ravages
ravages — 名詞
1. the gradual destruction or serious harm that happens to something over a period
破壞；損害
時間、戰爭等造成的長期毀損
the gradual destruction or serious harm that happens to something over a period of time, often caused by natural forces, conflict, illness, or old age
The old temple showed the ravages of time, with cracked pillars and faded murals.
這座古老寺廟顯現出時間的破壞，柱子龜裂、壁畫褪色。
pattern: 'the ravages of + cause'
Apinya's garden survived the ravages of winter and bloomed again in spring.
Apinya 的花園挺過了冬天的摧殘，春天再次綻放。
collocation: 'ravages of winter'
After the earthquake, the town bore the ravages of the disaster in every street.
地震過後，小鎮的每一條街道都承載著災難的創傷。
The forest is slowly recovering from the ravages of a huge wildfire.
這片森林正從大規模野火的蹂躪中慢慢恢復。
- destruction
broader term, not limited to gradual process
- devastation
stronger emotional tone, suggests complete ruin
- ruin
can be countable (the ruins of a building) or uncountable (the ruin of a plan)
- preservation
the act of keeping something in good condition
- restoration
the process of repairing and returning something to its original state
文法句型
the ravages of [time/war/disease/drought/poverty]
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural form 'ravages' in the fixed pattern 'the ravages of + [cause]'. The singular 'ravage' in this sense is vanishingly rare in modern English. Common causes include time, war, disease, drought, poverty, and age.
常見錯誤
ravages — 動詞
- ravagespresent simple I / you / we / they
- ravageses3rd person singular
- ravagesing-ing form
- ravagesedpast simple
1. to cause very serious damage or destruction to a place or thing, whether through
摧殘；肆虐
大規模破壞或暴力橫行
to cause very serious damage or destruction to a place or thing, whether through natural forces (a storm, disease, war) or through violent, uncontrolled action by a group (an invading army, gangs, armed raiders)
The hurricane ravaged the coastal villages, tearing roofs off homes and flooding roads.
颶風摧殘了沿海村莊，掀翻了屋頂並淹沒了道路。
transitive: ravage + place
Luca's home town was ravaged by the floods that followed weeks of heavy rain.
Luca 的家鄉遭受連續數週暴雨後的洪水摧殘。
passive: 'be ravaged by [cause]'
A deadly virus ravaged the island's population, leaving thousands sick.
一種致命病毒在島嶼居民中肆虐，導致數千人病倒。
Decades of war ravaged the region's economy and destroyed its roads and bridges.
數十年的戰爭蹂躪了該地區的經濟，摧毀了道路與橋樑。
The invading army ravaged the countryside, burning villages and stealing crops as they advanced.
入侵軍隊在鄉間肆虐，燒毀村莊並掠奪糧食。
Gangs ravaged the abandoned district, smashing windows and setting fire to empty buildings.
幫派分子在廢棄街區肆虐，砸破窗戶並縱火燒毀空屋。
- devastate
very similar in strength, equally common
- destroy
broader meaning, can be used for both physical and abstract things
- lay waste to
more literary and old-fashioned
- wreak havoc on
less formal, common in news reports
- pillage
specifically of human perpetrators; implies stealing as well as destroying
- sack
about capturing and looting a town or city in war
文法句型
ravage + [place/thing]
be ravaged by [cause or perpetrator]
用法筆記
Almost always transitive — 'ravage' needs a direct object (the thing being destroyed). The passive construction 'be ravaged by [cause/perpetrator]' is very common. This sense covers two subtypes: (a) damage by natural forces, disease, or war, where the focus is on the resulting destruction; and (b) violent rampage by a group of perpetrators (army, gangs, raiders), where the focus is on the uncontrolled, destructive movement through a place. More intense than 'damage' or 'harm'; comparable to 'devastate'.