vulnerable ♦︎ at risk ♦︎ helpless ♦︎ endangered ♦︎ open to sth ♦︎ exposed ♦︎ defencelessThese words all describe sb/sth that is not well protected.这些词均表示缺乏保护的、易受伤害的、脆弱的。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆vulnerable / open / exposed to criticism, attack, etc.◆helpless / defenceless against sth◆vulnerable / helpless / defenceless people / children◆helpless / defenceless civilians / victims◆a vulnerable / an endangered species◆a vulnerable / a helpless / an exposed position◆to feel vulnerable / at risk / helpless / exposed / defenceless◆to leave sb / sth vulnerable / at risk / helpless / open to sth / exposed / defenceless◆totally / completely vulnerable / helpless / defenceless◆highly vulnerable / endangered / exposed◆increasingly vulnerable / at risk / exposed■vulnerable ˈvʌlnərəbl weak and easily hurt physically or emotionally(身体或感情上)脆弱的,易受⋯伤害的◆Exhaustion from their long and fruitless war had left them vulnerable to attack.长期而无果的战争所造成的疲惫使得他们易于受到攻击。◆We should protect the most vulnerable members of our society.我们应该保护那些最易受伤害的社会成员。■ˌat ˈrisk
idiom
in danger of sth unpleasant or harmful happening有危险;冒风险◆Butterflies are at risk from attack by birds.蝴蝶有受到鸟类攻击的危险。◆Lone parent families with young children are particularly at risk of becoming homeless.有年幼孩子的单亲家庭特别易于变得无家可归。◆If we go to war, innocent lives will be put at risk.如果我们发动战争,无辜的生命就会受到威胁。 see also risk ⇨ risk1■helplessunable to take care of yourself or do things without the help of other people无自理能力的;不能自立的;无助的◆Paul threw up his hands in a helpless gesture of surrender.保罗举起双手,做出一种无可奈何的投降姿势。◆He lay helpless on the floor.他无助地躺在地板上。◆It's natural to feel helpless against such abuse.对这种虐待感到无能为力是自然的。▸helplessly
adverb
◆They watched helplessly as their home went up in flames.他们无奈地看着自己的家被大火烧毁。■endangeredɪnˈdeɪndʒəd; NAmEɪnˈdeɪndʒərdat risk of disappearing or being destroyed濒危的;有可能消失的;有可能毁坏的◆The sea turtle is an endangered species(= it may soon no longer exist).海龟是濒危物种。◆The group has campaigned to save several endangered buildings in the area.该组织展开了一场拯救这地区几座濒危建筑的运动。 see also endanger ⇨ threaten2■open to sthnot well protected from sth such as attack, injury or criticism易受损害;脆弱◆The system is open to abuse.这种制度容易被滥用。 see also lay sb open to sth ⇨ expose■exposedɪkˈspəʊzd; NAmEɪkˈspoʊzd(of a person) not protected from danger, attack or criticism(人)无保护的,易受攻击(或批评)的◆She was left feeling exposed and vulnerable.她感到自己孤立无助,非常脆弱。◆From the moment of birth, a baby is exposed to all the hazards in the external environment.从出生那刻起,婴儿便受到外在环境的各种威胁。 see also expose ⇨ expose, exposed ⇨ bare■defenceless (BrE) (NAmEdefenseless) weak and not able to protect yourself; having no protection软弱的;不能自卫的;无防御的◆I can't believe that we persist in such cruelty to defenceless animals.我无法相信我们一直在虐待这些不能自卫的动物。◆The village is defenceless against attack.这个村庄毫无防御能力。