“repress”主要有“压制;抑制;镇压”的意思,在句中可作及物动词,用法较为灵活,可根据不同语境搭配不同宾语,表达对不同对象(如情感、起义、本能等)的压制或抑制行为。
压制;抑制:指有意识地、强行地控制住自己的某种情感、欲望、本能等,不让其表现出来。例如,他努力 repress 自己的愤怒,以免在会议上与同事发生冲突。(He tried to repress his anger so as not to have a conflict with his colleagues at the meeting.)
镇压:指政府或权威机构用武力、暴力等手段强行压制反对力量、起义、暴动等,以维持自己的统治或秩序。例如,政府派军队去镇压叛乱。(The government sent troops to repress the rebellion.)
及物动词:“repress”后面直接接宾语,表示对宾语进行压制或抑制。
搭配情感类宾语:如“repress one's feelings(抑制某人的感情)”“repress one's tears(强忍住泪水)”等。例如,她试图 repress 自己的悲伤,不想让家人担心。(She tried to repress her sorrow so as not to worry her family.)
搭配行为、活动类宾语:如“repress a revolution(镇压革命)”“repress an uprising(镇压起义)”等。例如,统治者残酷地 repress 了农民的反抗运动。(The ruler ruthlessly repressed the peasants' rebellion.)
搭配本能、欲望类宾语:如“repress one's instincts(抑制某人的本能)”“repress one's desires(抑制某人的欲望)”等。例如,从很小的时候起,他就学会了 repress 自己对糖果的渴望。(From a very young age, he learned to repress his desire for candies.)