“不约而同”常见的英文表达有 “happen to coincide”、“coincide without prior arrangement” 或更简洁的 “by common consent” 或 “spontaneously”(根据语境调整),具体取决于想要强调的侧重点:
1、 Happen to coincide
强调“偶然一致”或“意外相同”,适用于描述偶然发生的巧合。
例句: They all happened to coincide in their choice of restaurant. (他们不约而同地选择了同一家餐厅。)
2、 Coincide without prior arrangement
更直接地对应“不约而同”,强调“没有事先商量却达成一致”。
例句: The team members coincided without prior arrangement on the project deadline. (团队成员对项目截止日期不约而同地达成了一致。)
3、 By common consent
侧重“全体一致同意”,隐含“无需讨论”的意味,适用于正式或书面语境。
例句: By common consent, the meeting was postponed. (大家不约而同地同意推迟会议。)
4、 Spontaneously
强调“自然发生、无计划性”,适用于描述行动或反应的同步性。
例句: The audience spontaneously applauded at the end of the performance. (表演结束时,观众不约而同地鼓起掌来。)
选择建议:若强调“偶然性”,用 happen to coincide;
若强调“无事先商量的一致”,用 coincide without prior arrangement;
若强调“全体一致”,用 by common consent;
若强调“自然同步的反应”,用 spontaneously。
根据具体语境灵活选用即可。