"be cautious of" 是英语中常用的形容词短语,字面意为“对……保持谨慎/小心”,更贴合语境的翻译是“提防……”“小心……(以防风险/危害)”。
它强调对某人、某事或某种行为可能存在的潜在风险、危险或负面结果保持警惕,避免因疏忽而受损。
该短语的结构为:主语 + be动词(am/is/are/was/were) + cautious + of + 宾语
其中,“of”是介词,后面需接名词、代词或动名词(动词-ing形式)(即能作介词宾语的成分)。
You should be cautious of strangers when walking alone at night.
(晚上独自走路时,你应该提防陌生人。)
Parents always tell kids to be cautious of sharp objects like knives.
(父母总告诫孩子要小心刀这类尖锐物品。)
She is cautious of making mistakes in her final exam.
(她在期末考试中小心避免犯错。)
Investors are cautious of putting all their money into one project.
(投资者对把所有钱投入一个项目很谨慎。)
需注意与"be cautious to do"的区别:
"be cautious of doing":强调“对做某事的风险保持谨慎”(提防做某事的后果);
"be cautious to do":强调“谨慎地去做某事”(做某事时态度谨慎)。
例如:
He is cautious of saying the wrong thing in the meeting.
(他提防在会上说错话。)
He is cautious to say only what is necessary in the meeting.
(他在会上谨慎地只说必要的内容。)
"be cautious of" 可与以下短语互换(细微差别:"wary"更强调“警觉”,"careful"更泛化“小心”):
be wary of
be careful of/about
总结:"be cautious of" 是提醒他人防范风险的常用表达,核心是“对……保持警惕”,后接名词、代词或动名词,需结合语境理解具体的“谨慎对象”。