unable to launch什么意思_有学生问：为什么important problem是错误的

前几天，有一个留学生问了我一个问题 (question)。他交给老师的英语作文中有一句话：Pollution is an important problem. 老师把important problem 圈了起来，并在旁边写了两个字母WC. 这个学生不明白老师写的WC是什么意思，又没有足够的勇气问老师。我一边给他解释WC在这里的含义，一边鼓励他有问题就问老师。在加拿大，老师都是很nice的。

下面我们说说WC的含义吧。WC是word choice这两个词的首字母缩略词(acronym) 。老师圈起important problem, 并注上WC，意思是word choice错误，也就是说选词不对。学生不解，问我：“咱们中文里不就是说‘重要问题’吗？为什么不可以翻译成 important problem?”

我说：“我们先看看这两个词的英文释义，然后你自己判断吧。”

important的英文释义是：

very significant, highly valued, or is necessary; having great influence or authority

中文意思：重要的；有重大影响的；有巨大价值的

problem 的英文释义是：

a thing that is difficult to deal with or to understand

中文意思：棘手的问题; 难题; 困难

根据这两个词的英语释义可以看出，important 具有正向 (+)的意义，而problem的意思却是负向(-)的。我这样一解释，学生很容易就明白了。他说：是啊，这两个词当然不match啦。

下面我总结了一些常和problem搭配的形容词，希望对朋友们英语写作或者口语交流中的准确用词有所帮助：

1. a minor problem (小问题): opposite to major, small and not serious

Example: It’s just a minor problem, I will get it done quickly.

这只是一个小问题，我很快就能解决。

2. a common problem (常见的问题): a problem that is happening in many places and/or to many people

Example: You know it is a common problem nowadays.

你知道如今它是个常见的问题。

3. a major problem (重要/主要问题): a very serious problem

Example: Poverty is still a major problem in that area.

贫穷依然是那个地区 的主要问题。

4. a potential problem (潜在的问题): something is likely to develop into a problem

Example: River pollution could be a potential problem in your hometown.

河流污染会成为你家乡潜在的一个难题。

5. a recurrent problem (反复出现的问题): happening time after time

Example: It’s been a recurrent problem and should be taken seriously.

这是个反复出现的问题，应该严肃对待。

6. a tough problem (棘手的问题): a problem that is difficult to solve

Example: Starvation is still a tough problem in Africa.

饥饿仍然是非洲很严重的问题。

7. a trivial problem (微不足道的问): not serious, an easy-to-solve problem

Example: It is just a trivial problem, don’t worry about it.

那是个小问题，不用担心。

8. a serious problem (严重的问题): a significant challenge

Example: Smoking is a serious problem among teenagers.

抽烟是青少年中很严重的一个问题。

9. an unexpected problem (意外的问题): a problem that wasn’t expected

Example: He has encountered an unexpected problem and cannot complete his mission on time.

他遇到了意外的问题，因此不能按时完成任务。

10. an urgent problem (紧迫的问题): a problem that needs to be solved immediately

Example: Immediate action should be taken to tackle this urgent problem.

应该立即采取行动来解决这个紧迫的问题。

其它还有complex, complicated, difficult, pressing 等。