peaceful, peaceable
这两个词共同的意思是“平静的”。它们的区别是:
peaceful主要修饰人、地点、环境、条件等; peaceable修饰人或动物,侧重“和平的”“驯服的”品质,不可修饰环境或条件等。例如:
The best we can hope for is a state of peaceful co-existence between East and West.我们所能希望的最好情况是东西方之间的和平共处。
He has a peaceable temperament.他是一个脾气温和的人。
peaceful, calm, quiet, silent, still
这组形容词共同的意思是“安静”“平静”“寂静”。它们的区别在于:
1.在修饰环境时各词所指的状态为:calm指风平浪静; peaceful指没有战争或骚乱; quiet指没有吵闹干扰; still指完全没有声音。例如:
The sea was calm yesterday.昨天海水是平静的。
Countries should settle their disputes by peaceful means.各国应通过和平手段解决他们的争端。
Differences among them could have been reconciled by them through peaceful consultations.他们中间的分歧本来可以由他们和平协商调解。
He had a bad headache and needed being quiet.他头疼得厉害,需要安静。
Everything was deadly still.万籁俱寂。
2.在修饰人时:calm指人心平气和,毫不激动; peaceful表示“安详的”“温和的”; quiet指性情温和、安静等,有时也指人的闲散或不活动; still指“一动不动”; silent侧重“沉默”“不说话”,但不一定不动。例如:
The teacher is peaceful when the student appeared.当这个学生出现时,这个老师很温和。
We should keep quiet in the hospital.在医院里我们应该保持安静。
His hands were never still.他的双手一刻也不停。
We've been silent for too long. It's time to speak out.我们沉默得太久了,现在是大胆地发表意见的时候了。
She sat silent in her own room.她在自己的房间里一动不动地坐着。
quiet,calm,silent,still,noiseless,peaceful,serene
这些形容词都含“平静的,无声无息”之意。
quiet普通用词,指没有喧闹、活动或骚乱的寂静状态。
calm普通用词,既可指天气、海洋等的平静状态,又可指人的镇定沉着、不慌乱,不受外界影响和情绪支配。
silent普通用词,指缄默不语或无声无息。
still指平静而又安定的状态。
noiseless指无任何噪音或不出声,无声无息。
peaceful普通用词,指一种不受外物扰乱和刺激的内在宁静或和平状态。
serene(诗)纯静,清朗。