worth

Compared meaning: valuable, deserving effort or care (adjective).

比较义项：有价值的，值得珍视或值得付出的（形容词）。

• worthwhile

  Emphasizes that the time, effort, or money spent is justified by the outcome; rarely used to state a specific monetary amount.

  强调所花的时间、精力或金钱换来的结果是值得的；很少用来说明具体的金钱数额。

  Working overtime today was worthwhile because we finished the whole project.

  今天加班是值得的，因为我们完成了整个项目。

• worth 本词

  Must be followed by a price, amount, or gerund (worth ten dollars, worth trying); cannot stand directly before a noun the way the others can.

  后面必须跟具体价格、数量或动名词（worth ten dollars，worth trying），不能像其他词一样直接放在名词前作定语（不能说a worth book）。

  This antique clock is worth thousands of dollars today.

  这座古董钟如今价值数千美元。

• precious

  Highlights sentimental, rare, or irreplaceable value rather than price; often used for family items, time, or memories.

  强调因情感、稀有或不可替代而显得珍贵，而不是强调金钱价格；常用于家族物品、时间或回忆。

  The photograph is precious to me because it's the only one of my grandfather.

  这张照片对我来说很珍贵，因为它是我祖父唯一的一张照片。

• valuable

  Focuses on how much something is worth in money or usefulness; freely modifies nouns like 'valuable advice' or 'valuable painting'.

  强调金钱价值或实用价值有多高；可以自由地修饰名词，如valuable advice（宝贵的建议）或valuable painting（贵重的画作）。

  The company's client list is a valuable asset for future sales.

  这家公司的客户名单是未来销售的宝贵资产。

Worthwhile, worth, precious, and valuable describe value. Worthwhile means effort or time spent is justified by the result. Worth needs a price or gerund after it, like worth trying, unlike the others. Precious means emotionally valuable, like family items. Valuable means worth money or useful.

这四个词都表示“有价值”，但侧重点不同：worthwhile强调付出的时间和精力换来的结果值得；worth后面必须接具体价格或动名词，语法上不能直接修饰名词；precious强调情感上或因稀有而珍贵；valuable强调金钱或实用价值高。这里不比较worth作名词时表示“财产、资产”的用法（如net worth净资产）。