plight
plight — 名詞
1. a very difficult condition that brings trouble or sadness and is not easy to get
困境
艱難又難脫身的處境
a very difficult condition that brings trouble or sadness and is not easy to get out of
Many fishing families are in a bad plight after the harbor closure.
港口關閉後，許多捕魚家庭都陷入了困境。
in a plight after + event
The flood left the mountain village in a worse plight than before.
那場洪水讓山村的處境比之前更艱難。
Doctors warned about the plight of children sleeping in cars.
醫生提醒大家注意睡在車上的孩子們所處的困境。
After the factory shut, the town's plight filled the evening news.
工廠關閉後，這個城鎮的困境上了晚間新聞。
Mr. Lee's illness added to the family's financial plight that winter.
那年冬天，Mr. Lee 的病情讓這家人的經濟困境更嚴重。
- predicament
often refers to one difficult position that someone must find a way out of
- hardship
stresses suffering and lack over a period of time
- trouble
is much broader and can describe problems of any size
- crisis
suggests a dangerous turning point that needs quick action
文法句型
in a plight
the plight of + people/group
用法筆記
Often used for serious social or personal problems, especially in the pattern the plight of + group. Distinguish from a general situation or problem: plight usually sounds more severe and more sad.
常見錯誤
plight — 動詞
1. to make a formal promise that you will marry someone
許婚；訂婚
正式答應與某人結婚
to make a formal promise that you will marry someone
In the old story, Elinor was plighted to a young sea captain.
在那個古老故事裡，Elinor 已與一位年輕船長訂婚。
often passive: be plighted to + person
Before the war, Clara plighted herself to the farmer next door.
戰前，Clara 已答應與隔壁的農夫結婚。
plight yourself to + person
The prince was already plighted to Sofia, so the queen refused the match.
王子早已與 Sofia 訂婚，所以王后拒絕了這門婚事。
At seventeen, Agnes was plighted to a man she barely knew.
Agnes 十七歲時，就已被許婚給一個她幾乎不認識的男人。
After one summer together, Daniel plighted himself to Mira.
一起度過一個夏天後，Daniel 已答應與 Mira 結婚。
- break off
when used about an engagement, it means ending the plan to marry
文法句型
be plighted to + person
plight yourself to + person
用法筆記
Mostly found in old-fashioned or literary writing. Often appears in passive forms such as be plighted to someone, or with a reflexive object in plight yourself to someone.