Pitiable
“Pitiable”是形容词,表示令人产生怜悯或同情之情的,形容处境悲惨、可怜或可悲的人或事物。比”pitiful”更侧重”值得同情”的意味,而非”差劲”的贬义。
- “The refugees were in a pitiable condition when aid arrived.” (援助抵达时,难民处境十分可怜。)
- “He made a pitiable attempt to defend his actions.” (他可悲地试图为自己的行为辩护。)
- “The starving dog looked pitiable in the rain.” (那只饿狗在雨中看起来令人心酸。)
“Pitiable”源自”pity”(怜悯)加形容词后缀”-able”,表示”值得怜悯的、令人同情的”。
“Pitiable”由词根”piti-”(怜悯,来自”pity”)与后缀”-able”(值得……的)构成。
“Pitiable”常用于文学与新闻报道中描写弱势群体的处境,语气比”pathetic”更为中性,强调同情而非轻蔑。在人道主义论述中常见,如描述战争、灾害中的受害者。
- 固定搭配: “pitiable condition” (可怜的处境), “pitiable state” (可悲的状态), “look pitiable” (显得可怜)
“Pity”(怜悯)+ “-able”(值得……的)= 值得怜悯的——可怜的、令人同情的。
“The pitiable sight of the abandoned puppy moved passersby to stop and offer food and shelter.” (那只被遗弃的小狗可怜的模样让路人停下脚步,送来食物和庇护。)