➡ See also the entry for equivalentadj.另见equivalent形容词词条relative ♦︎ proportional ♦︎ proportionateThese words all describe things that are considered according to their position or connection with sth else.这些词均表示相对而言的、相关联的。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆relative / proportional / proportionate to sth◆a relative / proportional / proportionate increase■relativeconsidered according to its position or connection with sth else; considered and judged by being compared with sth else; that exists or has a particular quality only when compared with sth else相对的;相关联的;相比较而言的;相比之下存在(或具有)的◆the position of the sun relative to the earth太阳与地球的相对位置◆You must consider the relative merits of the two plans.你必须考虑相比较之下两个计划各自的优点。◆They now live in relative comfort(= compared with how they lived before).他们现在过得比较舒适。◆It's all relative though, isn't it? We never had any money when I was a kid and $500 was a fortune to us.不过,一切都是相对的,是不是?我们小时候根本没钱,500块对我们就是很大一笔钱了。▸relatively
adverb
◆At first glance the poem seems to be relatively straightforward.乍一看,这首诗似乎比较直白。◆The colleges had become, relatively speaking, short of funds.相对来说,这些学院资金开始紧拙。■proportionalprəˈpɔːʃənl; NAmEprəˈpɔːrʃənl (ratherformal) increasing or decreasing in size, amount or degree according to changes in sth else(尺寸、数量或程度)成比例的,相应的,相称的◆Salary is directly proportional to years of experience.薪金与资历直接挂钩。◆The number of teachers appointed is proportional to the total number of students.委派教师人数和学生总数成比例。 see also proportion ⇨ ratio▸proportionally
adverb
◆Families with children spend proportionally less per person than families without children.有子女家庭比无子女家庭人均开销相对要少。■proportionateprəˈpɔːʃənət; NAmEprəˈpɔːrʃənət (formal) proportional, especially when it is a question of what is fair or reasonable(尤指涉及公平或合理时)成比例的,相应的,相称的◆Inner cities have more than a proportionate share of social problems.内城区的社会问题多得不合比例。◆Penalties should be proportionate to the gravity of the offence.惩罚应与所犯罪行的严重程度相应。OPPdisproportionate ⇨ excessive▸proportionately
adverb
◆Prices have risen but wages have not risen proportionately.物价上涨了,但工资并未相应增加。NOTE辨析 Proportional or proportionate?In many cases you can use either word.在许多情况下这两个词可以通用◆Salary is proportional / proportionate to experience.薪金视资历而定。◆proportional / proportionate increases in costs成本的相应增加In these cases proportionate is more formal and less frequent than proportional. However, proportionate is often used when the question is not simply one of comparing two amounts, but of judging two actions or decisions and deciding whether one is fair or reasonable after considering the other.在这些情况下,proportionate较正式,不如proportional常用。不过,如果谈论的不仅仅是两个数量的比较,而是对两个行动或决定作出判断,并评定哪一个更公平或合理时,常用proportionate◆The police response should be proportionate to the level of risk posed.警方的反应应该与事件的风险程度相称。The opposite, disproportionate, can be used when an action or judgement is not fair or reasonable in response to another action or situation. The opposite of proportional is inversely proportional. * proportionate的反义词是disproportionate,指某个行动或判断和另一个行动或情况不相称,显得不公平或不合理。proportional的反义词是inversely proportional(成反比)◆The amount of force needed is inversely proportional to the rigidity of the material(= the more rigid the material, the less force is needed).所需力量大小与材料刚性成反比。