In addition to the uses shown below, about is used after some verbs, nouns, and adjectives to introduce extra information. About is also often used after verbs of movement, such as ‘walk’ and ‘drive’, and in phrasal verbs such as ‘mess about’ and ‘set about’, especially in British English.
除下列用法外，about可用在一些动词、名词和形容词后引出附加信息。about还常用在walk, drive等表示动作的动词后或mess about，set about 等短语动词中，这类情况尤见于英国英语。
1
[PREP 介词]关于；对于；涉及；在…方面 You use about to introduce who or what something relates to or concerns.
She came in for a coffee, and told me about her friend Shona...
她进来喝了杯咖啡，并向我谈起了她的朋友肖纳。
She knew a lot about food...
她对食物很在行。
He never complains about his wife.
他从不抱怨妻子。
...advice about exercise and diet...
关于锻炼和饮食的建议
2
[PREP 介词]包含；目的是；为了 When you mention the things that an activity or institution is about, you are saying what it involves or what its aims are.
Leadership is about the ability to implement change.
领导才能就是要有实施变革的能力。
3
[PREP 介词]对…表示（情绪或心态） You use about after some adjectives to indicate the person or thing that a feeling or state of mind relates to.
'I'm sorry about Patrick,' she said...
“我为帕特里克感到难过，”她说。
I feel so guilty and angry about the whole issue.
我对整件事深感内疚和气愤。
4
[PREP 介词]针对（问题） If you do something about a problem, you take action in order to solve it.
Rachel was going to do something about Jacob...
蕾切尔将对雅各布有所行动。
He said he'd ask Nina for a divorce, but he never did anything about it.
他说会跟尼娜提出离婚，可是他却从未付诸实际。
5
[PREP 介词]（某人或某事物）具有（某种特性） When you say that there is a particular quality about someone or something, you mean that they have this quality.
There was a warmth and passion about him I never knew existed...
他身上有一股我从不知道的热情和激情。
I think there's something a little peculiar about the results of your test.
我认为你的化验结果有点不对劲。
6
[ADV 副词]大约；左右About is used in front of a number to show that the number is not exact.
[ADV num]
In my local health centre there's about forty parking spaces...
我们本地的保健中心约有40个停车位。
The rate of inflation is running at about 2.7 percent.
通货膨胀率大约为2.7%。
7
[ADV 副词]四下；到处 If someone or something moves about, they keep moving in different directions.
[ADV after v]
[v PREP n]
Everyone was running about.
大家都在跑来跑去。
About is also a preposition.
From 1879 to 1888 he wandered about Germany, Switzerland, and Italy...
从1879到1888年，他游历于德国、瑞士和意大利等地。
His hair was drifting about his shoulders like dirty snow.
他的头发像脏兮兮的雪一样披散在肩上。
8
[PREP 介词]围绕；环绕 If you put something about a person or thing, you put it around them.
Helen threw her arms about him...
海伦张开双臂拥抱他。
She was elegantly dressed with a double strand of pearls about her neck.
她着装典雅，搭配着一条双层珍珠项链。
9
[ADJ 形容词]在手头的；现成的；能得到的 If someone or something is about, they are present or available.
[v-link ADJ]
There's lots of money about these days for schemes like this.
近来这类计划资金充足。
10
[ADJ 形容词]即将（做…）的；快要（发生…）的 If you are about to do something, you are going to do it very soon. If something is about to happen, it will happen very soon.
[v-link ADJ to-inf]
I think he's about to leave...
我看他要走了。
Argentina has lifted all restrictions on trade and visas are about to be abolished...
阿根廷已经取消所有贸易限制，签证制也将废止。
The film was about to start.
电影快开场了。
11
how about→see:
how
； what about→see:
what
； just about→see:
just
；
Usage Note :
When you are talking about movement in no particular direction, you can use around and round as well as about. It's so romantic up there, flying around in a small plane... I spent a couple of hours driving round Richmond... Police constables walk about with guns on their hips. When you are talking about something being generally present or available, you can use around or about, but not round, as adverbs. There is a lot of talent around at the moment... There are not that many jobs about.Round has a lot of other meanings, as a noun, verb, and adjective which you can see at the entry for round. You cannot use about in these cases.
表示没有明确方向的移动，可用around, round 和about: It's so romantic up there, flying around in a small plane（坐着小型飞机在空中翱翔真浪漫），I spent a couple of hours driving round Richmond（我花了几个小时驱车漫游里士满），Police constables walk about with guns on their hips.（警员们胯上别枪四处巡逻）。表示某物就在手头或能够获得，可用around或about作副词， 但不可用round: There is a lot of talent around at the moment（目前有大量现成人才），There are not that many jobs about（可供选择的工作并不多）。round 作名词、动词和形容词有许多其他意思，参见round词条；在这些情况下不可用around。
12
[PHRASE 短语]（尤指一段时间无法自由行动后）四处走动，外出活动 If someone is out and about, they are going out and doing things, especially after they have been unable to for a while.
