suppress

Compared meaning: to stop or control something by force (verb).

比较义项：以强力制止或控制（动词）。

• suppress 本词

  Used to stop an involuntary reaction, feeling, or event quickly, often before it fully shows; the object is usually abstract, such as a laugh, a cough, or a revolt, not a living creature.

  用于迅速制止一种不由自主的反应、情绪或事件，往往是在其完全表现出来之前；宾语通常是抽象的，例如笑声、咳嗽或叛乱，而不是有生命的动物。

  She tried to suppress a laugh during the serious speech.

  在那场严肃的演讲中，她努力忍住不笑出声。

• subdue

  Used for bringing a living, struggling creature or a strong force under physical control through effort; the target keeps existing afterward but is calmed rather than stopped or removed.

  用于通过努力将正在挣扎的有生命对象或强大的力量置于身体上的控制之下；对象事后依然存在，只是被安抚平静下来，而不是被止住或消除。

  The trainer worked calmly to subdue the frightened horse.

  驯马师平静地努力制服那匹受惊的马。

Both mean stopping or controlling something by force, but their objects differ. Suppress is for sudden, abstract things, like a laugh, a cough, or a revolt. Subdue is for a living, struggling being or a strong force, calmed through effort but still existing afterward.

两词都指用力量使某事物停止或受控，但对象不同：suppress 常用于抽象的、突发的反应或事件（笑声、咳嗽、叛乱、消息），强调在其显露或蔓延之前迅速止住；subdue 常用于有生命的、正在挣扎的对象或强大的力量，强调经过一番努力使其平静、受控，而对象本身仍然存在。

Compared meaning: to hold back or slow something (verb).

比较义项：抑制、抑止（动词）。

• suppress 本词

  Suppress means to deliberately hold back or hide a feeling or reaction, usually through conscious effort so others do not notice it.

  Suppress 表示刻意压抑或隐藏一种情绪或反应，通常是通过主观努力克制，让别人察觉不到。

  She tried to suppress a laugh during the serious speech.

  她在严肃的演讲中努力忍住不笑出声。

• inhibit

  Inhibit means an external factor, condition, or mechanism slows down or hinders a process, ability, or action, often without conscious intent by the person affected.

  Inhibit 表示某种外部因素、条件或机制减缓或阻碍了某个过程、能力或行为的发生，往往并非当事人主观有意为之。

  Loud noises can inhibit a child's ability to concentrate.

  巨大的噪音会抑制孩子集中注意力的能力。

Suppress and inhibit both mean to hold something back. Suppress means to deliberately hold back or hide a feeling, through conscious effort, so others do not notice. Inhibit means an external factor slows or hinders a process or ability, usually without conscious intent.

这两个词都可译为“抑制”，但 suppress 强调有意识地压抑或掩藏自己的情绪或反应，而 inhibit 强调外部因素妨碍或减缓某个过程、能力或行为，通常不涉及主观故意。这里不比较 suppress 表示“镇压（叛乱等）”或“压下（消息）”的义项，也不比较 inhibit 表示“使人感到拘谨、不自在”的义项。