“四面八方”常见的英文表达是 “in all directions” 或 “from all directions”,也可用 “from every quarter”(较为正式或文学化) 、“all around” 等表述。具体如下:
in all directions:强调向各个不同的方向,侧重于描述事物向四周分散或扩散的状态。
例句:People were running in all directions when the fire broke out.(火灾发生时,人们向四面八方跑去。 )
from all directions:侧重于表示来自各个不同方向的事物或人汇聚到一起。
例句:Cars were coming from all directions at the busy intersection.(在繁忙的十字路口,汽车从四面八方驶来。 )
from every quarter: “quarter”有“方向;区域”的意思,“from every quarter”较为正式或文学化,常用于书面语或较为正式的场合。
例句:News of the disaster spread from every quarter.(灾难的消息从四面八方传来。 )
all around:比较口语化、简洁,常用于描述周围各个方向的情况。
例句:We could hear the music playing all around.(我们可以听到音乐从四面八方传来。 )