avoid

Compared meaning: deliberately stay away from someone or something (verb).

比较义项：故意避开某人或某事物（动词）。

• avoid 本词

  The most common, neutral word; used for people, things, situations, or risks in general, without implying strong emotion or moral disapproval.

  最常见、最中性的词；可用于人、事物、情境或风险，不带强烈情绪或道德评判。

  Try to avoid heavy traffic by leaving earlier tomorrow.

  明天尽量早点出发，以避开交通高峰。

• shun

  Implies deliberate, often prolonged avoidance of a person, usually because of social or moral disapproval; carries a sense of coldness or rejection.

  指有意地、往往长期地回避某人，通常出于社会或道德上的不认同；带有冷淡或排斥的意味。

  Many villagers began to shun him after the scandal became public.

  丑闻公开后，许多村民开始疏远他。

• eschew

  A formal, somewhat literary word; describes deliberately staying away from something as a matter of principle, habit, or choice, often things rather than people.

  正式、略带书面色彩的词；指出于原则、习惯或个人选择而有意远离某事物，常用于事物而非人。

  Many athletes eschew sugary drinks during their training season.

  许多运动员在训练期间刻意避开含糖饮料。

All three mean to deliberately stay away from someone or something. Avoid is the most common and neutral word. Shun means to coldly avoid a person out of social disapproval. Eschew is formal, meaning to avoid something by principle or choice, usually things, not people.

这三个词在此义项上都表示“有意避开”，但语气和使用对象有所不同：avoid 最常用、最中性，可用于人或事物；shun 带有社会性厌弃、疏远的意味，多用于避开某人；eschew 属正式书面用语，常表示因原则或个人选择而远离某种事物（多用于事物而非人）。

Compared meaning: prevent something from happening (verb).

比较义项：防止发生（动词）。

• avoid 本词

  A general, everyday word for preventing something unwanted by staying away from it or acting ahead of time; used for both trivial and serious situations.

  avoid 是常见的日常用词，指通过提前采取行动或远离某事物来防止其发生，既可用于小麻烦，也可用于严重的情况。

  She left home early to avoid the morning traffic jam.

  她提早出门以避开早高峰的交通堵塞。

• avert

  A stronger, more formal word used specifically for stopping an imminent danger, crisis or disaster at the last moment through decisive action; not used for everyday inconveniences.

  avert 语气更强烈、更正式，专指通过果断行动在最后关头阻止即将发生的危险、危机或灾难，不用于日常的小麻烦。

  Quick thinking by the pilot averted a mid-air collision.

  飞行员反应迅速，避免了一场空中相撞事故。

Both words mean to prevent something from happening. Avoid is an everyday word used for any situation, from small problems to serious ones. Avert is more formal and stronger, used only for stopping an imminent danger or disaster at the last moment through decisive action.

这两个词在“防止某事发生”这个意义上很接近，但语气和适用范围不同：avoid 是日常常用词，什么情况都能用，从小麻烦到严重后果都可以；avert 语气更正式、更强烈，专指在最后关头凭借果断行动阻止即将发生的危险或灾难。