go about
英 /ɡəʊ əˈbaʊt/美 /ɡoʊ əˈbaʊt/
v. 动词
着手做;处理;从事;到处走动;(谣言等)流传
词义解析
go about 的本义是“四处走动”或“到处旅行”,例如“go about the country”意为“走遍全国”。由此引申出“着手做”或“处理”的含义,因为当你要完成一项任务时,往往需要“走动”去张罗。最常见的用法是“go about doing something”或“go about something”,表示“以某种方式着手做某事”。另一个常见义项是“(消息、谣言等)流传”,相当于“go around”,例如“There's a rumor going about that...”。这些义项之间联系紧密,核心是“移动”和“传播”的概念。
词根溯源
该短语由动词“go”和副词“about”构成。“go”源自古英语“gān”,意为“行走、出发”;“about”源自古英语“abūtan”,意为“在周围、到处”。两者结合,字面意思就是“到处走”。记忆时可抓住“go”(去)和“about”(周围)的组合,想象“去周围”即“走动、着手处理”的过程。
适用语境
go about 是一个多用途短语,适用于多种场合。在口语和日常对话中,常用来询问或描述做事的方式,如“How did you go about solving the problem?”(你是怎么着手解决这个问题的?)。在商务和学术写作中,它也很常见,表示“处理”或“从事”,例如“The company went about restructuring its operations.”(公司着手重组业务)。在新闻报道中,可用于描述消息的传播,如“The news went about quickly.”(消息迅速传开)。语气中性,没有明显的正式或非正式之分,但“go about doing something”比“do something”更强调过程和方式。
语法说明
go about 通常作为及物动词短语使用,后接名词或动名词。常见句型为“go about + doing something”或“go about + something”。例如:“She went about cleaning the house.”(她着手打扫房子。)也可用于“go about one's business”(做自己的事)等固定搭配。注意“go about”后不接“to do”不定式,只能说“go about doing”而非“go about to do”。此外,在表示“流传”时,通常用进行时态,如“A rumor is going about.”
相似词辨析
go about 与 set about、undertake、tackle 等词义相近。区别在于:set about 更强调“开始”的动作,且后面也接动名词,如“set about doing”;undertake 更正式,常指承担重大任务;tackle 则指“应对棘手问题”,更口语化。例如,日常说“How should I go about this?”(我该怎么着手做这个?),而“The government undertook a major reform.”(政府进行了重大改革)则更正式。
使用注意
go about 属于中性语域,没有明显的褒贬色彩,但使用时需注意语境。在口语中,若说“Go about your business”可能带有“别管闲事”的意味。另外,不要与“go about”表示“流传”的用法混淆,后者常指消息,且主语通常是消息、谣言等。误用示例:“He went about to solve the problem.”(应为“He went about solving the problem.”)
高频搭配
- go about one's business
- go about a task
- go about doing something
- go about solving a problem
- go about the world
- go about in circles
双语例句
- How do you go about applying for a visa?你如何着手申请签证?
- She went about her daily routine without any excitement.她平淡地做着日常事务。
- The news of his resignation went about the office quickly.他辞职的消息在办公室里迅速传开。
- We need to go about this task more efficiently.我们需要更高效地处理这项任务。
- He went about repairing the car, checking every part.他着手修车,检查每一个部件。