內容簡介
一位聽眾來信詢問近義詞 “weak、fragile、feeble、vulnerable” 的區別。主持人 Georgie 和佳瑩在節目中首先講解 “weak” 的用法，因為它的用法最多；接著逐一對比其它三個單詞和 “weak” 之間的相同和不同之處；最後總結這組近義詞的用法。
文字稿
（關於臺詞的備註: 請註意這不是廣播節目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能沒有體現錄制、編輯過程中對節目做出的改變。）
Jiaying
大傢好，歡迎收聽 AYYBLOG英語教學的 “你問我答” 節目。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
你要搬傢瞭，得把大大小小的盤子、玻璃杯都打包起來。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
在問題中的四個形容詞中，“weak” 是最常見、用法最為廣泛的一個。在形容人的時候，它可以用來描述 “一個人的體質是虛弱的”。比如，你剛剛說你搬不動箱子，是因為你 “身體虛弱”。另外，“weak” 在形容 “一個人是虛弱的” 時候，也可以表示 “因生病或勞累而暫時感到沒勁的、無力的”。
Georgie
For example, I felt weak from the flu a few weeks ago, so I decided to stay in bed.
Jiaying
是的。除瞭 “身體上是虛弱的” 以外，“weak” 還可以表示 “意志薄弱的，怯懦的”。 來聽一個例句。
Example
Admitting his fears made him feel weak, but also relieved.
（承認內心的恐懼讓他感到自己很軟弱，但也如釋重負。）
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（薄弱的領導能力）”；“a weak defence（比如說，足球隊中薄弱的防守）”。來聽兩個使用瞭 “weak” 形容事物或抽象概念的例句。
Examples
The bridge collapsed because the structure was weak.
（橋塌瞭，因為結構不牢固。）
He had a weak understanding of maths, so decided to get extra lessons before the exams.
（他對數學的理解很薄弱，所以決定在考試前補課。）
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” 強調 “一個人的身體是極為虛弱的或者明顯非常虛弱的”，比 “weak” 表達的 “虛弱” 程度要更深。因此，人們常用 “feeble” 來談論 “老年人的身體狀況是非常虛弱的”。請聽例句。
Example
The feeble old man needed frequent care visits from his family.
（這位虛弱的老人需要傢人經常來照料。）
Jiaying
此外，“feeble” 和 “weak” 都可以用來形容抽象名詞，意思是 “無力的，無效的”。
Georgie
You can say ‘a feeble excuse’.
Jiaying
一個牽強的借口。
Georgie
Or ‘a feeble attempt’.
Jiaying
一次無效的嘗試。我們再來聽兩個例句。
Examples
She made a feeble excuse for why she was late. I’m not happy about it.
（她為自己遲到找瞭個站不住腳的借口。對此，我很不高興。）
The dog made a feeble attempt to jump on the sofa, and failed miserably.
（這隻狗本想跳到沙發上，卻沒跳上去，很是狼狽。）
Jiaying
下面，再來說說 “vulnerable”。形容詞 “vulnerable” 可以用來描述 “感情上敏感或脆弱的”。比如，當你身處一個新的環境中時，或者當你聽到一個壞消息之後，就可能會有這種 “vulnerable” 的感覺。來聽兩個例句。
Examples
Dad felt emotionally vulnerable after the divorce because everything in his life was changing.
（爸爸在離婚後內心很脆弱，因為他生活中的一切都發生瞭變化。）
Sarah felt vulnerable on stage as she stood there, alone, with everyone watching.
（在眾人的註視下，莎拉獨自一人站在臺上，感到十分脆弱。）
Jiaying
形容詞 “vulnerable” 還可以用來表示 “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
沒錯。“Be vulnerable to something（易受到…的傷害）”。這裡，“something” 要換成表示 “潛在威脅” 的詞語。來聽兩個例句。
Examples
Deforestation has made many endangered animals vulnerable to extinction.
（森林砍伐使許多瀕危動物走向滅絕。）
Surrounded by lions, with no trees for cover, the deer were in a vulnerable position.
（被獅子包圍，也沒有樹木作掩護，這隻鹿的處境很危險。）
Jiaying
最後，我們講一講形容詞 “fragile”。“Fragile” 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
沒錯，形容詞 “fragile” 有一個引申而來的含義，那就是 “一個人在情緒上是脆弱的”。請聽例句。
Example
She was in a fragile emotional state after her dog died. She couldn’t stop crying.
（她的狗死後，她的情緒很脆弱，哭個不停。）
Jiaying
好瞭，我們來總結一下：“weak” 是四個形容詞當中最常見的一個，也是用法最廣泛的一個，它表示 “身體虛弱的；軟弱的；無力的”。形容詞 “feeble” 的意思與 “weak” 非常相近，但表示的 “弱” 的程度更深。“Vulnerable” 的意思是 “脆弱的；易受到傷害的”。最後，“fragile” 常用來表示 “物體是容易破碎的或損壞的”，它還可以描述 “一個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.
Jiaying
你也可以通過微博私信的方式把問題發送給我們，我們的微博賬號是 “AYYBLOG英語教學”。Bye, everyone!
Georgie
Bye.
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