powers

in power, in one's power

这两个短语意思不同:in power是“得势”或“上台”的意思,而in one's power作“有权力”或“在权力范围内”解。例如:

If the renegade clique of that country were in power, it would have meant serious disaster for the people.如果那个国家的叛徒集团一得势,人民就要遭殃。

It is in our power not to copy everything foreign.我们有权不全部照抄外国的东西。

power, energy, force, might, strength, vigour

这组词共同的意思是“能”“能量”“精力”。它们的区别在于:

1.energy在物理学定义中为“能”“能量”,用于生理学上指“精力”。

2.power系一般用语,可指动力、思维能力等各种力量或能力。例如:

A car needs a lot of power to go fast.汽车高速行驶需要很大动力。

Every normal, healthy person has power to think.每一个正常、健康的人都有思维能力。

3.strength指某人或某物所具有的内在力量,可指体力、力气或抽象的力量。例如:

He hasn't got enough strength to get out of bed.他没有足够的力气下床。

At last his strength gave out.他的体力终于不支了。

He has strength of character.他性格坚强。

Union is strength.团结就是力量。

4.force指的是物质或精神力量,多指为做成某事而使用的力量,也常指武力。例如:

We had to use force to get into the house.我们不得不强行进屋。

Some of them forced their way into our office.他们中有些人强行进入我们的办公室。

His arguments forced them to admit he was right.他的论据迫使他们承认他是对的。

The thief forced her to hand over the money.贼强迫她把钱交出来。

5.might指“力量”“威力”“强权”“权势”等,既可指人体的力量,也可指政治、军事等的强大而产生的威力,其程度要比其他几个词强。例如:

The army fought bravely, but it was crushed by the might of its powerful enemy.军队勇敢地战斗,但最终还是被敌人强大的势力所摧垮。

They would have little chance to survive against our might.在我们的强大力量面前,他们几乎无法继续生存下去。

The work was so difficult that it was beyond my might.这项工作太难了,它超出了我的能力。

The competition is strong and we must study with all our might.竞争是强有力的,我们须尽全力地学习。

6.vigour指生命产生的力量,常译为“活力”。例如:

He is full of vigour.他充满了活力。

nation，state，country，land，power

这些名词都含“国家”之意。

nation普通用词，指在某一国土定居的人民、民族，强调人民。

state正式用词，指政治概念上的国家，即由政府所代表的国家。

country普通用词，侧重国土与人民。

land常用于文学中，侧重国土，带感情色彩。

power特指拥有强大军事力量，在国际事务中有较强权威或影响的国家，即强国、大国。