underpin

Compared meaning: to hold up or form the basis of something (verb).

比较义项：支撑，构成基础（动词）。

• support

  General, everyday verb for holding someone or something up physically, emotionally, or practically; works in casual and formal contexts and takes a direct object naturally in active voice.

  support 是日常通用动词，指从物理、情感或实际层面上支撑某人或某事物；口语和正式场合均可使用，常直接以主动语态带宾语。

  Friends should support each other during difficult times.

  朋友之间在困难时期应该互相扶持。

• underpin 本词

  Formal, often written word meaning to form the basis or foundation that makes something else possible; usually abstract (systems, success, arguments) and frequently used in the passive, 'is underpinned by'.

  underpin 是较为正式、多见于书面语的词，指构成使某事物得以成立的基础或根本原因；通常用于抽象事物（体系、成功、论点等），且常用被动语态“be underpinned by”。

  Strong customer trust helps underpin the success of this small business.

  强大的客户信任有助于构成这家小企业成功的基础。

Support and underpin both mean to hold something up or form its basis. Support is the everyday word, for physical support or helping someone emotionally. Underpin is formal and abstract, describing the foundation of a system or argument. Support's other meanings are not compared here.

这两个词都可表示“为某事物提供支撑，使其得以维持或成立”，但 support 是日常通用词，既可指人与人之间的实际帮助或情感支持，也可指物理上的支撑；underpin 更正式、更书面化，多用于抽象事物（体系、经济、成功、论点等），强调其构成根本基础或原因，常见于被动语态“be underpinned by”。这里不比较 support 的其他含义，如“支持（球队、观点）”“供养（家人）”及其名词用法。