comfort, console, ease, soothe, relieve

這些動(dòng)詞均含有“給人以幫助以減輕痛苦或悲傷”之意。

1 comfort : 普通用詞,指用語(yǔ)言或行動(dòng)對(duì)痛苦者給予鼓勵(lì)、勇氣和力量,從而減輕其痛苦或悲傷,得到安慰。

The old lady often comforts those who are in trouble.(這位老婦人經(jīng)常安慰處于困境的人。)

2 console : 較正式用詞,側(cè)重緩和或減輕別人的痛苦或悲傷。

We tried to console her when her dog died.(她的狗死后, 我們盡力安慰她。)

3 ease : 正式用詞,指減輕身心的痛苦、不安和憂(yōu)慮。

The news that her child was safe eased her mind.(孩子平安的消息使她放心了。)

4 soothe : 著重以安慰減輕悲痛、憤怒或激動(dòng),使人理智地平靜下來(lái)。也可指藥物等減輕病痛。

I've managed to soothe him down a bit.(我想方設(shè)法使他平靜了一點(diǎn)。)

5 relieve : 指解除或緩解某人的病痛、擔(dān)心或憂(yōu)慮等,常用被動(dòng)態(tài)。

We were relieved to hear that she was out of danger.(聽(tīng)說(shuō)她脫險(xiǎn)了, 我們的心才放下來(lái)。)

更多學(xué)習(xí)內(nèi)容請(qǐng)看:英語(yǔ)專(zhuān)四常見(jiàn)詞辨析系列>>>