今天介绍三组词,长得很像,意思有别。
Machine and machinery: machine是“机器”的意思,指某台机器,而machinery是“机器”的统称,是个集合名词。你可以说This machine was imported from the UK. 但是不能说This machinery was imported from the UK. 当你说The machinery in this factory is up-to-date. 是说这个厂所有的机器都是最新的,而不是单指某一台。
Weapon and weaponry:weapon是“武器”,指某一种武器,而weaponry是“武器”的统称。这一组的理解思路跟上一组一样。去年的阅兵式,中国展示了先进的武器库,这时,你需要说China showcased her sophisticated weaponry.
Citizen and citizenry:citizen是公民,指某一个公民,而citizenry是“全部公民”。当我们表达某人想安抚公民的情绪时,用soothe the citizenry是准确的,用citizen就不对了。
这三组词之所以被我挑出来,是我某天突然发现,当它们变成集合名词的时候,都是在尾巴上加ry。朋友们如果发现还有其他的类似词,请给我留言。
本文发出之后,果然有朋友进行了补充,这里一并列入:
Image, imagery
Image 和Imagery的中文意思是“意象”,image是单个意象,imagery是多个意象、一组意象。
看这个例子:(出自Robert Frost的诗My November Guest)
“My Sorrow, when she’s here with me,Thinks these dark days of autumn rainAre beautiful as days can be;She loves the bare, the withered tree;She walked the sodden pasture lane.”
诗中, dark days, the bare, withered tree和 sodden pasture 一起构成了一组意象来展示my sorrow
Poem, poetry
二者的意思都是“诗”,区别在于poem是一篇篇具体的诗作,而poetry是集合意义上、抽象意义上的“诗;诗集”。如,This is a love poem. (这是一首爱情诗,即具体一首诗)He is famous for his love poetry. (他以爱情诗出名。即,他写过不止一首爱情诗)
Scene, scenery
A 'scene' is a view in which something happens.A 'scenery' is a landscape, a view of nature. A general appearance of a place
可见,scene虽然也表示“景”,但更多是“场景、情景、场面、现场、镜头”等等,比如说犯罪现场crime scene, 事发现场accident scene,欢乐的场面scene of joy,痛苦的场面distressing scene,爱情戏love scene
而scenery才是指风景;景色
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