guarded
英 /ˈɡɑːdɪd/美 /ˈɡɑːrdɪd/
adj. 形容词
谨慎的;受保护的;有保留的
用法示例
- The company gave a guarded response to the takeover bid.公司对收购要约作出了谨慎的回应。
- She was guarded about her past, rarely talking about her childhood.她对自己的过去很谨慎,很少谈论童年。
- The prisoner was kept under guarded watch.囚犯处于严密的看守之下。
- Investors are cautiously optimistic, but their optimism is guarded.投资者持谨慎乐观态度,但这种乐观是有保留的。
- His guarded expression made it hard to tell what he was thinking.他谨慎的表情让人难以看出他在想什么。
- The secret remained well-guarded for decades.这个秘密被严密保守了几十年。
含义详解
guarded 的本义是“被守卫的、受保护的”,源自动词 guard(守卫)。由此引申出“谨慎的、有保留的”这一常用义,因为被守卫的人或物往往受到限制,行为或言语不轻易表露。例如,a guarded response(谨慎的回答)指说话人有所保留,不透露全部信息。在体育或军事语境中,guarded 可能指“被盯防的”或“有戒备的”。总体而言,guarded 的核心是“不充分暴露,有所防备”。
词源解析
guarded 源自法语 garder(保护),最终可追溯至日耳曼语源。英语中 guard 作动词意为“保卫、看守”,加后缀 -ed 构成形容词,表示“被守卫的”或“处于戒备状态的”。记忆时可将 guard(守卫)与 -ed(被动的)结合,理解为“被守卫的”,进而联想为“说话做事像被守卫一样小心谨慎”。
适用语境
guarded 常见于正式或书面语境。在新闻报道中,常用 guarded optimism(谨慎乐观)描述对前景有保留的乐观态度。在商务沟通中,a guarded response 表示回答有所保留。在文学作品中,guarded 可形容人物的表情或语气,如 a guarded look(警惕的神情)。日常口语中较少使用,但可以说“He was guarded about his plans.”(他对计划有所保留)。语气上,guarded 比 careful 更强调防御性,比 cautious 更侧重不轻易透露。
用法须知
guarded 是形容词,可作定语或表语。作表语时,常与介词 about 或 in 搭配,如 be guarded about one's feelings(对感情有所保留)。也可用 well-guarded 表示“防守严密的”,如 a well-guarded secret(严守的秘密)。注意 guarded 不是动词,不可直接接宾语。易错点:勿将 guarded 与 guarding 混淆,前者是形容词,后者是现在分词。
相似词辨析
guarded 与 cautious(谨慎的)相近,但 cautious 强调行动前的仔细考虑,guarded 则强调防备和保留。careful(小心的)更中性,指注意细节。reserved(矜持的)侧重于性格内向,不轻易表达。而 guarded 往往有“因担心风险而设防”的意味。例如,a cautious driver(谨慎的司机)不一定有防备心,而 a guarded answer(有保留的回答)则暗示回答者有所隐瞒。
常见误区
guarded 属于中性偏正式词汇,无强烈褒贬。在正式写作中,guarded optimism 是常见搭配,表示“谨慎乐观”,此时略带积极色彩。在日常口语中,若说某人 guarded,可能暗示其不坦诚或难以接近。常见误用:将 guarded 与 guaranteed(保证的)混淆,两者拼写相近但意义完全不同。
常见搭配
- guarded optimism
- guarded response
- guarded about
- guarded look/expression
- well-guarded
- guarded secret
- carefully guarded