该短语的结构为 主语 + look down on + 宾语(sb./sth.),其中:
1、 主语:通常是“看不起他人/物的人”(多为有主观态度的个体或群体);
2、 宾语:可以是人(sb.)或事物(sth.),表示“被轻视的对象”;
3、 变体:有时会用 look down upon(和look down on完全同义,on/upon可互换)。
Don't look down on people who have less money than you.
(不要看不起比你穷的人。)
She looks down on anyone who didn't go to a top university.
(她看不起任何没上过顶尖大学的人。)
My boss always looks down on part-time workers.
(我的老板总是轻视兼职员工。)
Some young people look down on traditional festivals like the Spring Festival.
(有些年轻人看不起春节这样的传统节日。)
He looks down on fast food because he thinks it's unhealthy.
(他鄙视快餐,因为他觉得快餐不健康。)
Don't look down on small jobs—they can teach you a lot.
(别轻视小工作——它们能教你很多东西。)
区分字面义与引申义:
字面义:Look down from the balcony and you'll see the garden.(从阳台往下看,你会看到花园。)(无“轻视”含义,仅表示“向下看”)
引申义:She looks down on people who can't speak English.(她看不起不会说英语的人。)(核心是“轻视”)
否定形式:在前面加助动词否定(don't/doesn't/didn't look down on...),常用于劝诫:
Please don't look down on my dreams.(请不要看不起我的梦想。)
"look down on" 是表达“轻视、看不起”的高频短语,核心是主语对宾语的主观贬低,无论是对人还是对事,都强调“认为对方不如自己/不够好”的态度。使用时注意搭配宾语(人/物),并结合语境区分字面与引申义。