New words:

expand [ɪkˈspænd] v.扩大;扩展

由前缀 ex-(向外、超出) + 词根 -pand-(伸展、张开)构成,字面意思是 “向外伸展、超出原有范围

核心语义围绕“体积、规模、数量、内容等从原有状态扩大” 展开。


必记搭配:

具体场景:

expand the factory/company(扩建工厂 / 公司)
expand the photo/image(放大照片 / 图像)
expand the balloon(使气球膨胀)
expand the road(拓宽道路,与 broaden/widen 近义)

抽象场景(最常用):

expand vocabulary/knowledge(扩大词汇量 / 知识面)
expand business/market(拓展业务 / 市场)
expand population/numbers(增长人口 / 数量)
expand on/upon sth(详述某事)

固定短语:

expand rapidly(快速扩大)
expand gradually(逐渐扩展)
expand into other areas(拓展到其他领域)

Sample Sentences:

The balloon will expand when you blow air into it.
The company plans to expand its factory to make more cars.
She wants to expand her English vocabulary by reading more.


widen broaden expand extend易混词辨析

New words:

broaden [ˈbrɔd(ə)n] v.变宽;变阔;(使)扩大影响;增长(经验、知识等)

由形容词 “broad”(宽的、广阔的) + 动词后缀 “-en”(使… 变得)构成,字面意思是 “使某物变得更宽

核心语义围绕 “范围、视野、能力等从窄向宽拓展” 展开。


必记搭配:

抽象场景(最常用):

broaden one’s horizons(拓宽某人的视野)
broaden knowledge/skills(扩大知识面 / 拓展技能)
broaden one’s mind(开阔某人的心胸)
broaden business/career(拓展业务 / 职业领域)

具体场景

broaden the road/river/bridge(拓宽道路 / 河流 / 桥梁)
broaden the gap(扩大差距)
broaden a smile(咧开嘴笑,使笑容更灿烂)

Sample Sentences:

Traveling can broaden your horizons.
We need to broaden the road to reduce traffic jams.


New words:

security /sɪˈkjʊərəti/ n. 安全;安保;保障措施

secure 的名词形式 → “安全的状态保障安全的措施

必记搭配:

具体安保搭配:

security guard(保安)、security check(安检)、security system(安保系统)
data security(数据安全)、national security(国家安全)

抽象保障搭配:

sense of security(安全感)、social security(社会保障)
financial security(经济保障)、job security(工作稳定性)

动作搭配:

improve security(加强安全 / 安保)、ensure security(确保安全)
check security(检查安全性)、provide security(提供保障)

Sample Sentences:

They carried out security checks at the airport.

There are two security guards at the building’s entrance.


词根(-sur-/-sure-)常用单词分类

  1. 表 “保障 / 保险”(与 “规避风险、提供安全保障” 相关)
  2. 表 “确定 / 肯定”(与 “态度、判断上的确定性” 相关)
  3. 表 “安全 / 稳固”(与 “状态上的安全、稳固” 相关)

New words:

secure [sɪˈkjʊr] adj. 安全的;稳固的;v. 保护;获得

se- 加强 + -cur- = sur- (安全) → “高度安全的”,形容词表 “安全稳固”,动词表 “采取措施获得安全 / 某物”

如 “secure environment”(安全的环境)、“secure a job”(获得一份工作))


必记搭配:

形容词搭配:

安全 / 稳固类:secure house(安全的房子)、secure ladder(稳固的梯子)、secure job(稳定的工作)

情绪类:feel secure(感到安心)、be secure in one’s position(职位稳固)

动词搭配:

保护类:secure the building(保护建筑)、secure valuables(保管贵重物品)、secure the area(封锁区域)

获得类:secure a job(找到工作)、secure a loan(获得贷款)、secure a victory(赢得胜利)


Sample Sentences:

The safe keeps our money secure from thieves.
Make sure the ladder is secure before climbing.

He secured a good job after graduation.
We need to secure the windows before the storm comes.


New words:

ensure [ɪnˈʃʊr] v. 确保;保证

en- 使… + -sur- 确定 → “使结果确定发生”,侧重 “通过行动确保目标实现”

“ensure safety”(确保安全)、“ensure timely delivery”(保证及时交付)


必记搭配:

核心搭配(必背):

ensure + 名词(确保某物 / 某事,如 ensure safety/success/progress)
ensure that + 从句(确保…,从句常用一般现在时表将来)

常见场景搭配:

ensure quality(保证质量)、ensure accuracy(确保准确性)
ensure timely delivery(保证及时交付)、ensure fairness(确保公平)

动作延伸搭配:

take measures to ensure(采取措施确保)
do one’s best to ensure(尽最大努力保证)

Sample Sentences:

Please ensure that you arrive on time tomorrow.
I need to ensure my bag is locked before leaving.


易混词辨析(assure、ensure、insure)