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uncertain adj.
⇨ uncertain (an uncertain future) ⇨ hesitant (uncertain steps) ⇨ unclear (It is uncertain what…) ⇨ unsure (uncertain about sth) uncertain adjective ➡ See also the entry for ⇨ variable 另见variable条uncertain ♦︎ volatile ♦︎ unstable ♦︎ fickle ♦︎ unsettledThese words all describe situations that are likely to change, especially in a negative or unpleasant way. 这些词均表示局势多变的、难预料的、动荡的。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆the uncertain / volatile / fickle nature of sth◆an uncertain / a volatile / an unstable situation◆an uncertain / unstable environment◆uncertain / fickle / unsettled weather◆an uncertain / a volatile temper / temperament◆very uncertain / volatile / unstable / fickle / unsettled◆rather / notoriously uncertain / volatile / unstable / fickle■ uncertain (rather formal, usually disapproving) likely to change, especially in a negative or unpleasant way 多变的，难预料的（尤指被视为负面的）◆Our future looks uncertain.我们前途未卜。◆He was a man of uncertain temper.他是个脾气让人捉摸不透的男人。OPP certain ⇨ certain ■ volatile /ˈvɒlətaɪl; NAmE ˈvɑːlətl/ (disapproving, especially business 尤用于商业 or politics 政治) (of a situation) likely to change suddenly; easily becoming dangerous （局势）可能骤变的，不稳定的；容易变得危险的◆This is a highly volatile situation from which riots might develop.现在局势极不稳定，有可能发展成动乱。◆Exporting the product was difficult due to a volatile exchange rate.该产品的出口由于汇率波动剧烈而变得困难。ⓘ Volatile is typically used to talk about the exchange rate, the economy, a political situation and markets or market conditions. It also collocates strongly with character, nature and situation. * volatile通常用以描述the exchange rate、the economy、a political situation、market和market conditions，亦常与character、nature和situation搭配。■ unstable (disapproving, especially business 尤用于商业 or politics 政治) likely to change suddenly, often causing serious problems 可能骤变的，不稳定的（常引发严重问题）◆The political situation remains highly unstable.政局仍然十分动荡。OPP stable ⇨ steady ■ fickle (disapproving, especially journalism 尤用于新闻) changing often and suddenly 易变的；无常的◆Such is life in the fickle world of fashion.这就是变幻莫测的时装界的生活。◆The latest downturn in sales shows just what a fickle business this is.最近销售量的下降表明这个行业是多么不稳定。■ unsettled (rather formal) (of a situation) changing often; making people uncertain about what might happen next （形势）多变的，不安定的；不平稳的；动荡不安的◆These were difficult and unsettled times.这是艰难而动荡的时期。◆The weather has been very unsettled lately (= it has changed a lot).最近天气十分多变。 hesitant adjective hesitant ♦︎ faltering ♦︎ uncertain ♦︎ tentative ♦︎ haltingThese words all describe a way of doing sth that is not confident or certain. 这些词均表示犹豫的、踌躇的。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆hesitant / faltering / uncertain / tentative / halting steps◆a hesitant / a faltering / an uncertain / a halting voice◆hesitant / halting speech◆a hesitant / an uncertain / a tentative smile■ hesitant / /ˈhezɪtənt/ / [only before noun] showing that you are slow to speak or act because you feel uncertain, embarrassed or unwilling 犹豫的；踌躇的；不情愿的◆It was a few seconds before she heard a hesitant reply.几秒钟后她才听到对方支支吾吾地回答她。◆Holding his hand, she managed to take her first few hesitant steps.她拉着他的手，迟疑地迈出了最初几步。 see also hesitate ⇨ pause verb , hesitant ⇨ unsure ▸ hesitantly adverb ◆He smiled hesitantly.他笑得很勉强。■ faltering / /ˈfɔːltərɪŋ/ / moving, speaking or progressing in a way that is not steady or confident 蹒跚的；结结巴巴的；犹豫的◆She was only 10 months old when she took those first faltering steps.她十个月大就开始蹒跚学步。