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三个易混淆的单词：“tense”、“intense” 和 “intensive” 有什么区别？

Episode 260930 / 30 Sep 2026

内容简介

在英语中，形容词 “tense”、“intense” 和 “intensive” 拼写相似，而且都可以用来描述某种紧张或高强度的状态。不过，这三个词的含义和使用场景有所不同：“tense” 可以形容人、气氛或局势处于紧张或焦虑的状态；“intense” 着重表达情感、体验或活动的强烈程度；而 “intensive” 则强调一项活动强度高、安排密集，需要投入大量时间或精力。听本期节目，跟主持人步理和 Becca 一起学习如何区分和正确使用这三个形容词。

文字稿

（关于台词的备注: 请注意这不是广播节目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能没有体现录制、编辑过程中对节目做出的改变。）

Buli
Hi Becca. It's been quite a busy week!

Becca
I know! I feel like I've barely had time to sit down.

Buli
You know what? Let's just take a break from all the paperwork, and answer one of our listeners' questions!

Becca
Count me in.

Question
您好，请问能不能解释一下 “tense”、“intense”、“intensive” 这三个单词的区别？这三个单词听上去很相似，但是我不确定他们的用法。比如，我可以用哪一个来形容像一天内去很多地方这样体力消耗大的活动？

Buli
So, Becca, how was your last weekend?

Becca
It was great thanks, but very intense! I went on a little solo trip to Ireland. I visited three cities in two days, so I was constantly travelling and sightseeing.

Buli
That sounds exhausting! But would you say that moving around so much was stressful or uncomfortable?

Becca
Not really. It wasn't a tense trip, it was just a lot! I managed to go to many parks and cafes, so it actually felt relaxed.

Buli
Oh nice! And, since you went to many parks, did you do a lot of walking, too?

Becca
I did. I tried to visit the parks in the morning when the temperature wasn't so hot. Walking in the heat can be intense.

Buli
I agree. Walking under the Sun can make you feel tired, can't it?

Becca
Yes. If I wanted to feel that exhausted, I'd have taken an intensive fitness course or something!

Buli
你正在收听的是 BBC 英语教学制作的 “你问我答” 节目。在本期节目中，我们正在辨析三个看上去十分相似的形容词 “tense”、“intense” 和 “intensive” 在表达 “紧张的，强烈的，密集的” 这些概念时，分别可以搭配哪些事物。

So, Becca, let's start with the word 'tense', how is it different from the other two?

Becca
OK! 'Tense' describes a situation, or most often the feeling, where people feel nervous, worried or uncomfortable. For example, if you're waiting for an important phone call, you might be in a tense situation. You might feel tense. It's not an extreme feeling, but there definitely is some anxiety or worry there.

Buli
Yes. If you feel tense, you are probably anxious and don't feel relaxed. “Tense” 常常被用作 “relaxed” 的反义词，形容 “令人感到紧张、焦虑或者不自在的感觉或事物”。比如，如果你在等待一个重要的电话，一直没办法放松下来做些别的事情，那么就可以说你处于一种 “tense situation（紧张的、紧绷的状态）”。你还可以 “feel tense（感到紧张，感到焦虑）”。

和 “tense” 不同，单词 “intense” 描述的并不是 “紧张的心情”，而是 “事物、状态或感受的强度高或者程度十分激烈”。

Becca
Exactly. We can use 'intense' for things that are very strong, specifically demanding lots of energy. That's why I described walking when it's really hot as intense. You could have an intense workout, an intense discussion, or an intense day of travelling like mine.

Buli
Or, in our case, an intense day of work. 在英语中，我们会听到人们说 “intense workout（剧烈的锻炼、健身）”，“intense discussion（激烈的讨论）”。此外，我们还可以说 “intense heat（高温，酷热）” 或者 “intense interest（浓厚的兴趣）”。

Though we can say 'an intense workout'. But didn't you mention 'an intensive fitness course' as well, Becca?

Becca
I did. So, 'intensive' usually describes something that involves more time, effort or activity over a period of time. So, even though exercising can be intense, an intensive fitness course would push you to your physical limits over a longer period of time.

Buli
也就是说，“intensive” 和 “intense” 类似，都可以用来形容一件事的 “强度大”。不过，“intensive” 更加强调 “需要花费很长的时间和很多精力才能完成”。就比如，一次 “intense workout（剧烈的锻炼）” 很可能会很快就让你感到疲劳，但一节 “intensive fitness course（密集的、高强度的健身课程）” 却可能会用一整套锻炼量很大的课程内容充分挑战你的身体极限。

So another example could be that you take an intensive language course, where you study for several hours every day.

Becca
Exactly! Intense focuses on the experience. Intensive focuses more on something involving a lot of work or activity. You could say, for example, that the intensive language course, with focus on the language learning, was intense, 'Intense' focusing more on how the learning felt.

Buli
And if you failed that course, you could feel tense about your future.

Becca
Yes, 'tense' focuses on our feeling in general. I could say that Monday mornings make me tense, especially when we have an intensive training session with the whole team. Hearing all those different opinions can get quite intense.

Buli
确实。在描述一件事情或者一项活动时，单词 “intense” 可以着重表达对一件事的个人感受，形容一件事的 “强度高，让人感受强烈”，“intensive” 则更着重形容 “一项活动强度高、十分密集，需要集中投入资源或者花时间、下工夫”。而单词 “tense” 则表示 “人、气氛或者局势处于紧张或焦虑的状态”。

Well, let's hope next Monday morning isn't so intense.

Becca
I hope so! Remember if you have a question that you'd like us to answer, you can email us too at: questions.chinaelt@bbc.co.uk

Buli
你还可以通过微博向我们提问。我们的微博账号是 “BBC英语教学”。Bye!

Becca
Goodbye!

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