[usu PHR after v]
Despite considerable pain she has been getting out and about almost as normal...
尽管还很痛，她已经基本上行动如常。
The regulations were relaxed and the prisoners could get out and about a bit.
规定有所放宽，犯人可以出去短暂放风。
13
[PHRASE 短语]（常因工作）奔波 If someone is out and about, they are going to a lot of different places, often as part of their job.
[usu PHR after v]
They often saw me out and about.
他们经常看见我四处奔波。
Oxford
about★/əˈbaʊt; NAmEəˈbaʊt/
adverb
,
preposition
,
adjective
adverb★1★a little more or less than; a little before or after 大约；左右SYN
approximately
◆It costs about $10.这大约要花 10 元钱。◆They waited (for) about an hour.他们等了一小时左右。◆He arrived (at) about ten.他是十点钟左右到的。2★nearly; very close to 将近；几乎◆I'm just about ready.我就要准备好了。◆This is about the best we can hope for.这差不多是我们所能希望的最好结果。3★( especially BrE) in many directions; here and there 到处；处处；各处◆The children were rushing about in the garden.孩子们在花园里跑来跑去。4★( especially BrE) in no particular order; in various places 凌乱地；四处；到处◆Her books were lying about on the floor.她的书在地板上东一本西一本地放着。5( especially BrE) doing nothing in particular 闲着；无所事事◆People were standing about in the road.人们在路上闲站着。6( especially BrE) able to be found in a place 在某地；附近；周围◆There was nobody about.附近没有人。◆There's a lot of flu about.这一带流感肆虐。7( technical 术语orformal) facing the opposite direction 向后转；掉转方向；掉头◆He brought the ship about.他掉转船头。☞note at
around
IDIOMthat's about ˈall | that's about ˈitused to say that you have finished telling sb about sth and there is nothing to add 我要说的就是这些；我的话完了◆‘Anything else?’ ‘No, that's about it for now.’“还有什么要说的吗？”“没有了，现在我要说的就是这些。”☞more at
just
adv.,
out
adv.preposition★1★on the subject of sb/sth; in connection with sb/sth 关于；对于◆a book about flowers一本关于花卉的书◆Tell me all aboutit. 把这件事全部告诉我。◆What's she so angry about?她为什么生这么大的气？◆There's something strange about him.他有点怪。◆I don't know what you're on about(= talking about).我不懂你在谈什么。◆There's nothing you can do about it now.现在你对此毫无办法。2★used to describe the purpose or an aspect of sth 目的是；为了；涉及…方面◆Movies are all aboutmaking money these days. 当今电影就是只顾赚钱。◆What was all that about?(= what was the reason for what has just happened?)这到底是怎么回事？3★busy with sth; doing sth 忙于；从事于◆Everywhere people were going about their daily business.无论哪里，人们都在忙着干日常工作。◆And while you're about it… (= while you're doing that)在你干这件事的同时，顺便…4( especially BrE) in many directions in a place; here and there 在…到处；在…各处◆We wandered about the town for an hour or so.我们在城里到处游逛了一个小时左右。◆He looked about the room.他在房间里四下看了看。5( especially BrE) in various parts of a place; here and there 在…四处◆The papers were strewn about the room.房间里四处乱扔着文件。6( especially BrE) next to a place or person; in the area mentioned 在…附近；在…地方◆She's somewhere about the office.她在办公室里某处。7( literary) surrounding sb/sth 围绕◆She wore a shawl about her shoulders.她披了一件披肩。IDIOMhow/what about…?1★used when asking for information about sb/sth （询问消息）怎么样，如何◆How about Ruth? Have you heard from her?露丝怎么样了？你有她的消息吗？◆I'm having fish. What about you?我吃鱼，你呢？2★used to make a suggestion （建议时说）怎么样，好吗◆How about going for a walk?去散散步怎么样？◆( especially NAmE) How about we go for a walk?我们去散散步怎么样？◆What about a break?休息一下如何？adjective★IDIOMS★be about to do sthto be close to doing sth; to be going to do sth very soon 即将，行将，正要（做某事）◆I was just about to ask you the same thing.我刚才正要问你同一件事情。not be about to do sthto not be willing to do sth; to not intend to do sth 不愿，无意（做某事）◆I've never done any cooking and I'm not about to start now.我从来没有做过饭，也不想从现在开始做起来。LANGUAGE BANK 用语库aboutSaying what a text is about 描述文章的内容■The book is abouthomeless people in the cities. 这本书写的是城市中无家可归的人们。■The report deals withthe issue of homelessness in London. 这篇报道是关于伦敦的无家可归问题。■The writer discussesthe problems faced by homeless people. 作者讨论了无家可归者面临的种种问题。■The article presents an overview ofthe issues surrounding homelessness. 这篇文章概述了有关无家可归的种种问题。■The novel exploresthe theme of friendship among homeless people. 这部小说探究了无家可归的人之间的友谊这个主题。■The first chapter examinesthe relationship between homelessness and drug addiction. 第一章考察了无家可归与吸毒成瘾之间的关系。■The paper considersthe question of why so many young people become homeless. 这篇论文论述了为何如此多的年轻人变得无家可归的问题。about/əˈbaʊt; NAmEəˈbaʊt/
LDC
about1 preposition
about2 adverb
about3 adjective
abouta‧bout1 /əˈbaʊt/ ●●●S1W1 preposition
Examples
Thesaurus
Collocations
Phrases
