这3个形容词均含“微妙的、细微的”之意。
delicate : 侧重指需要谨慎处理和对待。
- I need to speak to you about a delicate matter.
我要跟你谈一件很棘手的事情。 - The pay negotiations have reached a delicate point/stage.
工资谈判已经到了微妙的关头／阶段。 - Teachers need to strike a delicate (= carefully achieved) balance between instructing their students and letting them discover things for themselves.
教师需要在向学生传授知识和引导学生自己去探索之间找到一个微妙的平衡点。
fine : 隐含“不易察觉的”意味。
- You really need a magnifying glass to appreciate all the fine detail.
确实需要放大镜才能欣赏到一切细微之处。 - There's no need to make such fine distinctions.
没有必要区分出如此细微的差别。 - There's a fine line between love and hate (= it is easy for one to become the other) .
爱恨只有一线之隔。
subtle : 侧重有洞察、领悟事物细微差别以及微妙关系的能力。
- The room was painted a subtle shade of pink.
房间被刷成了淡粉色。 - The play's message is perhaps too subtle to be understood by young children.
这部戏的内涵过于隐晦，小孩子可能难以理解。 - subtle colours/flavours/smells, etc.
淡淡的色彩、味道、气味等 - There are subtle differences between the two versions.
两个版本之间有一些细微的差异。 - She's been dropping subtle hints about what she'd like as a present.
她不断隐隐暗示她喜欢什么样的礼物。
