你問(wèn)我答
區(qū)分表示 “弱” 的四個(gè)形容詞： fragile、feeble、vulnerable、weak
內(nèi)容簡(jiǎn)介
一位聽(tīng)眾來(lái)信詢問(wèn)近義詞 “weak、fragile、feeble、vulnerable” 的區(qū)別。主持人 Georgie 和佳瑩在節(jié)目中首先講解 “weak” 的用法，因?yàn)樗挠梅ㄗ疃?；接著逐一?duì)比其它三個(gè)單詞和 “weak” 之間的相同和不同之處；最后總結(jié)這組近義詞的用法。
文字稿
（關(guān)于臺(tái)詞的備注: 請(qǐng)注意這不是廣播節(jié)目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能沒(méi)有體現(xiàn)錄制、編輯過(guò)程中對(duì)節(jié)目做出的改變。）
Jiaying
大家好，歡迎收聽(tīng) BBC英語(yǔ)教學(xué)的 “你問(wèn)我答” 節(jié)目。With me, Jiaying.
Georgie
And me, Georgie. One of our listeners has asked us a question:
Question
I would like to distinguish the difference between 'fragile', 'feeble', 'vulnerable' and 'weak'.
Georgie
Jiaying, you know I'm moving house at the moment, and my new place is full of boxes. Some of them are full of my plates and drinks glasses and they're really heavy! I struggled to move them, which made me realise how weak I am!
Jiaying
你要搬家了，得把大大小小的盤(pán)子、玻璃杯都打包起來(lái)。Well, be careful with your back, and be careful with the boxes because glass is really fragile.
Georgie
Maybe you can come and help me, Jiaying. Anyway, the adjectives 'fragile', 'feeble', 'vulnerable' and 'weak' all mean that something lacks strength, but they have slightly different meanings. Let's start with 'weak'.
Jiaying
在問(wèn)題中的四個(gè)形容詞中，“weak” 是最常見(jiàn)、用法最為廣泛的一個(gè)。在形容人的時(shí)候，它可以用來(lái)描述 “一個(gè)人的體質(zhì)是虛弱的”。比如，你剛剛說(shuō)你搬不動(dòng)箱子，是因?yàn)槟?“身體虛弱”。另外，“weak” 在形容 “一個(gè)人是虛弱的” 時(shí)候，也可以表示 “因生病或勞累而暫時(shí)感到?jīng)]勁的、無(wú)力的”。
Georgie
For example, I felt weak from the flu a few weeks ago, so I decided to stay in bed.
Jiaying
是的。除了 “身體上是虛弱的” 以外，“weak” 還可以表示 “意志薄弱的，怯懦的”。 來(lái)聽(tīng)一個(gè)例句。
Example
Admitting his fears made him feel weak, but also relieved.
（承認(rèn)內(nèi)心的恐懼讓他感到自己很軟弱，但也如釋重負(fù)。）
Georgie
It can also describe a lack of strength in inanimate objects, and more abstract nouns, like 'weak leadership skills' and 'a weak defence', like on a football team.
Jiaying
“Weak leadership skills（薄弱的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)能力）”；“a weak defence（比如說(shuō)，足球隊(duì)中薄弱的防守）”。來(lái)聽(tīng)兩個(gè)使用了 “weak” 形容事物或抽象概念的例句。
Examples
The bridge collapsed because the structure was weak.
（橋塌了，因?yàn)榻Y(jié)構(gòu)不牢固。）
He had a weak understanding of maths, so decided to get extra lessons before the exams.
（他對(duì)數(shù)學(xué)的理解很薄弱，所以決定在考試前補(bǔ)課。）
Georgie
'Feeble' is very similar to 'weak', but it is a slightly more extreme or noticeable form of weakness, especially in a physical sense.
Jiaying
Yes. 形容詞 “feeble” 與 “weak” 的第一層含義非常相近，但 “feeble” 強(qiáng)調(diào) “一個(gè)人的身體是極為虛弱的或者明顯非常虛弱的”，比 “weak” 表達(dá)的 “虛弱” 程度要更深。因此，人們常用 “feeble” 來(lái)談?wù)?“老年人的身體狀況是非常虛弱的”。請(qǐng)聽(tīng)例句。
Example
The feeble old man needed frequent care visits from his family.