1concerning or relating to a particular subject: a book about politics She said something about leaving town. He lied about his age. About that car of yours. How much are you selling it for? What’s he on about (=talking about)?It’s about Tommy, doctor. He’s been sick again. Naturally, my mother wanted to know all about it (=all the details relating to it).2used to show why someone is angry, happy, upset etc: I’m really worried about Jack. She’s upset about missing the party.3in many different directions within a particular place, or in different parts of a placeSYN around, round: We spent the whole afternoon walking about town. Books were scattered about the room.4in the nature or character of a person or thing: There’s something really strange about Liza.What I like about the job is that it’s never boring.5what/how about somebody/something spokena)used to ask a question that directs attention to another person or thing: What about Jack? We can’t just leave him here. I’m feeling hungry. How about you?b)used to make a suggestion: How about a salad for lunch?6do something about something to do something to solve a problem or stop a bad situation: If we don’t do something about it, the problem is going to get worse. What can be done about the rising levels of pollution?7if an organization, a job, an activity etc is about something, that is its basic purpose: Leadership is all about getting your team to co-operate.8it’s all about somebody/something used to say who or what is important in a situation: It’s all about money, and who’s got the most.9while you’re about it spoken used to tell someone to do something while they are doing something else because it would be easier to do both things at the same time: Go and see what’s the matter, and while you’re about it you can fetch me my sweater.10what was all that about? spoken used to ask the reason for something that has just happened, especially someone’s angry behaviour11literary surrounding a person or thing: Jo sensed fear and jealousy all about her. → be quick about it
at quick1(5)
, → go about your business
at business(12)
THESAURUSabout used when saying what the subject of something is: · She’s always talking about you.· In her novels she writes about life in South Africa.· There’s something I wanted to ask you about.on about a particular subject: · a book on English grammar· a report on poverty in rural areasconcerning/regarding formal about: · Prince Saiid answered questions concerning Kuwait’s future.· The report raises a number of questions regarding food safety.with regard to formal about – used especially when you want to start talking or writing about something: · Dear Sir, I’m writing with regard to your advertisement in The Times.re used in business letters and in emails to introduce the subject that you are going to write about: · Re: Friday’s meeting
about1 preposition
about2 adverb
about3 adjective
aboutabout2 ●●●S1W1 adverb
Word Origin
Examples
Thesaurus
Collocations
Phrases
1 (also round about spoken) a little more or less than a particular number, amount, or sizeSYN roughly, approximately: I live about 10 miles away. a tiny computer about as big as a postcard We left the restaurant at round about 10.30.► see thesaurus at
approximate
RegisterIn written English, people usually prefer to use approximately, as it sounds more technical:· The cost to taxpayers is approximately $200 billion.2 British English in many different directions within a place or in different parts of a placeSYN around: People were rushing about, trying to find the driver. Cushions were scattered about on the chairs.3near to you or in the same place as you: Is Derek about? There’s a phone call for him. Quick! Let’s go while there’s no-one about.4British English spoken existing or available now: I hope she hasn’t caught flu. There’s a lot of it about. She might get temporary work, but there’s not much about.5informal almost or probably: I was about ready to leave when somebody rang the doorbell. ‘Have you finished?’ ‘Just about.’ It’s just about the worst mistake anyone could make.6that’s about it/all spokena)used to tell someone that you have told them everything you know: He was a quiet chap, married with kids. That’s about it, really.b)used to say that there is nothing else available: There’s some cheese in the fridge and that’s about it.7so as to face in the opposite directionSYN around: He quickly turned about and walked away.
about1 preposition
about2 adverb
about3 adjective
aboutabout3 ●●●S3W2 adjective
Collocations
Phrases
1be about to do something if someone is about to do something, or if something is about to happen, they will do it or it will happen very soon: We were just about to leave when Jerry arrived. Work was about to start on a new factory building.2not be about to do something informal used to emphasize that you have no intention of doing something: I’ve never smoked in my life and I’m not about to start now. → out and about
at out1(3)
, → be up and about
at up1(11)
open
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