"weigh down"是一个及物动词短语,核心含义是“使沉重、压垮;给…带来负担”,可用于物理层面(实际的重量压迫)或抽象层面(精神/情感的负担)。以下是具体解释和用法:
1、 物理层面:使(人/物)因重量过重而难以移动、支撑或保持原有状态;
2、 抽象层面:使(心情、精神)沉重压抑,或给(人/事)增加不必要的负担。
强调“实际重量导致行动困难或变形”,常见搭配:重物 + weigh down + 受压迫的对象。
The heavy suitcase weighed me down as I climbed the stairs.(爬楼梯时,沉重的行李箱压得我走不动。)
The snow weighed down the tree branches until they bent.(雪压得树枝弯了下来。)
强调“负面情绪或责任导致心情压抑、压力大”,常见主语:worries(烦恼)、stress(压力)、responsibilities(责任)、grief(悲伤)等。
Financial troubles have been weighing her down for years.(经济问题多年来一直让她心情沉重。)
The guilt of lying weighed him down every day.(说谎的愧疚感每天都压得他喘不过气。)
表示“用…压住/加重…(防止移动或增加负担)”,既可用物理义,也可用抽象义。
She weighed down the tent with rocks to keep it from blowing away.(她用石头压住帐篷以防被风吹走。)
Don’t weigh down your essay with too many quotes—keep it concise.(别用太多引语让文章变得冗长,要简洁。)
强调“被…压垮/负担”,更突出被动承受的状态。
Many workers are weighed down by long hours and low pay.(很多工人被长时间工作和低薪压得喘不过气。)
The old bookshelf was weighed down with dusty novels.(旧书架被满是灰尘的小说压得沉甸甸的。)
及物属性:"weigh down"必须接宾语(被动语态除外),不能单独使用(如不能说The bag weighed down.,需说The bag weighed me down.);
搭配习惯:抽象用法常与负面词汇搭配,物理用法常与“重物、湿物、堆积物”等搭配;
近义词区分:
"weigh on":更强调“使焦虑、困扰”(如Guilt weighs on my mind. 愧疚困扰着我);
"weigh down":更强调“压得难以行动或心情沉重”(如Guilt weighs me down. 愧疚压得我喘不过气)。
总结:"weigh down"的核心是“施加重量/负担导致负面结果”,无论是实际的重量还是精神的压力,都能通过这个短语准确表达。