引言
在英语中,“happen” 和 “occur” 都可以表示“发生”,但它们在语体、语义和使用场景上存在明显差异。正确区分二者,有助于提升语言表达的准确性和地道性。
基本含义对比
- happen:强调偶然性、意外性,常用于日常口语。
- occur:更正式、中性,强调事件在时间或逻辑上的“出现”或“存在”,多用于书面语或学术语境。
语体与正式程度
小贴士: 在正式写作(如学术论文、新闻报道)中,优先使用 occur;在日常对话中,happen 更自然。
例如:
What happened last night?(昨晚发生了什么?)✅ 口语自然
The accident occurred at 3 a.m.(事故发生在凌晨3点。)✅ 正式报告
常见搭配与用法
happen 的典型结构:
- sth happen to sb/sth(某事发生在某人/某物身上)
An idea happened to me. ❌(错误!) - It happens.(常用来表示“这很正常”)
- How did it happen?(它是怎么发生的?)
注意:happen 是不及物动词,不能用于被动语态,也不能接宾语。
occur 的典型结构:
- sth occur(s)(某事发生)
- It occurred to me that...(我突然想到……)✅
- The meeting occurred as scheduled.(会议如期举行。)
It never occurred to him to call for help.(他从未想过要求助。)
语义细微差别
虽然两者都可译为“发生”,但:
- happen 常带有“偶然、突发、不可预测”的意味。
- occur 更中性,可用于计划内或自然发生的事件。
A miracle happened!(奇迹发生了!)→ 强调惊喜、意外
Solar eclipses occur regularly.(日食定期发生。)→ 客观陈述事实
常见错误提醒
- ❌ Something was happened. → ✅ Something happened.
- ❌ An idea happened to me. → ✅ An idea occurred to me.
- ❌ The war was occurred in 1939. → ✅ The war occurred in 1939.
互动小测验
请选择正确的句子:
- A. It happened to me that she was lying.
B. It occurred to me that she was lying. - A. The concert happened as planned.
B. The concert occurred as planned.
答案:1-B, 2-B(在正式或中性语境中更合适)