内容简介

一位听众来信询问近义词 “weak、fragile、feeble、vulnerable” 的区别。主持人 Georgie 和佳莹在节目中首先讲解 “weak” 的用法，因为它的用法最多；接着逐一对比其它三个单词和 “weak” 之间的相同和不同之处；最后总结这组近义词的用法。

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（关于台词的备注: 请注意这不是广播节目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能没有体现录制、编辑过程中对节目做出的改变。）

Jiaying
大家好，欢迎收听 BBC英语教学的 “你问我答” 节目。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，得把大大小小的盘子、玻璃杯都打包起来。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
在问题中的四个形容词中，“weak” 是最常见、用法最为广泛的一个。在形容人的时候，它可以用来描述 “一个人的体质是虚弱的”。比如，你刚刚说你搬不动箱子，是因为你 “身体虚弱”。另外，“weak” 在形容 “一个人是虚弱的” 时候，也可以表示 “因生病或劳累而暂时感到没劲的、无力的”。

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 “身体上是虚弱的” 以外，“weak” 还可以表示 “意志薄弱的，怯懦的”。 来听一个例句。

Example
Admitting his fears made him feel weak, but also relieved.
（承认内心的恐惧让他感到自己很软弱，但也如释重负。）

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（薄弱的领导能力）”；“a weak defence（比如说，足球队中薄弱的防守）”。来听两个使用了 “weak” 形容事物或抽象概念的例句。

Examples
The bridge collapsed because the structure was weak.
（桥塌了，因为结构不牢固。）

He had a weak understanding of maths, so decided to get extra lessons before the exams.
（他对数学的理解很薄弱，所以决定在考试前补课。）

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. 形容词 “feeble” 与 “weak” 的第一层含义非常相近，但 “feeble” 强调 “一个人的身体是极为虚弱的或者明显非常虚弱的”，比 “weak” 表达的 “虚弱” 程度要更深。因此，人们常用 “feeble” 来谈论 “老年人的身体状况是非常虚弱的”。请听例句。

Example
The feeble old man needed frequent care visits from his family.
（这位虚弱的老人需要家人经常来照料。）

Jiaying
此外，“feeble” 和 “weak” 都可以用来形容抽象名词，意思是 “无力的，无效的”。

Georgie
You can say 'a feeble excuse'.

Jiaying
一个牵强的借口。

Georgie
Or 'a feeble attempt'.

Jiaying
一次无效的尝试。我们再来听两个例句。

Examples
She made a feeble excuse for why she was late. I'm not happy about it.
（她为自己迟到找了个站不住脚的借口。对此，我很不高兴。）

The dog made a feeble attempt to jump on the sofa, and failed miserably.
（这只狗本想跳到沙发上，却没跳上去，很是狼狈。）

Jiaying
下面，再来说说 “vulnerable”。形容词 “vulnerable” 可以用来描述 “感情上敏感或脆弱的”。比如，当你身处一个新的环境中时，或者当你听到一个坏消息之后，就可能会有这种 “vulnerable” 的感觉。来听两个例句。

Examples
Dad felt emotionally vulnerable after the divorce because everything in his life was changing.
（爸爸在离婚后内心很脆弱，因为他生活中的一切都发生了变化。）

Sarah felt vulnerable on stage as she stood there, alone, with everyone watching.
（在众人的注视下，莎拉独自一人站在台上，感到十分脆弱。）

Jiaying
形容词 “vulnerable” 还可以用来表示 “身体上是容易受到伤害的”。

Georgie
It can be used on its own, or in the structure 'vulnerable to' plus the potential threat.

Jiaying
没错。“Be vulnerable to something（易受到…的伤害）”。这里，“something” 要换成表示 “潜在威胁” 的词语。来听两个例句。

Examples
Deforestation has made many endangered animals vulnerable to extinction.
（森林砍伐使许多濒危动物走向灭绝。）

Surrounded by lions, with no trees for cover, the deer were in a vulnerable position.
（被狮子包围，也没有树木作掩护，这只鹿的处境很危险。）

Jiaying
最后，我们讲一讲形容词 “fragile”。“Fragile” 可以表示 “物体是容易破碎的或被损坏的”。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
没错，形容词 “fragile” 有一个引申而来的含义，那就是 “一个人在情绪上是脆弱的”。请听例句。

Example
She was in a fragile emotional state after her dog died. She couldn't stop crying.
（她的狗死后，她的情绪很脆弱，哭个不停。）

Jiaying
好了，我们来总结一下：“weak” 是四个形容词当中最常见的一个，也是用法最广泛的一个，它表示 “身体虚弱的；软弱的；无力的”。形容词 “feeble” 的意思与 “weak” 非常相近，但表示的 “弱” 的程度更深。“Vulnerable” 的意思是 “脆弱的；易受到伤害的”。最后，“fragile” 常用来表示 “物体是容易破碎的或损坏的”，它还可以描述 “一个人在情绪上是脆弱的”。

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
你也可以通过微博私信的方式把问题发送给我们，我们的微博账号是 “BBC英语教学”。Bye, everyone!

Georgie
Bye.