quiet

常用用法

quiet用作名詞的意思是“平靜”,用作動詞時意思是“使變得平靜”,引申表示“使緩解”“使減輕”。用作及物動詞時,接名詞、代詞作賓語,可用于被動結構。用作不及物動詞時,常與副詞down連用。

這組形容詞的共同意思是“安靜”“平靜”“寂靜”。其區(qū)別在于:
1.在修飾環(huán)境時各詞所指的狀態(tài)為:calm指風平浪靜; peaceful指沒有戰(zhàn)爭或騷亂; quiet指沒有吵鬧干擾; still指完全沒有聲音。例如:
The sea was calm yesterday.昨天海水是平靜的。
Countries should settle their disputes by peaceful means.各國應通過和平手段解決他們的爭端。
Differences among them could have been reconciled by them through peaceful consultations.他們中間的分歧本來可以由他們和平協(xié)商調解。
He had a bad headache and needed being quiet.他頭疼得厲害,需要安靜。
Everything was deadly still.萬籟俱寂。
2.在修飾人時:calm指人心平氣和,毫不激動; peaceful表示“安詳?shù)摹薄皽睾偷摹? quiet指性情溫和、安靜等,有時也指人的閑散或不活動; still指“一動不動”; silent側重“沉默”“不說話”,但不一定不動。例如:
The teacher is peaceful when the student appeared.當這個學生出現(xiàn)時,這個老師很溫和。
We should keep quiet in the hospital.在醫(yī)院里我們應該保持安靜。
His hands were never still.他的雙手一刻也不停。
We've been silent for too long. It's time to speak out.我們沉默得太久了,現(xiàn)在是大膽地發(fā)表意見的時候了。
She sat silent in her own room.她在自己的房間里一動不動地坐著。

這三個詞都可作“寂靜,平靜,清靜”解。其區(qū)別在于:quiet表示事物的狀態(tài)或氣氛; quietness指人或物所展示出來的一種品質; quietude則表示人的習慣。例如:
After a busy week in London, he looked forward to the peace and quiet of his country home.在倫敦忙碌了一周之后,他渴望鄉(xiāng)下家里寧靜的生活氛圍。
We were surprised at the quietness of his manner and gentleness of speech.我們?yōu)樗俏撵o的舉止和親切的話語而感到驚訝。
Quietude is out of fashion in these days.如今清靜不流行了。