"ease anxiety about sth." 直译为“缓解/减轻对某事的焦虑/担忧”,是描述“降低因某件不确定或压力事件引发的不安情绪”的常用短语。
该短语由三部分构成,需结合逻辑理解其功能:
1、 ease(动词):核心动作,意为“减轻;缓解;使(痛苦/压力)变轻”(to make something less severe/painful);
2、 anxiety(名词):动作的对象,指“焦虑、担忧”(a feeling of unease about an uncertain outcome);
3、 about sth.(介词短语):修饰“anxiety”,明确“焦虑的具体内容”(即“关于某事的焦虑”)。
该短语是及物动词短语,通常用于“主语(缓解焦虑的主体) + ease + anxiety about sth.(宾语:对某事的焦虑)”结构,主语可以是人、物、行为等能产生“缓解效果”的对象。以下是常见场景示例:
Talking to a friend can ease anxiety about the upcoming presentation.
(和朋友聊天能缓解对即将到来的演讲的焦虑。)
Practicing deep breathing exercises eases anxiety about flying.
(练习深呼吸能缓解对坐飞机的焦虑。)
A warm bath often eases anxiety about a stressful day at work.
(泡个热水澡常能缓解工作压力带来的焦虑。)
Listening to soft music eases my anxiety about sleeping alone.
(听轻音乐能缓解我对独自睡觉的焦虑。)
My mom’s advice eased my anxiety about starting college.
(妈妈的建议缓解了我对上大学的焦虑。)
A therapist can help ease anxiety about relationship problems.
(心理咨询师能帮助缓解对人际关系问题的焦虑。)
Anxiety about the job interview was eased by reviewing my resume.
(对求职面试的焦虑通过复习简历得到了缓解。)
介词搭配:通常用about引出焦虑的对象,较正式的语境中也可用over(如“ease anxiety over financial issues” 缓解对财务问题的焦虑);
同义词替换:可与“relieve anxiety about sth.”互换(relieve更强调“减轻负担”,ease更侧重“逐渐放松”);
常见语境:多用于讨论“心理健康、压力管理”(如应对考试、求职、健康问题等的焦虑)。
总结:"ease anxiety about sth." 是表达“针对性缓解焦虑”的实用短语,重点在于明确“焦虑的对象(about sth.)”和“缓解的主体(主语)”,适用于日常交流或正式写作中描述“情绪调节”的场景。