区别辨析harmony、agreement、concord、unity与accord

harmony、agreement、concord、unity与accord这些名词均有“和谐、一致”之意。

harmony : 指人与人之间或不同部分与整体之间完全协调、和谐、愉快,没有摩擦。

  • racial harmony (= good feelings between different races)
    种族和谐
  • domestic harmony (= good feelings in the family or home)
    家庭和睦
  • Imagine a society in which everyone lived together in (perfect) harmony.
    设想一下有这样一个社会,所有人都和睦地生活在一起。

agreement : 侧重态度与观点上的一致。

  • The whole family was in agreement with her about/on what they should do.
    关于他们应该做什么,全家人都和她意见一致。
  • If the three parties cannot reach agreement now, there will be a civil war.
    如果这三个政党现在不能达成一致,内战将不可避免。

concord : 多指人际、国家间或民族之间协调一致的关系。

  • nations living in concord
    和睦相处的国家

unity : 指各个成员、各群体之间相互协调一致的关系。

  • European political and economic unity
    欧洲政治和经济的统一
  • a call for national unity
    号召全民团结

accord : 指思想一致,彼此不矛盾,也指行动上的一致。

  • On 31 May the two leaders signed a peace accord.
    5月31日两位领导人签署了一项和平协议。
  • Before 1987, the accord between the Labour government and the unions was a simple affair.
    1987年以前,工党政府和工会之间很容易达成一致。