"vulnerable" 本身是形容词,强调“脆弱的、易受损害的”状态;介词 "to" 引出“造成伤害/影响的对象”。
主语(人/物) + be动词(am/is/are/was/were) + vulnerable to + 名词/动名词(因为 "to" 是介词,后接名词性成分)。
该短语可用于健康、技术、情感、社会等多个语境,以下是典型例子:
健康领域(易受疾病/伤害):
Children are vulnerable to respiratory infections.(儿童易患呼吸道感染。)
People with weak immune systems are more vulnerable to viruses.(免疫系统弱的人更易受病毒侵袭。)
技术/安全领域(易受攻击/漏洞):
Outdated operating systems are vulnerable to cyberattacks.(过时的操作系统易受网络攻击。)
The app’s weak encryption makes it vulnerable to data breaches.(这款应用的加密薄弱,容易泄露数据。)
情感/心理领域(易受情绪/外界影响):
After losing her job, she was vulnerable to depression.(失业后,她容易陷入抑郁。)
He’s vulnerable to flattery—just praise him, and he’ll agree to anything.(他易受奉承影响——只要夸他,他什么都答应。)
社会/经济领域(易受环境/政策影响):
Low-income households are vulnerable to rising food prices.(低收入家庭易受食品价格上涨的冲击。)
Small businesses are particularly vulnerable to economic recessions.(小企业尤其容易受经济衰退影响。)
若“伤害/影响”是动作,需用动名词(因为 "to" 是介词):
She’s vulnerable to being manipulated by others.(她易被他人操控。)
The tree is vulnerable to being damaged by strong winds.(这棵树易被强风损坏。)
反义词:be immune to sth.(对……免疫/不受影响);
近义词:be susceptible to sth.(易受……影响,更强调“敏感”)、be prone to sth.(有……倾向,更强调“习惯性”)。
"be vulnerable to sth." 是一个高频实用短语,核心是描述“主语的脆弱性”,适用于各种需要强调“易受影响”的场景。记住介词 "to" 后接名词/动名词,结合具体语境选择搭配即可。
例如:
As a new driver, you’re vulnerable to making mistakes on the road.(作为新司机,你容易在路上犯错。)
The coastal city is vulnerable to hurricanes during the summer.(这座沿海城市夏季易受飓风袭击。)