inhabit ~ inhibit
【居住于、栖息于 ~ 抑制、阻止】
inhabit vs. inhibit 的区别详解
1. 词性区别：
- inhabit（动词）：表示“居住于、栖息于”，强调某个地方被人或动物长期居住。
- inhibit（动词）：表示“抑制、阻止”，强调某个行为、情绪或生长受到限制。
2. 词义及用法解析
（1）inhabit [ɪnˈhæbɪt] （动词）
主要含义：
- 居住、栖息（某个地方是某个群体的常住地）
- 🔹 The rainforest is inhabited by many rare species.
（雨林栖息着许多稀有物种。） - 🔹 Only a few people inhabit the remote island.
（只有少数人居住在这个偏远的岛上。）
- 🔹 The rainforest is inhabited by many rare species.
- 被……占据（可用于比喻意义，表示某种情绪或思想占据某人的头脑）
- 🔹 A deep sadness inhabited his heart.
（深深的悲伤充满了他的内心。）
- 🔹 A deep sadness inhabited his heart.
常见搭配：
- be inhabited by → 被……居住
- 🔹 The forest is inhabited by many wild animals.
（这片森林栖息着许多野生动物。）
- 🔹 The forest is inhabited by many wild animals.
- inhabit a place → 居住在某地
- 🔹 Ancient tribes inhabited this valley thousands of years ago.
（数千年前，古代部落居住在这个山谷。）
- 🔹 Ancient tribes inhabited this valley thousands of years ago.
（2）inhibit [ɪnˈhɪbɪt] （动词）
主要含义：
- 抑制、阻碍（使某事变得困难或不可能发生）
- 🔹 Fear of failure inhibits many people from taking risks.
（对失败的恐惧阻碍了许多人冒险。） - 🔹 Cold temperatures inhibit plant growth.
（低温抑制植物生长。）
- 🔹 Fear of failure inhibits many people from taking risks.
- 限制某人的行为或情绪（使某人感到拘束、不自在）
- 🔹 His shyness inhibited him from speaking in public.
（他的羞怯让他不敢在公众场合发言。）
- 🔹 His shyness inhibited him from speaking in public.
常见搭配：
- inhibit someone from doing something → 使某人不敢做某事
- 🔹 The strict rules inhibit students from expressing their opinions freely.
（严格的规定抑制了学生自由表达意见。）
- 🔹 The strict rules inhibit students from expressing their opinions freely.
- inhibit growth/development → 抑制增长/发展
- 🔹 High taxes can inhibit economic growth.
（高税收可能抑制经济增长。）
- 🔹 High taxes can inhibit economic growth.
3. 例句对比
| 句子 | 解析 |
|---|---|
| The island is inhabited by a small fishing community. | inhabit（居住）：岛上有一个小渔村，长期有人居住。 |
| The cold climate inhibits plant growth. | inhibit（抑制）：寒冷气候使植物生长受阻。 |
| This cave was inhabited by early humans. | inhabit（居住）：这个洞穴曾是远古人类的住所。 |
| His nervousness inhibited him from performing well. | inhibit（抑制）：他的紧张让他表现不好。 |
4. 主要区别总结
| inhabit（居住） | inhibit（抑制） | |
|---|---|---|
| 含义 | 长期居住于某地 | 抑制、阻碍某事 |
| 对象 | 人、动物、群体 | 发展、行为、情绪、生长 |
| 影响程度 | 强调存在、居住 | 强调限制、抑制 |
| 例句 | Penguins inhabit Antarctica.（企鹅生活在南极。） | Stress inhibits creativity.（压力抑制创造力。） |
5. 记忆技巧
- inhabit = in + habit（“在某地养成习惯” → 住在某地） → 表示“长期居住”
- inhibit = in + hibit（拉丁词根 habere，意为“抓住”） → “限制、约束” → 表示“抑制、阻碍”
如果某个地方是某种生物的家 → inhabit
如果某种行为、发展、情绪被限制或压制 → inhibit