Life is full of all kinds of problems, small and big: 人生充满了大大小小各种问题
Problem和Question有何不同?
Problem: 指含有难度、挑战,需要研究和解决的问题
Question: 指需要解释和答案的问题
不过说到人生的问题,两者皆有。关键看介词搭配:
Problems in life often refer to challenges and obstacles in life: 人生中的问题指的是挑战和挫折
Questions about life are about the meaning of life: 关于人生的问题指的是人生的意义
我们今天会聚焦“ problem”这类的单词。
1 Problem:问题、挑战
它是可数名词,所以要记得区分单复数: a problem和some problems, many problems.
但也可以说some problem, 表达问题的程度,不是数量。
高频动词搭配:
Have/having: 有问题
If you have any problem logging in, please let me know: 如果你登陆遇到问题,请告诉我
Run into: 遇到问题
We ran into some problems at the airport: 我们在机场遇到了点问题
Encounter: 遇到问题, 比run into更加正式
The company encountered a series of production problems last year: 公司去年遇到了一系列生产方面的问题
Experience: 遇到问题, 也是较为正式的表达
We are experiencing technical problems with our new product launch: 我们的新产品启动遇到了一些技术问题
高频形容词搭配:
Huge, big, small: 大小
Serious, severe: 严重
Unexpected: 意料之外的
Persistent, never-ending: 持续性的、不断的
高频名词词组:
Work problems: 工作上的问题
HR problems: 人事问题
Relationship problems: 恋人或夫妻间的问题
Health problems: 健康问题
Money problems: 财务问题
2. Issue: 问题、状况
Issue的意思和用法与problem很像。但是problem直指“问题”,比较容易引起负面反应;而issue则比较婉转,就像中文里说的“状况”。
动词搭配:
刚才一系列搭配problem的动词也都可以用于issue:
Having issues
Run into an issues
Experiencing issues
Encountering an issue
由于这个词比较婉转,所以常用于通知、公告中,寻求谅解,比如:
We are experiencing technical issues. We ask for your patience and understanding while we work diligently to fix the issues: 我们遇到技术问题,目前正在努力修复,敬请大家耐心、谅解
The flight was canceled due to weather issues: 航班由于天气状况被取消
We are having some issues in our marriage: 我们的婚姻遇到了一些状况
When a child has behavioral issues, we shouldn't label them as problem kids: 孩子有行为上的问题时,我们不应该给他们贴上“ 问题儿童”的标签
3. Trouble:问题、麻烦
与前面两个词相比,trouble暗示问题更加严重、有麻烦。但它是个更口语的词,所以不会用在书面文件里。
说到单复数,有一点值得注意:
Many troubles: 很多麻烦,表达数量
Much trouble: 麻烦很大,表达程度
She told me about her many troubles at work: 她跟我诉说了工作中遇到的各种问题.
I’m having so much trouble at work lately: 我最近工作上遇到很大的问题
还有容易混淆的是动词搭配:
Run into trouble: 遇到麻烦,责任不一定在你
Get into trouble: 给自己惹了麻烦,责任在你
It’s been a tough day. We ran into one trouble after another: 今天真不顺,接二连三遇到麻烦
I got into some trouble today. I was driving without my license: 我今天闯祸了,开车没带驾照
另一个常用的短语是Have trouble doing something.意思是做某件事有困难。比如:
Could you speak louder? I’m having trouble hearing you: 你能说大声一点儿吗?我听不见你在说什么
I forgot my glasses. I’m having trouble reading the menu: 我忘带眼镜了。所以看不清菜单
4. Difficulty: 困难
英语里也常用这个词来表达“问题”,这时候,它更多作为复数形式出现:
I’m having some difficulties with my boss lately: 我最近跟老板有点问题
We will face many difficulties in life: 我们一生中会面临各种逆境
但也可以说a lot of difficulty,来强调困难和问题的程度:
I’m having a lot of difficulty with this project: 我在这个项目里遇到很多困难
5. Hiccup: 原意是打噎。用来形容不顺、有阻碍、有停顿,是个很形象的比喻。但通常都是小问题,不严重
它是可数名词,单复数都可以。由于很口语,所以最常搭配的动词是have。
It was a great trip despite all the hiccups: 虽然有很多小问题,但总体是一次快乐的旅程
We are having some hiccups with the new process. But they shouldn’t affect things too much overall: 我们新流程遇到了一些问题,但整体上不会造成大影响
We had a small hiccup on the way. But we still made it on time: 我们路上遇到了小问题,但还是准时到达
It’s just a small hiccup. Don’t lose sleep over it: 只是一个小问题,别为此失眠
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