“in terms of”是英语中高频实用短语,核心含义是“就……而言/来说”“在……方面”“从……角度看”,用于限定讨论的维度或视角,将话题聚焦于某个具体方面(如数量、质量、成本、时间、角度等)。
英文释义:used to describe something in relation to a particular aspect, factor, or standard
中文解释:用于从某个特定维度/角度解释、评估或描述事物,强调“基于……的视角”。
“in terms of”是介词短语,后接名词、代词或动名词(因为“of”是介词,需接名词性成分)。
描述事物的属性/特征(如大小、数量、质量、成本等):
The new phone is excellent in terms of battery life.(这款新手机在电池续航方面很棒。)
The project failed in terms of cost control.(这个项目在成本控制方面失败了。)
限定讨论的角度(如经验、逻辑、情感等):
I think we should choose this option in terms of long-term benefits.(我认为从长期利益来看,我们应该选这个方案。)
She's very mature in terms of emotional intelligence.(她在情商方面非常成熟。)
对比或转折(先肯定某方面,再转折其他方面):
The apartment is perfect in terms of location, but it's too expensive.(这套公寓在位置方面很完美,但太贵了。)
动名词作宾语(强调“在做某事的方面”):
We need to improve in terms of communicating with customers.(我们需要在与客户沟通方面改进。)
in regard to / with respect to:更正式,侧重“关于……”(强调“涉及”);
as for:更口语,侧重“至于……”(转移话题);
when it comes to:更自然,侧重“当提到……时”(引出具体话题)。
例:
In terms of salary, this job is better than the last one.(就薪资而言,这份工作比上一份好。)
With respect to salary, we can negotiate later.(关于薪资,我们可以之后协商。)
As for salary, I don't care much.(至于薪资,我不太在意。)
1、 避免冗余:不要用“in terms of”代替简单的介词(如“about”“for”),否则会显得啰嗦。
✖️ I'm talking in terms of the meeting tomorrow.(啰嗦)
✔️ I'm talking about the meeting tomorrow.(简洁)
2、 后接名词性成分:不能接从句或完整句子(需将从句转化为名词性结构)。
✖️ In terms of how I feel, I'm happy.(错误,“how I feel”是从句)
✔️ In terms of my feelings, I'm happy.(正确,“my feelings”是名词)
工作场景:The new policy is effective in terms of reducing overtime.(新政策在减少加班方面很有效。)
生活场景:This restaurant is great in terms of food quality, but the service is slow.(这家餐厅在食物质量方面很棒,但服务很慢。)
学术场景:The study analyzes children's growth in terms of cognitive development.(这项研究从认知发展的角度分析儿童的成长。)
简言之,“in terms of”是“聚焦讨论维度”的工具,用它可以清晰地告诉对方:“我现在要从XX方面讲这件事”。掌握它的关键是明确“讨论的维度”,并确保后接名词性成分~