本文经授权转载自微信公众号：田间小站
TOEFL GMAT GRE
外刊例句
- Communication can raise efficiency by boosting morale, and by helping firms to retain workers and identify and fix problems.
沟通可以鼓舞士气、帮助公司留住工人、发现并解决问题，进而提高效率。
——《经济学人》 - Morale is reportedly low and complaints common.
据说，士气低落，怨声载道。
——《纽约时报》
基本释义
[noun] the confidence, enthusiasm, and discipline of a person or group at a particular time
[名词] 个人或团体在特定时间的信心、热情和纪律
深入解读
Morale 是一个与形似词 moral 既容易混淆又同源的单词，两者都源自于古法语 moral （道德）。
其中 morale 最早于1752年经法语 morale （道德、良好品行）进入英语，原先也是用来表示“道德、品行、道德规范”，不过这一含义现已较少使用。
转而到了1831年后， morale 开始发展出现在的主要含义指“士气、精神面貌”，常用来表示个人或团体在手头面临着压力、危险或困难的情况时，所拥有的信心、勇气、热情、希望、忠诚、纪律等心理和情绪状态，尤其是士兵、水手等从事危险事业的个人或团体，比如：
- 鼓舞士气
boost morale - 增强士气
stiffen the morale - 保持旺盛的士气
keep up the morale - 那场战争的惨败动摇了这支部队的士气。
The debacle of the war has shaken the army morale.
权威用例
青年一代更加积极向上，全党全国各族人民文化自信明显增强、精神面貌更加奋发昂扬。
Our young people are filled with greater optimism and enterprise, and there is a notably stronger sense of cultural confidence and a higher level of morale throughout the Party and the nation.
同近义词
- spirit: the quality of courage, energy, and determination or assertiveness
- self-esteem: confidence in one's own worth or abilities; self-respect
- esprit de corps: a feeling of pride, fellowship, and common loyalty shared by the members of a particular group
