weakness noun ⇨weakness1 (the weakness in this argument/approach/proposal)⇨weakness2 (We all have our weaknesses.)⇨taste1 (a weakness for chocolate)weakness1
noun
the weakness in this argument/approach/proposal这个论点/方法/建议的不足之处We all have our weaknesses.我们都有各自的弱点。weakness ♦︎ limitation ♦︎ shortcoming ♦︎ failingThese are all words for sth that is wrong with a system, plan or argument.这些词均表示系统、计划或论点的不足、缺点。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆a weakness / a limitation / a shortcoming / a failing in sth◆despite / in spite of sth's weaknesses / limitations / shortcomings / failings◆a great / serious / major weakness / limitation / shortcoming / failing◆to have / suffer from weaknesses / limitations / shortcomings◆to expose / reveal / identify / highlight the weaknesses / limitations / shortcomings / failings of sth◆to overcome the weaknesses / limitations / shortcomings of sth■weakness [countable] a weak point in a system, plan, argument or piece of work that makes it less successful than it could be(系统、计划、论点或作品的)弱点,缺点,不足◆Can you spot the weakness in that argument?你能指出那个论点的不足之处吗?◆Try to consider the relative strengths and weaknesses of your work.要想想你的作品的相对优点和缺点。OPPstrength ⇨ benefitnoun1■limitation [countable, usually plural] a limit on what sb/sth can do or how good they/it can be局限;限度◆This technique is useful but it has its limitations.这一技术实用,但也有局限性。◆She has serious limitations as a poet.作为一位诗人,她有严重的局限性。■shortcomingˈʃɔːtkʌmɪŋ; NAmEˈʃɔːrtkʌmɪŋ [countable, usually plural] a fault in a system, service, plan or piece of work that makes it fail in what it is supposed to do(系统、服务、计划或作品的)缺点,短处◆What are the real shortcomings in the inspection procedure?该审查程序的真正不足在哪里?NOTE辨析 Weakness or shortcoming?In many cases you can use either word. However, a weakness is usually sth that makes sth fail to be as good as it should be for its own sake.在许多情况下这两个词可以通用。但是weakness通常指因自身缺陷而不能达到预期的良好效果◆We need to highlight any potential weaknesses in the proposal(= or the proposal may not be accepted).我们需要注意该建议可能存在的任何不足。A shortcoming is usually sth that makes sth fail in its duty to other people. * shortcoming通常指因缺点而未能向他人履行职责◆The report highlights the shortcomings of the prison service(= where it is failing prisoners / society).该报告特别强调了监狱部门的缺失。■failing [countable, usually plural] a fault in a system, often a serious one(常指系统内严重的)弱点,缺陷◆The enquiry noted several failings in the current system.调查指出了目前系统的几个致命缺陷。weakness2
noun
the weakness in this argument/approach/proposal这个论点/方法/建议的不足之处We all have our weaknesses.我们都有各自的弱点。weakness ♦︎ fault ♦︎ inadequacy ♦︎ frailty ♦︎ vice ♦︎ failing ♦︎ flawThese are all words for sth that is wrong with a person's character.这些词均表示性格上的弱点。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆a weakness / a fault / inadequacies / a vice / a failing / a flaw in sb / sth◆despite / in spite of sb's weaknesses / faults / inadequacies / failings / flaws◆sb's own weaknesses / faults / inadequacies / frailties / vices / failings◆sb's only weakness / fault / vice◆a great weakness / fault / vice / failing◆a serious weakness / fault / vice / flaw◆moral weakness / faults / inadequacy / failings◆human weakness / faults / frailty / failings◆personal weakness / inadequacy / failings◆to have weaknesses / faults / a vice / failings / a flaw■weakness [countable, uncountable] a weak point in sb's character(性格上的)弱点,缺点,不足◆She admits that her love of luxury is one of her greatest weaknesses.她承认爱好奢华是她最大的弱点之一。◆You need to be aware of your own strengths and weaknesses.你要了解自己的优缺点。◆He regarded asking for help as a sign of weakness.他认为求助于人是软弱的表现。OPPstrength ⇨ strength, strength ⇨ benefitnoun1■fault [countable] something that is wrong or not perfect in sb's character(性格上的)弱点,缺点,不良点◆We all have our faults.我们都有各自的弱点。◆She was prepared to overlook his faults.她已经做好准备,对他的缺点视而不见。◆I love her for all her faults(= despite her faults).尽管她有这么多缺点,我还是爱她。◆She is blind to all her son's faults.她对儿子的缺点一概视而不见。NOTE辨析 Weakness or fault?A fault is often more serious than a weakness. A weakness is often a weak point that people see in themselves; a fault is usually sth that they see in other people. * fault常比weakness更严重。weakness常指自己的弱点,fault通常指他人的不足。■inadequacy ɪnˈædɪkwəsi [countable, usually plural, uncountable] a weakness in sb's character that means they are not as good as they should or could be(性格上的)弱点,缺陷◆She had to face up to her own inadequacies as a mother.她不得不正视自己作为母亲的不足。◆The prime minister's personal inadequacy contributed to the fall of the government.首相的个人缺陷导致了政府的垮台。■frailty ˈfreɪlti [uncountable, countable, usually plural] (formal) weakness in sb's character or morals, especially considered as a natural human characteristic(尤指人性中的)弱点,懦弱,软弱◆He has shown enough evidence of human frailty.他的表现足以证明人性的懦弱。◆We are all subject to the frailties of human nature.我们都受制于人性的种种弱点。■vice [countable] a bad or immoral quality in sb's character; sth bad or immoral that sb does邪恶;恶行;不道德行为◆Of his many vices, his cruelty was the worst.他作恶多端,尤以残暴为甚。◆ (humorous) The occasional cigar is my only vice.我唯一的罪过是偶尔抽支烟。OPPvirtueⓘ A virtue is a particular good quality or habit. * virtue指美德◆Patience is not one of her virtues, I'm afraid.恐怕她不具有耐心这一美德。■failing [countable, usually plural] a fault or weakness in sb's character, especially where they fail in the care or duty they owe other people(性格上的)弱点,缺点(尤指因此不能履行义务)◆She was well aware of her own failings.她非常了解自己的弱点。■flaw [countable] a weakness in sb's character(性格上的)弱点,缺点◆The hero's fatal flaw is ambition.主人公的致命弱点是野心太大。ⓘ Flaw is used especially to talk about the faults of characters in books and plays. A character's fatal flaw is a weakness that causes their own failure or destruction. * flaw尤指书和戏剧中人物的缺点,fatal flaw指导致失败或毁灭的致命弱点。