① fault一般指性格上的“弱點”,因品質(zhì)上缺乏某種特質(zhì)而有欠缺;也指行為上的過失,如違反某個準則、規(guī)章等,強調(diào)過失的責任。
Sloppiness is his greatest fault. 邋遢是他的最大缺點。
Everyone has his own fault. 人無完人。
② defect著重由于某種欠缺,因而影響到質(zhì)量,也泛指一般缺點。
What defects can you find in the present system of education?在現(xiàn)行教育制度中,你能發(fā)現(xiàn)什么缺點?
A hearing aid helps to overcome the defect in hearing. 助聽器有助于克服聽力上的缺陷。
③ flaw原意是“罅隙”,意味著破裂或不能銜接,因而常用于文章、論證,指“漏洞,缺陷”,暗示使批評者“有隙可乘”,也比喻品格上的瑕疵。
It was difficult to find a flaw in his argument. 在他的論辯中很難找到漏洞。
The bubble is a flaw in the glass. 那個氣泡是玻璃杯上的瑕疵。
Jealousy is the great flaw in his character. 嫉妒是他性格中的大缺點。
④ mistake往往指由于認識、判斷、理解上的不正確、粗心而產(chǎn)生的看法或行為上的錯誤。mistake還強調(diào)對事物的意義不了解,把一個事物錯當成另一個事物。常用搭配為:
by mistake(無意地)搞錯
make a mistake 犯錯誤
take…by mistake 錯拿
learn by one's mistake 從錯誤中學習
⑤ error主要指違反某一既定的標準,產(chǎn)生的疏忽、偏差或錯誤,這種差錯往往是無意的。常用搭配為:
be in error 弄錯了
fall into an error 犯錯誤
lead sb. into error 使犯錯誤
These are the printer's errors. 這些是排印上的錯誤。
Errors often result from carelessness. 差錯常由疏忽引起。
提示
注意下面表示“錯”的說法:
是我弄錯了。
I'm wrong.
I'm in the wrong.
That's my fault.