◆Both sides have been asked to give the faltering peace talks another chance.要求双方再给这个一波三折的和平谈判一次机会。▸ falter verb [intransitive] ◆His voice faltered as he began his speech.他开始演讲时结结巴巴的。◆He never faltered in his commitment to the party.他对党始终忠贞不渝。■ uncertain showing a lack of confidence or decision 信心不足的；迟疑的◆The baby took its first uncertain steps.宝宝第一次摇摇晃晃地走了几步。◆She had been dismissed and in no uncertain manner.她被毫不留情地辞退了。▸ uncertainly adverb ◆They smiled uncertainly at one another.他们迟疑地相视而笑。■ tentative / /ˈtentətɪv/ / (written) showing a lack of confidence 踌躇的；犹豫不决的◆He acknowledged me with a tentative nod.他踌躇地朝我点了下头，算是打了招呼。◆Her English is correct but tentative.她的英语没错误，但是不流利。▸ tentatively adverb ◆She smiled tentatively.她腼腆地笑了。■ halting /ˈhɔːltɪŋ, BrE also ˈhɒltɪŋ/ [usually before noun](especially of speech or movement) stopping and starting often, especially because you are not certain or are not very confident （尤指讲话或动作）断断续续的；结结巴巴的◆We carried on a halting conversation.我们的谈话断断续续。◆The crisis is threatening the country's halting progress towards democracy.这次危机正威胁着该国艰难的民主进程。▸ haltingly adverb ◆'Well...', she began haltingly.“唔⋯”她迟疑地开了口。 unclear adjective unclear ♦︎ uncertain ♦︎ unresolved ♦︎ in doubt ♦︎ indefinite ♦︎ in the balance ♦︎ undecidedThese words all describe sth that is not yet clear or decided. 这些词均表示不确定的、不清楚的、未决定的。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆It is unclear / uncertain what / whether...◆to remain unclear / uncertain / unresolved / in doubt / in the balance / undecided◆to leave sth unclear / uncertain / unresolved / in doubt / undecided◆still unclear / uncertain / unresolved / in doubt / in the balance / undecided■ unclear / /ˌʌnˈklɪə(r); NAmE ˌʌnˈklɪr/ not clear or definite; difficult to understand or be sure about 不清楚的；不确定的；难以掌握的◆His motives are unclear.他动机不明。◆Our plans are unclear at the moment.目前我们的计划还不确定。◆It is unclear whether there is any damage.有无损坏尚不清楚。◆Some of your diagrams are unclear.你的一些图表不够清楚。 OPP clear ⇨ clear adj. 1 2 ■ uncertain not definite or decided 不确定的；未决定的◆It is uncertain what his role in the company will be.他在公司担任何职尚未决定。 see also uncertain ⇨ unsure , uncertainty ⇨ doubt noun 2 ■ unresolved /ˌʌnrɪˈzɒlvd; NAmE ˌʌnrɪˈzɑːlvd/ (formal) (of a problem or question) not yet solved, answered or decided （问题或提问）未解决的，未解答的，悬而未决的◆These unresolved issues must be addressed.这些悬而未决的问题必须设法解决。■ in ˈdoubt idiom (often used in negative statements 常用于否定陈述) uncertain 不确定；不肯定；拿不准◆The success of the system is not in doubt.这种制度的成功确定无疑。ⓘ In doubt is used especially to talk about the result, future, success or nature of sth. * in doubt尤用以描述事物的结果、未来、成败或性质。■ indefinite /ɪnˈdefɪnət/ / lasting for a period of time that has no fixed end 无限期的；期限不定的◆She will be away for the indefinite future.她将离开一段时间，期限不定。◆The workers have been on indefinite strike since July.工人从7月起就开始了无限期的罢工。▸ indefinitely adverb ◆The trial was postponed indefinitely.审讯无限期延迟。■ in the ˈbalance idiom uncertain and waiting to be decided 不确定；悬而未决◆The long-term future of the space programme hangs in the balance.航天计划的长远前景尚不明朗。◆His life hung in the balance for two weeks as he lay in a coma.他昏迷不醒的两个星期中一直处在生死边缘。ⓘ In the balance describes a situation in which the future of sb/sth, or the result of sth, is very uncertain for a time. It is often used when the future result is expected to be one of two very different things, such as success or failure, or life or death. * in the balance用于描述某人或某事的未来或某事的结果暂时很不确定，常用于表示未来预计会有两种完全不同的结果，如成功或失败，生或死。■ undecided / /ˌʌndɪˈsaɪdɪd/ / [not usually before noun] not having been decided yet 未决定；悬而未决◆The venue for the World Cup remains undecided.