该短语源于动词etch([动词] 蚀刻、雕刻;[比喻] 使……深刻印入),被动结构"be etched with sth."的含义分为字面义和比喻义:
表示“(物体表面)被蚀刻/雕刻有……”(强调用尖锐工具或化学方法留下的永久性痕迹)。
例:
The metal plate was etched with the company’s logo.(金属牌上蚀刻着公司的logo。)
Ancient runes were etched with a knife into the stone.(古人用刀在石头上刻下了符文。)
表示“(面部、心灵、记忆等)深印着/明显流露出/刻满(某种情感、痕迹或经历)”,强调印象深刻、难以磨灭(如同“蚀刻”般持久)。
例:
Her face was etched with lines of exhaustion after working 12 hours.(工作12小时后,她的脸上刻满了疲惫的纹路。)
His voice was etched with sadness when he spoke of his late wife.(谈起已故的妻子时,他的声音里满是悲伤。)
具体事物:多为有表面的物体(如face/face features(面部特征)、hands(手)、stone(石头)、metal(金属)等);
抽象事物:多为承载情感/记忆的载体(如memory(记忆)、soul(灵魂)、voice(声音)等)。
痕迹类:lines(纹路)、scars(伤疤)、runes(符文)、graffiti(涂鸦)等;
情感类:worry(忧虑)、sadness(悲伤)、pain(痛苦)、fear(恐惧)等;
经历类:years of hard work(多年劳作)、memories of war(战争记忆)等。
强调持久性、深刻性——相比"be marked with"(有……痕迹),"be etched with"更突出“痕迹/情感难以抹去”(如同蚀刻的深度)。
1、 面部表情:
The old man’s face was etched with the wisdom of a lifetime.(老人的脸上刻满了一生的智慧。)
Even in the photo, her eyes were etched with disappointment.(即使在照片里,她的眼睛也流露出失望。)
2、 身体痕迹:
His palms were etched with calluses from years of playing guitar.(他的手掌因多年弹吉他长满了老茧。)
3、 抽象情感/记忆:
That terrible night was etched with fear in her mind forever.(那个可怕的夜晚永远让她的脑海里充满恐惧。)
The song is etched with nostalgia for his childhood.(这首歌满是对童年的怀念。)
be marked with:强调“有……标记/痕迹”(较浅、临时);
例:Her shirt was marked with coffee stains.(她的衬衫沾了咖啡渍。)
be etched with:强调“深刻、持久的印记/情感”(如同“刻入”);
例:Her face was etched with grief after losing her child.(失去孩子后,她的脸上刻满了悲痛。)
简言之,"be etched with sth."的核心是“深刻的印记”——无论是物体表面的蚀刻,还是心灵/面部的情感流露,都突出“难以磨灭”的特质。