so-called 的用法及固定搭配

2020年12月14日 词汇

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so-called

so-called跟what is called，what we call或what is known as不同。例如：

  • That so-called masterpiece is really an ordinary school composition.（那个所谓杰作［实际不配叫做“杰作”］实际是一篇寻常的学校作文。）
  • What is called（或What we call，或What is known as）a school composition is a short essay on a given subject. （所谓学校作文是论述一个特定题目的一篇短文。）

比较下面两句：

  • He is a so-called humorist. （他是一个不配叫做幽默家的幽默家。）
  • He is what is called（或what we call，或what is known as）a humorist.（他是一个人们所说的幽默家。）

在决不会引起误解的场合有人把so-called用作what is called等解。例如：A so-called rhetorical question is a question asked not to be answered but merely for effect. 但总不及用what is called等妥当。