“in difficulties”是一个常用的英语短语,核心含义是“处于困境(尤指财务、处境等方面的严重困难)”,强调“陷入难以解决的问题或麻烦中”。
“in difficulties”侧重描述“整体处境的困境”(如财务危机、事业瓶颈、生活难题等),而非“做某件具体事的困难”(后者更常用“in difficulty”)。
例如:
The restaurant has been in difficulties since the new mall opened nearby.(自从附近开了新商场,这家餐厅就陷入了困境。)
Many families fell in difficulties during the economic recession.(经济衰退期间,很多家庭陷入了困境。)
1、 常见搭配动词:
be in difficulties(处于困境):最基础的用法,描述当前状态。
例:The company is in difficulties due to rising costs.(公司因成本上升而陷入困境。)
get/fall into difficulties(陷入困境):强调“从无到有”的过程。
例:He got into difficulties after borrowing money from loan sharks.(他借了高利贷后陷入了困境。)
find oneself in difficulties(突然发现自己陷入困境):强调“意外或被动的处境”。
例:She found herself in difficulties when her passport was stolen abroad.(她在国外护照被盗后,突然发现自己陷入了困境。)
land in difficulties(陷入困境,口语化):类似“get into difficulties”。
例:His reckless spending landed him in difficulties.(他的乱花钱让他陷入了困境。)
2、 语境注意:
正式性:比口语化的“in trouble”更正式,常见于新闻报道、商务语境或书面语。
财务困境:最常用的场景(如公司、个人的资金问题),但也可扩展到其他严重困境(如法律问题、人际关系危机等)。
很多人会混淆“in difficulties”(复数)和“in difficulty”(单数),两者核心差异在于:
in difficulties:侧重“整体处境的多重/严重困难”(如财务崩溃、事业绝境);
in difficulty:侧重“做某件具体事的困难”(如解决问题、完成任务)。
例如:
She’s in difficulty with her math homework.(她做数学作业有困难。)→ 具体事的困难
She’s in difficulties since her husband lost his job.(自从丈夫失业后,她陷入了困境。)→ 整体处境的困难
1、 The small business is in difficulties and may have to close down.(这家小企业陷入困境,可能要倒闭。)
2、 If you don’t pay your bills on time, you’ll get into difficulties with the bank.(如果你不按时付账单,会和银行产生麻烦。)
3、 The project landed in difficulties when the main investor pulled out.(主要投资者撤资后,项目陷入了困境。)
4、 He found himself in difficulties when he couldn’t afford his rent.(他付不起房租时,突然发现自己陷入了困境。)
总结:“in difficulties”是描述“整体困境”的正式短语,核心在“处境艰难”,而非“具体任务的困难”,常用搭配如“be/get/find oneself in difficulties”。