annoy 的核心含义是“使恼怒、使烦扰”,指通过重复的行为或持续的状态引起他人轻微的不快或烦躁。其本义源于古法语“anoier”,意为“使厌倦、使烦恼”,最初带有“使感到无聊或疲惫”的意味。在现代英语中,annoy 的用法逐渐分化出几个相关义项:一是“打扰、干扰”,强调行为上的侵扰,如“The noise annoyed me.”(噪音打扰了我);二是“使生气、使恼怒”,侧重情绪上的反应,如“It annoys me that he is always late.”(他总迟到让我生气);三是名词用法“恼怒、烦恼”,表示一种情绪状态,如“She couldn't hide her annoyance.”(她无法掩饰自己的恼怒)。这些义项均围绕“引起不快”这一核心,从具体的外部干扰到内心的情绪反应,层层递进。
annoy 在多种语境中均有使用,但语气和含义略有差异。在日常口语中,annoy 最为常见,通常表达轻微的恼怒,如“Stop annoying me!”(别再烦我了!),语气直接但不过分强烈。在商务邮件中,annoy 较少出现,若使用则多用于委婉表达不满,如“I was annoyed by the delay in response.”(我对回复延迟感到不满),语气较为正式。在新闻报道中,annoy 常用于描述公众情绪,如“Residents are annoyed by the constant noise.”(居民对持续的噪音感到恼怒),强调普遍性。在文学作品中,annoy 可细腻描绘人物心理,如“The dripping tap annoyed him all night.”(滴水的水龙头让他整夜烦躁),带有叙事性。在学术写作中,annoy 不常用,取而代之的是“irritate”或“aggravate”等更正式词汇。
语法说明
annoy 是及物动词,后接宾语,常用结构为“annoy + 人”,如“The fly annoyed me.”。也可接 that 从句或不定式,如“It annoys me that he forgot.”(他忘了让我恼火)或“It annoys me to see him slouching.”(看到他懒散让我恼火)。常见句型包括“be annoyed at/about sth.”(对某事恼火)和“be annoyed with sb.”(对某人生气),例如“She was annoyed at the mistake.”(她对错误感到恼火)和“He is annoyed with his brother.”(他对他兄弟生气)。易错点在于混淆“annoyed”和“annoying”:前者描述人的感受,后者描述事物特性,如“I am annoyed.”(我恼了)与“The noise is annoying.”(噪音烦人)。此外,annoy 不用于进行时态表示状态,如不说“I am annoying”,而应说“I am annoyed”。
相似词辨析
annoy 与 irritate、bother、disturb 等词相近,但存在细微差别。annoy 侧重轻微、重复的干扰引起的恼怒,如“The constant tapping annoyed him.”;irritate 语气稍强,指令人不悦到可能引发强烈反应,如“The harsh light irritated her eyes.”;bother 更强调打扰、麻烦,常指行动上的干扰,如“Sorry to bother you.”;disturb 则指扰乱安宁或正常秩序,语气最重,如“Do not disturb the sleeping baby.”。选择时,若强调情绪上的轻微恼怒,用 annoy;若强调身体或感官不适,用 irritate;若强调打扰他人,用 bother;若涉及安静或秩序,用 disturb。
易错提醒
annoy 属于中低语域,口语中常用,正式写作中较少。其语气通常不强烈,但若用于描述严重问题,可能显得轻描淡写,需谨慎。annoy 本身为中性词,但“annoying”常带贬义,如“He is an annoying person.”。常见误用包括:将“annoy”与“anger”混淆,后者程度更强;或误用“annoy”为不及物动词,如“He annoyed.”(应为“He was annoyed.”)。此外,注意“annoy”的过去式和过去分词均为“annoyed”,拼写正确。
常见搭配
annoy someone
be annoyed at/about something
be annoyed with someone
annoying habit
annoyed expression
visible annoyance
to someone's annoyance
用法示例
The way he chews his food really annoys me.他嚼东西的样子真让我恼火。
It annoyed her that no one listened to her suggestion.没人听她的建议让她很生气。
I was annoyed at the constant interruptions during the meeting.会议期间不断被打断让我很烦。
He is annoyed with his roommate for leaving the dishes unwashed.他对室友不洗碗感到生气。
The buzzing of the mosquito annoyed the campers all night.蚊子的嗡嗡声整晚都在烦扰露营者。
She tried to hide her annoyance at the delay.她试图掩饰对延误的恼怒。