"commit suicide"是英语中表示“自杀”的标准短语,强调主动实施结束自己生命的行为。
"commit"是及物动词(需接宾语),"suicide"是宾语,因此短语本身是“动词+名词”的动宾结构,直接表达“实施自杀”的动作。
主语通常是自杀者本人(人作主语)。
若要说明自杀的具体方式,需用介词by引出手段/工具,结构为:
例如:
She committed suicide by taking an overdose (服药过量).
He tried to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge (跳桥).
The victim committed suicide by hanging himself (上吊).
常用主动语态(自杀是主动行为,极少用被动);
可用于各种时态(根据语境调整"commit"的形式):
过去时:He committed suicide last year.(他去年自杀了。)
现在完成时:She has never committed suicide, but she has had thoughts of it.(她从未自杀,但有过念头。)
将来时/虚拟:If he loses his job, he might commit suicide.(如果失业,他可能会自杀。)
"commit suicide"是正式/中性表达,口语或更委婉的场合也可替换为:
take one's own life(更书面,强调“结束自己生命”);
kill oneself(更直白,口语化)。
1、 "commit"的语义色彩:
"commit"本身有“做(不道德/非法/严重的事)”的隐含意味(如"commit a crime"犯罪、"commit murder"谋杀),因此"commit suicide"客观描述行为,但不带有情感判断(新闻报道、法律文本中常用)。
2、 避免误用:
不能说"commit a suicide"(suicide是不可数名词,除非指“一次自杀事件”时可加a,但日常几乎不用);
不能说"commit to suicide"("commit to"是“致力于/承诺”,与"suicide"搭配错误)。
新闻语境:The celebrity committed suicide at his home, according to police.(警方称,该名人在家中自杀。)
日常对话:I heard that her brother tried to commit suicide after his breakup.(我听说她哥哥分手后试图自杀。)
心理讨论:People with depression are more likely to commit suicide if they don't get treatment.(抑郁症患者若不治疗,自杀风险更高。)
总结:"commit suicide"是表达“自杀”的标准、正式短语,重点在于主动实施的动作,搭配"by"可补充方式,适用于各类正式或中性语境。