recover

Compared meaning: to get something back after losing it (verb).

比较义项：重新获得已失去的东西（动词）。

• recover 本词

  The general, neutral word for getting something back after a loss; often used intransitively with 'from' for illness or hardship, unlike regain and retrieve, which take a direct object.

  recover 是最通用、最中性的词，指重新获得失去的东西；常以不及物的 recover from 结构表示从疾病或困境中恢复过来，这一点与必须接宾语的 regain 和 retrieve 不同。

  It took him two weeks to recover from the flu.

  他花了两周时间从流感中恢复过来。

• regain

  Stresses returning to a former state or level after losing it, especially with abstract things like strength, confidence, or control; always transitive and often implies effort or a process.

  regain 强调经过努力或过程后恢复到之前的状态，多用于力量、信心、控制力等抽象事物；它总是及物动词，需要接宾语。

  It took months of therapy for him to regain his strength.

  经过几个月的治疗，他才恢复了体力。

• retrieve

  Emphasizes actively going to fetch and bring back a specific physical object (or piece of data) from a place; sounds unnatural with abstract states like health or confidence.

  retrieve 强调亲自前往取回某个具体的物品（或数据）；用在健康、信心等抽象状态上会显得不自然。

  Can you retrieve my jacket from the closet upstairs?

  你能帮我从楼上的衣柜里把我的外套取回来吗？

All three mean getting something back after losing it. Recover is general, often used with 'from' for illness. Regain stresses returning to a former state. Retrieve means fetching an object or data. Not compared: regain meaning reaching a place, or retrieve meaning searching data.

这三个词都表示“把已经失去或不在身边的东西弄回来”，但侧重点不同：recover 是最中性、最通用的说法，常以 recover from 的不及物结构表示从疾病或困境中恢复过来；regain 强调经过努力或过程后恢复到之前的状态，多用于力量、信心、控制力等抽象事物；retrieve 强调亲自前往把具体的物品（或数据）取回来。regain 还可表示“重新到达”某地，retrieve 在计算机领域可表示“检索”信息，这些其他用法本卡不做比较。

Compared meaning: to become healthy again after illness (verb).

比较义项：（病后）恢复健康，恢复元气（动词）。

• recover 本词

  The everyday, general-purpose word for getting well again; it also covers recovering from injury, shock, or loss, not just illness, and carries no idea of a deliberate rest period.

  这是最常用、最通用的词，指恢复健康；也可以用来指从受伤、打击或损失中恢复过来，并不限于疾病，也不强调需要专门休养的过程。

  He stayed home for a few days to recover from a bad cold.

  他在家待了几天，从重感冒中恢复过来。

• recuperate

  More formal; specifically about regaining health and strength after an illness or operation, and usually implies a deliberate period of rest or convalescence.

  更正式，专指在生病或手术后恢复体力和健康，通常暗示需要一段专门的休养期。

  After the operation, she went to a quiet seaside town to recuperate.

  手术后，她去了一个安静的海边小镇休养恢复。

Both words mean becoming healthy again after being ill. Recuperate is more formal, about regaining health and strength after illness or operation, implying a deliberate rest period. Recover is the everyday, general word; it also covers recovering from injury, shock, or loss, not just illness.

这两个词在“病后恢复健康”这个意义上很接近，但recuperate更正式，通常强调需要一段时间的休养才能恢复体力；recover是最常用、最口语化的说法，除了指病愈，还可以泛指从受伤、打击或损失等各种情况中恢复过来。