VOA慢速英语2021 名师答疑：Try和Attempt之间的区别

This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question from Lestyo from Indonesia¹.

在今天的名师答疑节目中，我们回复来自印尼的莱斯特约提出的一个问题。

Question:

提问：

I would like to know what is the difference between "attempt" and "try?" Thank you very much.

我想知道try和attempt之间有什么区别？非常感谢！

Answer:

回复：

Dear Lestyo,

亲爱的莱斯特约，

Thank you for writing, and yes, we will try to help!

感谢你的来信，是的，我们会尽力帮助你！

The words "try" and "attempt" have very similar meanings. But there is a small yet important difference between "try" and "attempt."

Try和attempt的意思非常接近。但是在try和attempt之间还是存在细微差别。

"Try" is more informal². You use it while speaking with friends and family. "Attempt" is more formal. You often use it while speaking and writing about reaching a goal.

Try更为不正式。你在跟亲朋好友交谈时会用到这个单词。Attempt更为正式。你经常会在提到实现某个目标时用到它。

Try

尝试

"Try" means³ to make an effort to do something. When you try something, you may not care about the result. The effort is on doing the activity more than reaching a goal. We also use "try" for doing something that we may have not done before.

Try是指尽力去做某事。当时尽力做某事时，你可能并不在乎结果。这种尽力是强调做这件事，而不是达成某个目标。我们在提到做一件以前可能从来没做过的事情时也会用try。

Native English speakers often use the word "try" when speaking about something they want to do in daily activities. Here are two examples:

以英语为母语的人士通常在谈到他们日常生活中想做的事情时会使用try这个单词。以下是两个例子：

I tried a new shirt on and loved it, so I bought it.

我试了一件新衬衣，我很喜欢，所以把它买下来了。

I went to my favorite restaurant and tried a soup for the first time.

我去了一家我最喜欢的餐馆，第一次品尝了一种汤。

When you say "I tried a soup," it means just to taste it. However, it will mean something different if you say, "I tried to eat soup." It means you tried but could not.

当你说“我品尝了一种汤”时，它的意思只是尝一尝。然而，如果你说 I tried to eat soup，那意思就不一样了。它的意思是你试图喝汤，但是喝不下去。

Attempt

试图

"Attempt" also means to try to do something. The meaning is similar to "try" but the result is more important than just doing the activity. You use it to show an activity or a situation that is more difficult or more official:

Attempt也是指尝试做某事。它的意思跟try很接近，但是尝试的结果比做的过程更为重要。你用它来表示一种更为困难或更为正式的活动或状况：

I attempted to get a good grade on the TOEFL test and I was successful.

我试图在托福考试中取得好成绩，我成功了。

He attempted to climb Mt. Everest, but the conditions were too dangerous.

他试图攀登珠穆朗玛峰，但是形势太危险了。

Yes, you still can use "try" in place of "attempt" in both examples. But you want to use "attempt" for something special and important in someone's life.

是的，在这两个例子中，你仍然可以用try来代替attempt。但是在提到某人生命中非常特别和重要的事情时要用attempt。

I'm happy that you are trying to use new words every day. And I look forward to seeing your attempt to use them in the comments.

我很高兴大家每天都在尝试运用新的单词。我期待看到大家在评论中尝试使用这些单词。

1 Indonesia   

n.印度尼西亚

参考例句：

• You see,I stayed in Indonesia for eight years.你知道，我在印度尼西亚呆了8年。
• Indonesia has more active volcanoes than any other country.印尼是世界上活火山最多的国家。

2 informal   

adj.非正式的，不拘礼的，通俗的

参考例句：

• I got an informal reception.我受到了非正式接待。
• The leaders met over informal lunches.领袖们在非正式午餐时进行会晤。

3 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。