词汇精选：affirm的用法和辨析

一、详细释义：

v.

断言，肯定，申明，坚持声称 [I,T]

例句：

I can affirm that he is tenacious and pertinacious as are few

我可以肯定，像他那样不屈不挠、百折不回的人是十分罕见的。

例句：

In the appraisal of our work, it is one-sided to affirm everything or to negate everything.

对于我们的工作的看法，肯定一切或者否定一切，都是片面性的。

证实，确认，确实 [I,T]

例句：

Everything I had accomplished seemed to affirm that opinion.

我所取得的一切似乎都证明那个观点是对的。

例句：

The ministry affirmed that the visit had been postponed.

部里证实访问已延期。

二、词义辨析：

assert,affirm,allege,maintain,testify,claim

这些动词均含有“断言，声称”之意。assert主观意味强，指自认为某事就是如此，而不管事实如何。affirm侧重在作出断言时表现出的坚定与不可动摇的态度。allege多指无真凭实据，不提供证据的断言或宣称。maintain与assert近义，但前者指坚决维护某种主张或观点。testify多指在法庭作证，庄严地宣称自己所说属实。claim可与assert换用，但语气弱一些，侧重指行为自己的权利提出要求他人承认。

三、参考例句：

Please affirm with Mr. Li again about the deadline.

请与李先生再次确认截止时间。

I affirm that what he said is true.

我断言他所说的是实情。

Everything I had accomplished seemed to affirm that opinion.

我所取得的一切似乎都证明那个观点是对的。

Scientists cannot affirm the existence of life on other planets.

科学家们还不能断言在其它星球上有生命存在。

They will only affirm whether such weapons were used.

他们只将确定是否使用了这种武器。

In the appraisal of our work, it is one-sided to affirm everything or to negate everything.

对于我们的工作的看法，肯定一切或者否定一切，都是片面性的。

I am not in a position either to contradict or affirm this statement.

我既不能否定这一说法，又不能肯定这一说法。

I can affirm that he is tenacious and pertinacious as are few

我可以肯定，像他那样不屈不挠、百折不回的人是十分罕见的。

We may go further, and affirm most truly that it is a mere and miserable solitude to want true friends.

我们不妨更进一步并且很真实地断言说，缺乏真正的朋友乃是纯粹可怜的孤独。

But as Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary General, has said again and again, the UN investigation will not affirm who used these chemical weapons.

但正如潘基文秘书长反复说明的那样，联合国的调查将不是确定谁使用了这些化学武器。