世界杯的举办地点尚未确定。 unsure adjective unsure ♦︎ undecided ♦︎ uncertain ♦︎ hesitant ♦︎ ambivalent ♦︎ doubtful ♦︎ dubious ♦︎ in doubtThese words all describe sb who has feelings of doubt or uncertainty about sb/sth. 这些词均表示无把握的、拿不准的、不确定的。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆unsure / undecided / uncertain / hesitant / ambivalent / doubtful / dubious / in doubt about sth◆unsure / undecided / uncertain / doubtful / dubious / in doubt as to sth◆unsure / uncertain / hesitant / doubtful / dubious of sth◆unsure / undecided / uncertain what...◆unsure / uncertain how...◆a bit / rather / somewhat unsure / hesitant / ambivalent / doubtful / dubious◆somewhat unsure / hesitant / ambivalent / doubtful / dubious◆very unsure / undecided / uncertain / hesitant / ambivalent / doubtful / dubious■ unsure [not before noun] not certain or confident about sth; feeling doubt 无把握；犹豫；拿不准◆There were a lot of things I was unsure about.有许多事情我没把握。◆He was unsure of what to do next.他对下一步该做什么犹豫不定。◆I was unsure how to reply to this question.我拿不准该如何回答这个问题。OPP sure ⇨ sure ■ undecided / /ˌʌndɪˈsaɪdɪd/ / [not usually before noun] not having made a decision about sb/sth 未拿定主意；犹豫不决◆I'm still undecided about who to vote for.我还拿不定主意投谁的票。 see also decide ⇨ decide ■ uncertain [not usually before noun] not sure or confident about sth; feeling doubt 无把握；犹豫；拿不准◆They're both uncertain about what to do.他们两人都拿不定主意该怎么办。◆I'm still uncertain of my feelings for him.我仍不能肯定我对他的感情。 OPP certain ⇨ sure see also uncertainty ⇨ doubt noun 1 NOTE 辨析 Unsure or uncertain?When you are talking about people's feelings there is no real difference in meaning between these words, but unsure is about twice as frequent in both spoken and written English, and uncertain is slightly more formal. Uncertain (but not unsure) is more frequently used to talk about facts or situations that are not definite or decided. 谈论人的感情时这两个词在含义上没有实质差别，但unsure在口语和书面语的使用频率均约为uncertain的两倍，uncertain略正式些。uncertain（而非unsure）较常用以描述不确定的事实或悬而未决的局面。 see also uncertain ⇨ unclear ■ hesitant / /ˈhezɪtənt/ / [not before noun] slow to speak or act because you feel uncertain, embarrassed or unwilling 犹豫；踌躇；不情愿◆She's hesitant about signing the contract.她对是否签这个合同犹豫不决。◆Doctors are hesitant to comment on the new treatment.医生不愿对新疗法作出评论。 see also hesitant ⇨ hesitant ■ ambivalent / /æmˈbɪvələnt/ / (rather formal, especially written) having or showing both good and bad feelings about sb/sth 矛盾情绪的（喜忧参半、好坏参半等）◆She is deeply ambivalent about her feelings for him.她对他的感情十分矛盾。◆He has an ambivalent attitude towards her.他对她怀着矛盾的态度。■ doubtful thinking that sth is probably not possible or not a good idea; showing this 不确定的；拿不定主意的；怀疑的◆He was doubtful about accepting extra work.他拿不定主意是否接受额外工作。◆A doubtful look crossed her face.她脸上掠过一丝怀疑的神色。 see also doubt ⇨ doubt noun 1 ▸ doubtfully adverb ◆He shook his head doubtfully.他怀疑地摇了摇头。■ dubious /ˈdjuːbiəs; NAmE ˈduːbiəs/ [not usually before noun] doubtful 不确定；拿不定主意；怀疑◆I was rather dubious about the whole idea.我对整个想法持相当怀疑的态度。◆Kate looked dubious, but did as she was asked.凯特看上去半信半疑，但还是按要求的做了。▸ dubiously adverb ◆He looked dubiously at her.他怀疑地看了看她。NOTE 辨析 Doubtful or dubious?There is no real difference in meaning between these words; dubious is slightly more frequent in spoken English, but it is less often used before a noun. 这两个词在含义上没有实质差别；dubious稍多用于口语，但较少用于名词前。■ in ˈdoubt idiom feeling unsure about sth, especially about what you should do （尤指对该做什么）不肯定，不确定，拿不准◆If in doubt, wear black.拿不定主意的话就穿黑色衣服。 |