concern

Compared meaning: something that causes worry (noun).

比较义项：因某事而产生的担心、忧虑（名词）。

• worry

  The plain, everyday word for felt anxiety about anything, large or small; common in casual phrases like 'don't worry' or 'no worries', and pairs naturally with 'about'.

  最普通、最口语化的说法，指对任何大小事情的担心；常出现在“别担心”“不用担心”等说法里，习惯与“about”搭配。

  His only worry was whether the flight would leave on time.

  他唯一担心的是航班是否会准时起飞。

• concern 本词

  More formal than worry; names one specific issue a person consciously focuses on or feels responsible for, typical of professional or serious contexts.

  比worry更正式，通常指某人自觉关注或觉得自己有责任处理的某个具体问题，常见于正式或严肃场合。

  Her main concern is finishing the project on time.

  她最担心的是能否按时完成这个项目。

• headache

  Informal and exaggerated; describes an annoying, recurring practical hassle rather than deep emotional anxiety, often used for paperwork or minor troubles.

  口语化且带夸张色彩，指令人厌烦、反复出现的实际麻烦事，而非深层的情绪焦虑，常用于手续、琐事等场合。

  Renewing my visa every year is such a headache.

  每年续签证都是一件令人头痛的事。

Worry, concern, and headache all name something that causes anxiety, but the tone differs. Worry is the plain word for anything that troubles a person. Concern is more formal, naming one specific issue someone focuses on. Headache is informal and exaggerated, describing an annoying hassle.

这三个词在“因某事产生的担心、忧虑”这一意义上相近，但语气和正式程度不同：worry最口语、最宽泛；concern更正式，通常指某个具体关注的问题；headache本义是“头痛”，这里转指令人厌烦的麻烦事，语气带夸张。这里不比较concern作动词表示“涉及、关系到”的用法，也不比较headache表示生理疼痛“头痛”的本义。

Compared meaning: to be related to or about something (verb).

比较义项：与……有关，涉及（动词）。

• concern 本词

  Common, neutral verb used directly with an object, no preposition needed: 'This concerns you.' Appears in everyday speech as well as formal writing.

  常用、语域中性的动词，可直接接宾语，不需要加介词：如“This concerns you.”，在日常口语和正式写作中都很常见。

  This decision concerns all of us, not just the managers.

  这个决定与我们所有人有关，不只是经理们。

• pertain

  Formal or legal register; always followed by 'to' (pertain to something), and usually has an impersonal subject like a rule, document, or policy rather than a person.

  语域正式，常用于法律或规章语境；总是与介词to搭配（pertain to something），主语通常是规章、文件或政策等非人称事物，而不是直接指人。

  The warranty only pertains to defects discovered within one year.

  该保修仅适用于一年内发现的缺陷。

Concern and pertain both mean to be related to something. Concern is common, used directly with an object, as in this concerns you. Pertain is formal, always followed by to, with an impersonal subject like a rule or document. Concern's 'worry' meaning is not compared.

concern 和 pertain 在“与……有关”这个意义上很接近，但语域和用法不同：concern 更常用、语域中性，可以直接接宾语，不需要加介词to；pertain 语域正式，多见于规章、法律等场合，且必须与介词to搭配使用。这里不比较 concern 表示“担心、令人担忧”的用法。

Compared meaning: to make someone feel worried (verb).

比较义项：使人感到担心（动词）。

• worry

  Informal and emotionally stronger; used in everyday speech for both minor and serious problems, typically as 'worry someone' or in the imperative 'don't worry'.

  更口语化，语气更强烈；日常口语中大小问题都能用，常见说法是“worry someone”或祈使句“don't worry”。

  Don't let the exam results worry you too much.

  别让考试成绩太让你担心。

• concern 本词

  More formal and measured; used about serious, official, or professional matters and suggests a legitimate cause for concern rather than intense fear, common in news or business language.

  更正式、语气更克制；多用于严肃、官方或专业事务，表示“确有理由担心”而非强烈的恐惧，常见于新闻或商务语境。

  The rising unemployment rate concerns economists across the country.

  不断上升的失业率让全国的经济学家感到担忧。

Worry and concern both mean to make someone feel anxious. Worry is informal and stronger, used in everyday speech for small or serious problems. Concern is formal, used for serious or professional matters. Worry without an object, and concern as a noun, are not compared.

这两个词在“使某人担心”这个意义上很接近，但语气和正式程度不同：worry更口语化、语气更强烈，concern更正式、语气较为克制，常用于书面或专业语境。这里不比较worry表示“自己感到担心”（如worry about sth）的不及物用法，也不比较concern作名词“担忧的事；关切的事”或短语be concerned about（关心；涉及）的用法。