Patient vs. Tolerant: 兩個易混淆的英文單字

「Patient」和「Tolerant」這兩個英文單字常常被混淆,但它們其實有微妙的差別。Patient 指的是能長時間等待或忍受某事而不失去耐心,強調的是一種持久的耐性;Tolerant 則是指能容忍或接受不同的意見、行為或情況,即使自己並不喜歡,強調的是一種包容性。簡單來說,patient 焦點在「等待」和「忍受」,tolerant 焦點在「容忍」和「接受」。

讓我們來看一些例句:

  • Patient: The doctor was very patient with the crying child. (醫生對哭鬧的小孩非常有耐心。) This highlights the doctor's ability to wait calmly and persistently until the child calms down.

  • Tolerant: My parents are very tolerant of my messy room. (我的父母很能容忍我的房間很亂。) This shows parents' acceptance of a situation they may not like, rather than a prolonged waiting or enduring process.

再舉幾個例子:

  • Patient: She was patient enough to wait for three hours in line. (她很有耐心地排了三個小時的隊。) (Focus: enduring a lengthy wait)

  • Tolerant: He is tolerant of other people's religious beliefs. (他很能包容別人的宗教信仰。) (Focus: accepting differing viewpoints)

  • Patient: Learning a new language requires patience. (學習新語言需要耐心。) (Focus: persistent effort over time)

  • Tolerant: A tolerant society accepts people from all walks of life. (一個包容的社會接納來自各行各業的人。) (Focus: acceptance of diversity)

雖然這兩個詞語有時可以互換使用,但在精確表達意思時,區分它們非常重要。 仔細思考哪個詞更能準確表達你的意思,有助於提升你的英文表達能力。

Happy learning!

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