vile, base, low, mean
这四个词共同的意思是“卑微,低贱”。它们的区别是：
1.low多指道德低下,如以狡猾的手法欺骗弱者等,也指身份或阶级地位的卑微,还可指思想、语言或行为的低下;base主要指道德败坏、没有人格、自私怯懦、卑贱可耻;vile指卑鄙龌龊,令人生厌;mean与low同义,通常指一个人的品行而言,如卑鄙、自私、小气、刻薄、下贱等。例如:
He had a low position in a church.在教堂里他地位低下。
They were punished for their base conduct.他们因为道德败坏的行为而受到了惩罚。
Children living in this area listen to grown-ups speak vile language every day.在这个地区的孩子们每天听着污言秽语长大。
That was a mean trick.那是一个卑鄙的骗局。
2.在语气的强弱上, base是这四个词中最强的,其次是vile, mean和low语气最弱。
