內容簡介

一位聽眾來信詢問名詞 “circumstance、surrounding、environment” 和 “atmosphere” 之間的區別。它們都與 “環境或情況” 有關，但具體的用法有所不同：談論 “境況，客觀條件” 用 “circumstance”；談論 “周圍環境” 時用復數名詞 “surroundings”；名詞 “environment” 強調 “環境給人帶來的影響”；名詞 “atmosphere” 指 “氣氛”，強調 “環境給人帶來的主觀感受”。聽節目，學習辨析這四個詞的用法。

歡迎你加入并和我們一起討論英語學習的方方面面。請通過微博 “BBC英語教學” 或郵件與我們取得聯系。我們的郵箱地址是 questions.chinaelt@bbc.co.uk

文字稿

（關于臺詞的備注: 請注意這不是廣播節目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能沒有體現錄制、編輯過程中對節目做出的改變。）

Jiaying
歡迎收聽 BBC英語教學的 “你問我答” 節目。I'm Jiaying.

Sam
And I'm Sam. Hello, everyone!

Jiaying
本期節目的問題來自聽眾 Starnight。問題是這樣的：

Question
I would like to ask what is the connection and difference between 'circumstance', 'surrounding', 'environment', and 'atmosphere'. Thank you.

Sam
This is a really interesting question – thank you for sending it in! All of these nouns are used to talk about places or situations, but, as usual, there are some differences in how we use them. Let's look at each of them in turn and give you lots of examples, starting with 'circumstance'.

Jiaying
Here we go! 名詞 “circumstance” 是 “條件，境況，客觀環境”。當我們使用 “circumstance” 的時候，談論的并不是某個情況本身，而是 “影響某一情況的客觀條件或環境”。

Sam
Exactly! So, 'circumstances' can include many things which can be negative or positive. It's also interesting to notice that 'circumstance' is usually used in its plural form, so 'circumstances'.

Jiaying
是的，你會經常聽到 “circumstance” 用在短語 “under the circumstances” 當中，意思是 “在某種特定的情況下”。

Examples
She was in a surprisingly cheerful mood considering the difficult circumstances.
（考慮到當時困難的形勢，她的心情異常愉快。）

When he got a new job, his circumstances improved almost overnight.
（當他找到新工作后，他的境況幾乎一夜之間就好轉了。）

I’m so sorry I can't come to dinner. My car broke down! I hope you'll understand under the circumstances.
（很抱歉我不能來吃晚飯了。我的車拋錨了！希望你能理解這個特殊情況。）

Sam
Let's look at 'surroundings' now. 'Surroundings' is always used in the plural form and is used to talk more specifically about a physical place. What more can you tell us, Jiaying?

Jiaying
復數名詞 “surroundings” 的確切含義是 “周圍環境，周圍事物”，也就是 “某人所在的地方以及這個地方的物質條件”。所以，當我們用 “surroundings” 來指 “環境” 的時候，具體指 “眼睛可以看到的客觀事物”。

Sam
Yes, and this can be small, like a room in a house, and it can be big, like a neighbourhood in a city, but it's not always specified. Listen to these examples now.

Examples
We worry less about our children now that we live in safer surroundings. We're so happy we moved.
（現在我們周圍的生活環境更安全，所以不像以前那樣擔心孩子們了。我們很高興我們搬家了。）

When I came out of the station, it took me a few moments to familiarise myself with my surroundings.
（當我從車站出來后，我花了一段時間才熟悉了周圍的環境 。）

My grandparents worked hard their whole lives so they could live in comfortable surroundings in their old age.
（我的祖父母一生都在努力工作，這樣他們晚年的時候就能生活在舒適的環境中。）

Sam
It's time to look at 'environment' now.

Jiaying
我們都知道 “the environment” 的意思是 “自然環境”。比如，想表達 “保護自然環境”，就可以說 “protect the environment”。除了這個意思以外，“environment” 還可以指哪些 “環境” 呢？

Sam
This word also refers to a place and how that place affects you.

Jiaying
沒錯，名詞 “environment” 還可以指 “生活或工作的條件”，強調這些條件對你產生的影響。例如，你的工作環境 “work environment” 會影響你的工作效率。

Sam
Very true. Now, be a little careful with 'environment', because it can be both a countable and an uncountable noun. But when it has this definition, it is a countable noun, so you will see it used in both the singular and plural forms.

Jiaying
你經常會看到 “environment” 與動詞 “create” 或形容詞 “friendly” 搭配使用。請聽例句。

Examples
There is research showing that bright, airy and colourful learning environments help young children do better in school.
（有研究表明，亮堂、通風、色彩明亮的學習環境有助于提高幼兒在學校的表現。）

I tried a new exercise class yesterday. The instructor created such a friendly environment. I think I'll go back next week!
（我昨天試著上了一節新的健身課。課程的指導教練創造了一個很友好的環境，我想我下周還會去上課！）

Sam
And, finally, let's look at 'atmosphere' which, in this context, is always singular.

Jiaying
名詞 “atmosphere” 的意思也是 “環境”，強調 “一個場所或情況的特點、氛圍或給人帶來的感覺”。在上面講過的詞語中，名詞 “atmosphere” 可能更強調我們 “對某個地方或情況的主觀感受或個人反應”。

Sam
Yes! Like with the other nouns, we need adjectives to tell us if an 'atmosphere' is positive or negative. And it's quite common to see it in sentences that start with 'There is'. Here are some examples.

Examples
There was quite a tense atmosphere in the room after Faith and Teo had an argument in front of everyone.
（費絲和蒂奧在所有人的面前爭吵后，房間里的氣氛相當緊張。）

We come to this cafe for meetings a lot. The coffee is great and it has a lovely atmosphere.
（我們經常來這家咖啡館開工作會議。這里的咖啡很棒，氣氛也很好。）

Jiaying
好了，希望你通過我們的講解，對名詞 “circumstance、surroundings、environment” 和 “atmosphere” 的用法有了一定的理解。

Sam
And remember that if you have a question you'd like us to answer, you can send it to us too!

Jiaying
我們的微博賬號是 “BBC英語教學”。你也可以發郵件給我們，郵箱地址是：questions.chinaelt@bbc.co.uk 謝謝收聽 “你問我答” 節目。我是佳瑩。我們下次再會！

Sam
Bye-bye, everyone.