danger、risk、hazard、menace、peril与threat这些名词均含有“危险、威胁”之意。
danger : 含义广,普通用词,指能够造成伤害、损害或不利的任何情况。
- Danger! Keep out!
危险!别进来! - He drove so fast that I really felt my life was in danger.
他的车开得太快了,当时我真的觉得自己会有生命危险。
risk : 指有可能发生的危险,尤指主动进行某种活动或去碰运气而冒的危险。
- In this business, the risks and the rewards are high.
这个行业的风险和回报都很高。 - There's a high risk of another accident happening in this fog.
这样大的雾,很有可能再次出事故。
hazard : 多指偶然发生的或超出控制范围的危险,常意味着较严重或含有一定风险,相对于 risk 来说更为正式。
- 空气污染是一种无法回避的公共健康危害。它会使慢性气喘加重。
Air pollution is a public health hazard that cannot be evaded. It can aggravate chronic asthma. - 这项臭名昭著的政策将这座半岛置于危险之中。
The notorious policy hazarded the peninsula. - 我斗胆猜测,他整个星期都一直在拼命准备应考。
I would hazard a guess that he's been cramming for his exams all week.
(拓展学习:小词详解 | hazard)
menace : 所指的危险性最严重,表示使用暴力或造成破坏性的可能。
- Drunk drivers are a menace to everyone.
醉酒驾驶者对每个人都构成了威胁。 - Dogs running loose are a public menace.
没有拴起来到处乱跑的狗对公众安全是一种威胁。
peril : 指迫在眉睫很有可能发生的严重危险。
- 这个国家摇摇欲坠的经济现在陷入了严重危机。
The country's faltering economy is now in grave peril. - 她的言语中流露出一丝自鸣得意。她从未意识到她的生命受到了严重的威胁。
There was a tinge of smug self-satisfaction in her voice. She never felt that her life was in peril.
(拓展学习:小词详解 | peril)
threat : 普通用词,语气弱于menace,指任何公开侵犯对方的言行,给对方构成危险或威胁。
- Her parents carried out their threat to take away her mobile phone if her grades didn't improve.
她父母威胁说,如果她不能提高成绩,就要没收她的手机。 - The threat of jail failed to deter him from petty crime.
坐牢的可能也没能吓住他小偷小摸。