“by birth”是一个常用的英语短语,核心含义围绕“天生/生来的属性”“血统/出身”或“因出生而获得的身份”,强调某种特征是“与生俱来”而非后天获得的。
主要表示:
1、 按血统/出身(如国籍、家族地位、种族等);
2、 天生/本能(如特质、能力等);
3、 偶尔可表示“出生地”(但更偏向“身份认同”而非单纯地理位置)。
用于说明某人的“天生身份”(如国籍、皇室血统、家族背景),即使后天环境改变,该身份依然存在。
She is French by birth, but she has lived in Japan for 20 years.(她血统上是法国人,但已在日本生活20年。)
He is a prince by birth—his father is the king.(他生来就是王子——他父亲是国王。)
Though raised in the US, I’m Chinese by birth.(虽然在美国长大,但我论出身是中国人。)
强调某种品质、天赋是“与生俱来”,而非后天学习的。
Some people have a gift for language by birth.(有些人天生有语言天赋。)
He’s a leader by birth—everyone follows him naturally.(他天生是领导者——大家自然会追随他。)
Her sense of rhythm is something she has by birth, not from lessons.(她的节奏感是天生的,不是学来的。)
此时更侧重“因出生而关联的身份”,而非单纯“在哪里出生”(若仅强调“出生的地点”,更常用“be born in/at”)。
London is her home by birth.(伦敦是她出生的家乡。)
By birth, he’s a New Yorker, but he considers Paris his home now.(论出生他是纽约人,但现在把巴黎当作家乡。)
by birth vs. at birth:
“by birth”强调“天生的属性/身份”;
“at birth”强调“在出生的时刻”(时间点),侧重当时的状态。
例:
She was deaf at birth.(她出生时就耳聋。)(强调“出生那一刻的状态”)
She is deaf by birth.(她天生耳聋。)(强调“与生俱来的属性”)
by birth vs. by birthright:
“by birth”更宽泛,可指任何天生属性;
“by birthright”特指“生来就有的权利”(如继承权、公民权)。
例:
He is a citizen by birth.(他生来就是公民。)
He has the right to the property by birthright.(他凭与生俱来的权利拥有这笔财产。)
be + 身份/国籍 + by birth(表示“生来是…身份/国籍”):
She is Italian by birth.(她生来是意大利人。)
have + 特质 + by birth(表示“天生有…特质”):
He has courage by birth.(他天生勇敢。)
a + 职业/身份 + by birth(表示“天生的…(职业/身份)”):
She’s a storyteller by birth.(她是天生的讲故事的人。)
总之,“by birth”的核心是“与生俱来”,无论是身份、血统还是天赋,都强调“非后天塑造”的属性。理解这一点,就能灵活运用啦!