break up与break down的区别

break up与break down的区别

一、break up

break up的关键词是up,up有“散开”之意,朗文现代英语词典的解释是“used after some verbs to show that something is cut, broken etc into pieces or divided into parts”。所以,break up意为“使分开,使分解”,可以比喻“分手”等含义。例:

They broke up the big company into several smaller ones. 他们把这个大公司分解为三个小公司。(注:ones=companies)

相关词汇:

tear up,撕破,如:Why did you tear up the letter? 你为什么撕了这封信?

cup up,切碎,如:cut up the wood into small pieces 把这块木头砍成小块

二、break down

break down意为“出问题,出毛病,坏了”,可比喻为“不成功”等,如:

The car broke down just north of Paris. 车在巴黎以北坏了。

Negotiation broke down after only two days. 只过了两天谈判就出了问题。

三、翻译练习

他们把这个大公司分解为三个小公司。

你为什么撕了这封信?

把这块木头砍成小块

车在巴黎以北坏了。

只过了两天谈判就出了问题。

Their marriage broke down because of some financial issues.

I left London after my marriage broke up.