low

low, lowly

这两个词共同的意思是“低”“矮”“浅”。它们的区别是：

low多指相对空间的高低、物体本身的高矮,即具体的“矮”;而lowly多用于指人的出身、社会地位、工作职位的低贱或经济状况不佳,即抽象的“矮”。例如:

He jumped over the low wall.他跳过矮墙。

A number of trades, previously thought of as lowly ones, began to receive more attention.从前被人们视为卑贱的一些职业现在开始受到更多的重视。

low, base, mean, vile

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。

下面两个句子的意思相同：

Somebody bought low and sold high.

Somebody bought at low prices and sold at high prices.

有的人低价买进,高价卖出。