小词详解 | turmoil

本文转载自：田间小站

一、外刊例句

• At the height of the recentturmoilin the Chinese stockmarkets Apple’s boss, Tim Cook, reassured investors that “I continue to believe China represents an unprecedented opportunity over the long term.”
  在近期中国股市动荡最剧烈之时，苹果的老板蒂姆·库克安抚投资者说：“我仍然相信，从长期看，中国有着前所未有的机会。”
  ——《经济学人》
• Kin’s career is remarkable partly because it unfolded against such a noisy backdrop: The 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, as well as politicalturmoilin China surrounding the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1912.
  金韵梅的职业生涯非常引人注目，部分原因在于它有着极为嘈杂的背景：1882年的《排华法案》，以及1912年清朝覆灭时期中国的政治动荡。
  ——《纽约时报》

二、基本释义

[noun] a state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty
[名词] 极度紊乱、混乱或不确定的状态

三、深入解读

Turmoil 词源不详，有说法认为该词可能是中古法语 tremouille （磨坊料斗）的变体，现主要表示“骚动、混乱”，多用于形容政治、金融等领域处于动荡之中，强调一切都在兴奋中翻腾，比如：

• 沧海横流，方显出英雄本色。
  When the seas are in turmoil, heroes are on their mettle.
• 她的婚姻一团糟。
  Her marriage was in turmoil.

除了形容外在事物以外， turmoil 也可以用来表示内心乱作一团，即“心烦意乱、焦虑不安”，强调遭受到无法逃避的烦扰或纷扰，比如：

• 纷乱的情绪让我心力交瘁。
  My emotional turmoil had drained me.

四、权威用例

中国海外利益面临国际和地区动荡、恐怖主义、海盗活动等现实威胁。
China’s overseas interests are endangered by immediate threats such as international and regionalturmoil, terrorism, and piracy.

出自《新时代的中国国防》（China’s National Defense in the New Era）白皮书。

五、同近义词

• mayhem: confusion and fear, usually caused by violent behaviour or by some sudden shocking event
• commotion: a state of confused and noisy disturbance
• ferment: agitation and excitement among a group of people, typically concerning major change and leading to trouble or violence