Women
“Women” 是 “woman” 的不规则复数,泛指多位成年女性;在当代用法中也常出现在 “women’s rights” 等表达里,强调群体身份与社会议题。
- “Many women lead teams in this company.” (这家公司里许多女性带领团队。)
- “The clinic offers services for women of all ages.” (这家诊所为各年龄段女性提供服务。)
- “Women voted in large numbers in that election.” (那次选举中有大量女性投票。)
“Woman” 源自古英语 “wīfmann”(字面义为“女人的人”,与 “wife” 同源),复数在中古英语阶段由 “wimmen” 类形式演变为现代 “women”。
属于元音交替的不规则复数(woman → women),不是简单加 “-s”。
英语里 “women” 与 “men” 常成对出现讨论性别平等;注意书面语中 “women doctors” 不如 “women who are doctors” 自然,体现名词作定语时的语体偏好。
- 固定搭配: “women’s rights” (妇女权利), “women leaders” (女性领导者)
发音从 “ˈwʊmən” 跳到 “ˈwɪmɪn”:元音变短变紧,像一群人聚在一起低声交谈的语感。
“Women from three neighborhoods organized a clean-up day at the riverbank.” (来自三个街区的女性们在河岸组织了一次清洁日。)