区别辨析courage、bravery、backbone与nerve

这些名词都可表示“勇气、胆量”之意。

courage : 普通用词。指面对危险或困难时无所畏惧的精神和敢于奋斗的进取心。

  • They showed great courage when they found out about their baby's disability.
    发现自己的婴儿身有残疾时,他们表现出了巨大的勇气。
  • People should have the courage to stand up for their beliefs.
    人们应该有勇气坚持自己的信仰。
  • It took me months to summon/pluck up the courage to ask for a promotion.
    过了很久我才鼓足勇气要求升职。

bravery : 指在危险中表现出的无所畏惧精神或在逆境中仍能坚持下去的毅力。

  • They were awarded medals for their bravery.
    他们因表现英勇而被授予奖章。
  • acts of exceptional bravery
    异常勇敢的行为

backbone : 指性格倔强,意志坚定,有骨气,有顽强的决心去做某事。

  • Will he have the backbone to tell them what he thinks?
    他有胆量把自己的想法告诉他们吗?
  • He doesn't have the backbone to face the truth.
    他没有面对现实的勇气。
  • You might be taking drastic measures and you've got to have the backbone to do that.
    你也许要采取极端的措施,你必须有勇气那么做。

nerve : 侧重指面临危险或在冒险的情况下具有冷静、清醒的头脑和坚定无畏的勇气。

  • It takes a lot of nerve to be a bomb disposal expert.
    当拆弹专家需要极大的勇气。
  • I wanted to ask her out, but I lost my nerve and couldn't go through with it.
    我曾想约她出来,但我失去了勇气,说不出口。
  • I didn't have the nerve to tell him what I really thought of his suggestion.
    我没有胆量告诉他我对他的建议的真实看法。