① youth表示“男青年”,為可數(shù)名詞,尤指十幾歲的男青年,小伙子,有時含有貶義。
He is a youth of eighteen years old. 他是一個18歲的青年。
Tom and the other three youths will go with you. 湯姆和別的三個青年將同你一起去。
The police arrested several youths who were causing trouble in the street. 警察逮捕了幾個在街上鬧事的年輕人。
② youth表示“青年們”,為集體名詞,不可加s。
Today's youth is/are the hope of the future. 今天的青年是未來的希望。
③ youth表示“青年時代”,為不可數(shù)名詞。
He spent his youth in the countryside. 他在農(nóng)村度過了青年時代。
提示
youth發(fā)音為[ju?θ],但其復數(shù)形式y(tǒng)ouths發(fā)音為[ju?ðz]。
④ young是形容詞,意為“年輕的,年輕人的”,“男青年”可以說young man(person),“年輕女子”可以說young woman (lady)。
Young people should work hard for the future. 年輕人應該為未來而勤奮工作。
A young woman spread a cloth over the table. 一位年輕女子在桌子上鋪了一塊布。
⑤ the young指“青年(人)”,為總稱,復數(shù)概念,與the old(老年,老年人)相對。
The music is popular with the young. 這首曲子很受年輕人歡迎。
⑥ youngster為可數(shù)名詞,“意為“少年,年輕人,小伙子”,尤指天真、活潑的少年、男孩。
Jim is a lively youngster. 吉姆是個活潑的少年。
Several youngsters are playing football over there. 幾個小伙子在那邊踢足球。