"be sensitive to"是一个常用的英语短语,字面直译是“对……敏感”,但实际用法更丰富,可引申为“易受……影响;对……体贴/体谅;对……反应敏锐”。
该短语中,"to"是介词,后接名词、代词或动名词(doing),具体用法可分为以下几类:
指身体或感官对某种外界因素(如食物、药物、温度、过敏原等)反应强烈或易产生不适。
Some people are sensitive to peanuts and can get severe allergies.
有些人对花生敏感,会出现严重过敏反应。
My skin is sensitive to strong sunlight—It burns easily.
我的皮肤对强烈阳光敏感,很容易晒伤。
指心理上对他人的评价、态度或情绪反应强烈(常含“在意、易受伤”的意味)。
She's sensitive to criticism—even a little comment can make her sad.
她对批评很敏感,哪怕一点小意见都会让她难过。
Kids are often sensitive to how their peers perceive them.
孩子通常很在意同龄人对他们的看法。
指对环境、形势或需求的变化察觉迅速,或易受其影响。
The stock market is sensitive to changes in interest rates.
股市对利率变化很敏感(反应迅速)。
Good teachers are sensitive to their students' learning needs.
好老师能敏锐察觉学生的学习需求。
指善于理解并照顾他人的情绪,不轻易冒犯。
He's very sensitive to his grandma's loneliness—He visits her every week.
他很体谅奶奶的孤独,每周都去看望她。
A good friend should be sensitive to your feelings when you're upset.
好朋友在你难过时应该体贴你的情绪。
be sensitive to:强调“对外部因素的敏感/反应”(如事物、他人的情绪、变化等);
be sensitive about:强调“对自身相关的事在意/敏感(涉及自尊或隐私)”。
例:
She's sensitive to others' moods.(她对别人的情绪很敏感)
She's sensitive about her weight.(她对自己的体重很在意)
"be sensitive to"的核心是“对……有反应/在意”,具体含义需结合语境判断——可以是生理上的“敏感”、心理上的“在意”、对变化的“敏锐”,或对他人的“体贴”。掌握其介词属性(后接名词/doing)和不同语境下的用法,就能灵活运用啦!