- [countable, uncountable] (old-fashioned, often offensive)
a permanent physical or mental condition that makes it difficult or impossible to use a particular part of your body or mind 生理缺陷；弱智；残疾 Despite her handicap, Jane is able to hold down a full-time job. 简尽管有生理缺陷，却能够保住一份全职工作。 mental/physical/visual handicap 智力／生理／视力缺陷
Which Word? disabled / handicappeddisabled / handicapped- Disabled is the most generally accepted term to refer to people with a permanent illness or injury that makes it difficult for them to use part of their body completely or easily. Handicapped is old-fashioned and many people now think it is offensive. The expressions disabled people or people with disabilities are often preferred to the disabled because they sound more personal.
- Disabled and disability can be used with other words to talk about a mental condition:
disabled 和 disability 可与其他词连用表示智力状况： mentally disabled 精神伤残的 learning disabilities. 学习障碍
- If somebody’s ability to hear, speak or see has been damaged but not destroyed completely, they have impaired hearing/speech/sight (or vision). They can be described as visually/hearing impaired or partially sighted:
The museum has special facilities for blind and partially sighted visitors. 博物馆有专门设备供失明和视力有缺陷的参观者使用。
Extra ExamplesTopics Illnessc2Over a million people in Great Britain suffer from mental handicap. 英国有一百多万人有智障。 She has managed to overcome her physical handicaps. 她设法克服了身体上的残疾。 She can't drive because of her visual handicap. 她因为视力缺陷不能开车。 Handicap can place a great deal of pressure on relatives. 残疾会给亲戚带来很大的压力。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- serious
- severe
- mild
- …
- be born with
- have
- suffer
- …
- despite a/the handicap
- [countable]
something that makes it difficult for somebody to do something 障碍；阻碍 Not speaking the language proved to be a bigger handicap than I'd imagined. 事实证明，不会讲这种语言所造成的障碍比我想象的大。 In a job like this, lack of experience is no real handicap. 在这样的工作中，缺乏经验并不是真正的障碍。
Extra ExamplesHis lack of height can prove a handicap against tall players. 他身高不足，和高个运动员交锋时会处于劣势。 Lack of books was a major handicap. 书籍匮乏是一大障碍。 This could be a serious handicap to her education. 这可能对她的教育构成严重障碍。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- considerable
- great
- …
- have
- suffer
- prove
- …
- despite a/the handicap
- handicap to
- [countable] (
sport 体育 a race or competition in which those who have most skill must run further, carry extra weight, etc. in order to give all those taking part an equal chance of winning; the disadvantage that is given to somebody you are competing against in such a race or competition 让赛，让步赛（使参赛者中的优势方跑得较远、增加负重等）；（让步赛中给优势方施加的）障碍，不利条件 - [countable]
(in golf 高尔夫球 the number of strokes (= hits) over par (= the expected number of strokes for a good player) that a player usually needs to complete a course. Handicaps are used to give an advantage to weaker players so that competition is more equal when they play against stronger players. 差点（给弱者减少的杆数，与实际杆数相关，并随参赛者的进度而减少） He plays off a handicap of 5. 他打了一个5的差点。
Word Originmid 17th cent.: from the phrase hand in cap; originally a pastime in which one person claimed an article belonging to another and offered something in exchange, any difference in value being decided by an umpire. All three deposited forfeit money in a cap; the two opponents showed their agreement or disagreement with the valuation by bringing out their hands either full or empty. If both were the same, the umpire took the forfeit money; if not it went to the person who accepted the valuation. The term handicap race was applied (late 18th cent.) to a horse race in which an umpire decided the weight to be carried by each horse, the owners showing acceptance or dissent in a similar way: hence in the late 19th cent. handicap came to mean the extra weight given to the superior horse.