
consequence
词源
源自拉丁语 consequentia,由 com-(一起)和 sequi(跟随)组成,字面意思为“跟随而来的事物”。14世纪通过古法语进入英语。
noun
❶ 指某件事或行为导致的结果或影响,通常强调因果关系。可以是正面或负面的结果,但常用于指不良后果。
“The heavy rain had serious consequences for the farmers.”
(大雨给农民带来了严重的后果。)
“He didn't study for the exam and faced the consequences.”
(他没有为考试学习,因此承担了后果。)
❶ 指某事物的重要性或价值,常用于正式语境中表示某事的意义或影响。
“This discovery is of great consequence to science.”
(这一发现对科学具有重大意义。)
“The meeting was of little consequence and could have been an email.”
(这次会议无关紧要,本可以用一封邮件代替。)
常见短语
as a consequence — 表示由于某种原因导致的结果,相当于“因此”或“结果”,常用于正式或书面表达。
“He forgot his passport, and as a consequence, he couldn't board the plane.”
(他忘了带护照,因此无法登机。)
take the consequences — 指承担自己行为带来的结果,通常指负面后果,强调责任意识。
“If you break the rules, you must be prepared to take the consequences.”
(如果你违反规则,就必须准备好承担后果。)
of no consequence — 表示某事完全不重要或没有影响,用于强调某事物无关紧要。
“The spelling mistake was of no consequence in such an informal letter.”
(在这样一封非正式的信中,拼写错误无关紧要。)