（這位虛弱的老人需要家人經(jīng)常來(lái)照料。）
Jiaying
此外，“feeble” 和 “weak” 都可以用來(lái)形容抽象名詞，意思是 “無(wú)力的，無(wú)效的”。
Georgie
You can say 'a feeble excuse'.
Jiaying
一個(gè)牽強(qiáng)的借口。
Georgie
Or 'a feeble attempt'.
Jiaying
一次無(wú)效的嘗試。我們?cè)賮?lái)聽(tīng)兩個(gè)例句。
Examples
She made a feeble excuse for why she was late. I'm not happy about it.
（她為自己遲到找了個(gè)站不住腳的借口。對(duì)此，我很不高興。）
The dog made a feeble attempt to jump on the sofa, and failed miserably.
（這只狗本想跳到沙發(fā)上，卻沒(méi)跳上去，很是狼狽。）
Jiaying
下面，再來(lái)說(shuō)說(shuō) “vulnerable”。形容詞 “vulnerable” 可以用來(lái)描述 “感情上敏感或脆弱的”。比如，當(dāng)你身處一個(gè)新的環(huán)境中時(shí)，或者當(dāng)你聽(tīng)到一個(gè)壞消息之后，就可能會(huì)有這種 “vulnerable” 的感覺(jué)。來(lái)聽(tīng)兩個(gè)例句。
Examples
Dad felt emotionally vulnerable after the divorce because everything in his life was changing.
（爸爸在離婚后內(nèi)心很脆弱，因?yàn)樗钪械囊磺卸及l(fā)生了變化。）
Sarah felt vulnerable on stage as she stood there, alone, with everyone watching.
（在眾人的注視下，莎拉獨(dú)自一人站在臺(tái)上，感到十分脆弱。）
Jiaying
形容詞 “vulnerable” 還可以用來(lái)表示 “身體上是容易受到傷害的”。
Georgie
It can be used on its own, or in the structure 'vulnerable to' plus the potential threat.
Jiaying
沒(méi)錯(cuò)?！癇e vulnerable to something（易受到…的傷害）”。這里，“something” 要換成表示 “潛在威脅” 的詞語(yǔ)。來(lái)聽(tīng)兩個(gè)例句。
Examples
Deforestation has made many endangered animals vulnerable to extinction.
（森林砍伐使許多瀕危動(dòng)物走向滅絕。）
Surrounded by lions, with no trees for cover, the deer were in a vulnerable position.
（被獅子包圍，也沒(méi)有樹(shù)木作掩護(hù)，這只鹿的處境很危險(xiǎn)。）
Jiaying
最后，我們講一講形容詞 “fragile”?！癋ragile” 可以表示 “物體是容易破碎的或被損壞的”。Georgie, your glasses and plates are fragile, aren't they?
Georgie
Yes. That's an example of being physically fragile, but we can also be emotionally fragile when your emotional stability feels like it's easy to break. It means you can get upset easily. Imagine your emotions like an easily broken plate.
Jiaying
沒(méi)錯(cuò)，形容詞 “fragile” 有一個(gè)引申而來(lái)的含義，那就是 “一個(gè)人在情緒上是脆弱的”。請(qǐng)聽(tīng)例句。
Example
She was in a fragile emotional state after her dog died. She couldn't stop crying.
（她的狗死后，她的情緒很脆弱，哭個(gè)不停。）
Jiaying
好了，我們來(lái)總結(jié)一下：“weak” 是四個(gè)形容詞當(dāng)中最常見(jiàn)的一個(gè)，也是用法最廣泛的一個(gè)，它表示 “身體虛弱的；軟弱的；無(wú)力的”。形容詞 “feeble” 的意思與 “weak” 非常相近，但表示的 “弱” 的程度更深?！癡ulnerable” 的意思是 “脆弱的；易受到傷害的”。最后，“fragile” 常用來(lái)表示 “物體是容易破碎的或損壞的”，它還可以描述 “一個(gè)人在情緒上是脆弱的”。
Georgie
Remember, if you have a question about the English language you'd like to ask us, please send us an email. Our email address is: questions.chinaelt@bbc.co.uk
Jiaying
你也可以通過(guò)微博私信的方式把問(wèn)題發(fā)送給我們，我們的微博賬號(hào)是 “BBC英語(yǔ)教學(xué)”。Bye, everyone!
Georgie
Bye.
