“渴望”常见的英文表达有 yearn、long for、crave、desire 等,具体使用哪个词取决于语境和表达习惯:
yearn:较为正式,强调内心深处强烈而持久的渴望,常带有一种情感上的向往或憧憬,常与 for 或 to do sth. 搭配。例如:
She yearns for a simpler life.(她渴望过一种更简单的生活。)
They yearn to return to their hometown.(他们渴望回到家乡。)
long for:日常口语和书面语中都常用,侧重于表达对某人或某物急切、热切的渴望,常与 someone/something 搭配。例如:
I've been longing for a holiday for months.(几个月来我一直渴望有个假期。)
Children often long for the love and care of their parents.(孩子们常常渴望得到父母的爱和关心。)
crave:语气比 long for 稍强,强调一种强烈的、难以抑制的渴望,通常用于对食物、情感、体验等具体事物的渴望,常与 something 搭配。例如:
After a long day at work, I crave a hot bath.(工作了一整天后,我渴望泡个热水澡。)
Some smokers crave cigarettes even after they quit.(有些吸烟者即使戒烟后仍渴望香烟。)
desire:较为正式和书面,既可以作动词也可以作名词,作动词时强调对某事有强烈的愿望或欲望,常与 to do sth. 或 something 搭配;作名词时表示“渴望;欲望”。例如:
He desires to be a successful writer.(他渴望成为一名成功的作家。)
She has a strong desire for knowledge.(她有强烈的求知欲。)