该短语的结构为 “be economical of + 名词”,其中 of 后的名词是“被节省/节约的对象”(通常是可数或不可数的资源类名词)。
常与 be economical of 搭配的名词包括:
时间:time
金钱:money, budget
精力:energy, effort
资源:resources, materials
空间:space
1、 节省时间:
He is economical of his time and always finishes tasks efficiently.
(他节省时间,总是高效完成任务。)
2、 节约金钱:
To save for the trip, we need to be economical of our monthly expenses.
(为了攒钱旅行,我们需要节约每月开支。)
3、 合理利用资源:
The company is economical of raw materials to reduce production costs.
(公司节约原材料以降低生产成本。)
4、 节省精力:
She’s economical of her energy and only takes on important projects.
(她节省精力,只承担重要项目。)
注意与 be economical with 区分:
be economical with + 名词:意为 “对…有所保留;隐瞒”(尤其用于 be economical with the truth 这一固定表达,指“隐瞒真相”)。
例:The politician was accused of being economical with the truth.
(这位政客被指控隐瞒真相。)
总结:be economical of 是“节约某资源”的正式表达,核心是“减少浪费、合理利用”,后接被节约的对象(名词)。