courage、bravery、backbone与nerve这些名词都可表示“勇气、胆量”之意。
courage : 普通用词。指面对危险或困难时无所畏惧的精神和敢于奋斗的进取心。
- They showed great courage when they found out about their baby's disability.
发现自己的婴儿身有残疾时，他们表现出了巨大的勇气。 - People should have the courage to stand up for their beliefs.
人们应该有勇气坚持自己的信仰。
bravery : 指在危险中表现出的无所畏惧精神或在逆境中仍能坚持下去的毅力。
- They were awarded medals for their bravery.
他们因表现英勇而被授予奖章。 - acts of exceptional bravery
异常勇敢的行为
backbone : 指性格倔强，意志坚定，有骨气，有顽强的决心去做某事。
- Will he have the backbone to tell them what he thinks?
他有胆量把自己的想法告诉他们吗？ - He doesn't have the backbone to face the truth.
他没有面对现实的勇气。
nerve : 侧重指面临危险或在冒险的情况下具有冷静、清醒的头脑和坚定无畏的勇气。
- It takes a lot of nerve to be a bomb disposal expert.
当拆弹专家需要极大的勇气。 - I wanted to ask her out, but I lost my nerve and couldn't go through with it.
我曾想约她出来，但我失去了勇气，说不出口。
