol on a staff; it represents a fundamental shift in how we perceive tension and resolution. When a musician sees that hashtag-like sign (#), they are instructed to raise a note by one semitone. While this seems like a minor adjustment, the psychological impact of a sharped note can transform a piece of music from a serene lullaby into a haunting gothic masterpiece.
Historically, the evolution of the sharp is tied to the transition from early modal music to the complex tonal systems of the Baroque and Classical eras. In the early days of Western music, the scale was more rigid. However, as composers sought more emotional depth, they began utilizing "accidentals"—notes that fall outside the standard key signature. The sharp became a primary tool for creating leading tones. A leading tone is a note that sits just below the tonic (the home note), creating an intense, almost physical yearning in the listener's ear to resolve upward.
This creates a psychological phenomenon known as harmonic tension. When a composer introduces a sharped note, they are essentially "sharpening" the emotional edge of the melody, creating a sense of instability or urgency. Think of the dramatic rise in a suspenseful film score; often, it is the strategic use of sharps and dissonant intervals that triggers our fight-or-flight response, making us feel an instinctive sense of unease.
Beyond the emotion, there is a fascinating scientific conflict known as "the comma." Because our modern tuning system (Equal Temperament) divides the octave into twelve equal parts to make switching keys easier, the sharped notes we play are not mathematically "pure" in the way ancient Greeks or early Renaissance musicians preferred. We have essentially traded mathematical perfection for versatility. Every time you hear a sharp note in a modern pop song or a symphony, you are hearing a compromise between physics and art—a calculated imperfection that allows the music to travel across all twelve keys of the keyboard seamlessly.