“垮台”常见的英文表达有 collapse、fall、come crashing down 或 be overthrown(侧重被推翻的情况),具体使用哪个词取决于语境:
Collapse:强调突然、完全的崩溃或瓦解,适用于描述结构、体系、企业或政权等突然失去支撑而倒塌。例如:
The government was on the verge of collapse.(政府濒临垮台。)
The company collapsed due to financial problems.(公司因财务问题而垮台。)
Fall:较为通用,可表示政权、组织等的垮台或衰落。例如:
The empire fell after years of war.(这个帝国在多年的战争后垮台了。)
Come crashing down:形象地表达突然、猛烈的垮台,带有强烈的戏剧性。例如:
Their dreams of success came crashing down.(他们成功的梦想突然垮台了。)
Be overthrown:侧重于被外部力量推翻,常用于描述政权、政府等被推翻。例如:
The dictatorship was overthrown in a popular uprising.(独裁政权在民众起义中被推翻。)