2019.1.20每日一词:prone
字典解释
“prone”是个形容词,表示“易于…的” “很可能…的”,也就是说它经常可以用来替换 likely, inclined 等表示“有…可能/倾向”的词,是个在口语和写作中都高频实用的表达。
例句
prone 最常见的用法是 be prone to,后面常接有负向意义的名词或者动词。比如日本地形独特,是一个经常遭受地震或台风的国家,我们就可以说:
Japan is prone to earthquakes and typhoons.(be prone to + n.)
或
Japan is prone to suffer earthquakes and typhoons.(be prone to + v.)
许多人在接受测试的时候都容易紧张不安,我们就可以说:
Most people are prone to anxiety during a test.
《经济学人》中也曾出现过相关用法:
But in China and India, young woman have been usually prone to suicide.
prone 的另一个常见用法是与名词连用构成形容词,表示“易受…影响的”,和 be prone to 可以替换使用。比如像美式橄榄球、冰球等对抗性运动的球员往往很容易受伤,我们就可以说:
American football and ice hockey players are prone to injury
或
AMexican football and ice hockey players are injury-prone.
这样-prone的用法可以让表达更加简洁,灵活,比如关于日本的例句:
Japan is earthquake- and typhoon-prone(注意这里连字符的用法:earthquake- and typhoon-prone 等于 earthquake-prone and typhoon-prone)
翻译练习
Over-weight groups are prone to high blood pressure and high blood sugar.
参考翻译:
Overweight people are prone to high blood pressure and high blood sugar
或
People with excess weight are prone to develop high blood pressure and elevated blood sugar.