"be vulnerable to" 核心表示“易受……伤害/影响/攻击;对……敏感;易患(疾病)”。
其中,vulnerable 本身是形容词,意为“脆弱的、易受伤害的”;to 是介词,后接名词、代词或动名词(不可接动词原形)。
结构:主语 + be动词 + vulnerable + to + 名词/动名词
主语通常是人、物、系统、组织、生态等,后面接的是“可能造成伤害/负面影响的事物”。
1、 健康领域(易患疾病、感染)
People with diabetes are vulnerable to foot infections.(糖尿病患者易患足部感染。)
The elderly are more vulnerable to respiratory illnesses like the flu.(老年人更易患流感等呼吸道疾病。)
2、 安全/技术领域(易受攻击、漏洞影响)
Outdated operating systems are vulnerable to cyberattacks.(过时的操作系统易受网络攻击。)
The company’s database is vulnerable to being hacked.(该公司的数据库易被黑客入侵。)
3、 心理/情感领域(易受负面情绪、批评影响)
After losing her job, she felt vulnerable to anxiety and self-doubt.(失业后,她易感到焦虑和自我怀疑。)
Children who are bullied may become vulnerable to low self-esteem.(被欺负的孩子可能易产生自卑心理。)
4、 环境/社会领域(易受外部变化影响)
Coral reefs are vulnerable to ocean acidification.(珊瑚礁易受海洋酸化影响。)
Low-income households are vulnerable to rising food prices.(低收入家庭易受食品价格上涨影响。)
介词to≠不定式to:后面接动词时,需用动名词(doing),而非动词原形。
❌ 错误:She is vulnerable to get hurt.
✅ 正确:She is vulnerable to getting hurt.(她易受伤害。)
be susceptible to:与"be vulnerable to"含义接近,但更强调“易被影响/感染”(中性或轻微负面),而"vulnerable"更侧重“易受伤害/损害”(强负面)。
例:
He is susceptible to flattery.(他易被奉承影响。)(中性)
He is vulnerable to physical abuse.(他易受身体虐待。)(强负面)
综上,"be vulnerable to"是描述“脆弱性”的高频短语,适用于健康、安全、心理、环境等多种场景,关键是要准确搭配“伤害源”(名词/动名词)。