小词详解 | aspire
aspire 英 [əˈspaɪə(r)] 美 [əˈspaɪər]
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外刊例句
China already has around 700 private institutions among its 3,000-or-so universities, but most are vocational colleges which do not aspire to compete with the research universities.
中国大概有3000所高校,其中民办大学已有约700所,但大部分都是高职院校,无意与全球顶尖的研究型大学一较高下。
——《经济学人》Mr. Dobson’s book, with luck, will find its way into the hands of people who aspire to be free.
幸运的话,多布森先生的书将会设法到达那些渴望自由的人们手中。
——《纽约时报》
基本释义
[verb] direct one's hopes or ambitions towards achieving something
[动词] 将某人的希望或抱负指向实现某事
深入解读
Aspire 一词源自拉丁语 aspirare (哈气、吹气、呼吸;有利于、协助;攀登、努力获得、达到、寻求达到;注入),15世纪经古法语 aspirer (渴望、激发;呼吸、哈气)进入英语,由前缀 a- (加强)+词根 spir (呼吸)+ e 构成,用来表示“渴望、向往、有志于”,常用搭配 aspire to sth ,侧重强调人的雄心壮志,有时候也意味着对目标的渴望非常迫切,甚至常常过于迫切而难以实现,比如:
他渴望成为他们的下一届领导人。但选民普遍的态度冷淡给他带来沉重的打击。
He aspired to be their next leader. But the widespread apathy among the electorate shattered him.对我们来说,那是可望而不可即的。
For us, it's something that we may aspire to but can never attain.
而与之同源的名词 aspiration 相应表示“渴望、抱负、志向”或“渴望达到的目标”,以及在语音学中指“发送气音;送气”。该词在今年国家主席的新年贺词译文中多次出现,参见下方权威用例。
权威用例
不忘初心,方得始终。
To accomplish our great mission, we must always remain true to our original aspiration.民之所忧,我必念之;民之所盼,我必行之。
The concerns of the people are what I always care about, and the aspirations of the people are what I always strive for.
出自习主席2022年新年贺词。
同近义词
aim: have the intention of achieving
pursue: seek to attain or accomplish (a goal) over a long period
pant: long for or to do something
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