1 by /ˈbaɪ/ /bə/ preposition Learner's definition of BY
1
: close to or next to (something or someone) : near靠近;在…旁边 -
She was standing by [=beside] the window.她站在窗边。
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His wife was sitting by him.妻子坐在他旁边。
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They have a house by the lake.他们在湖边有座房子。
2
a : up to and beyond (something or someone) : past经过;从…旁边过 b : at or to (someone's home)在,去(某人家) 3
a —
used following a passive verb to indicate the person or thing that does something被,由(用于表被动的动词后,表示施动者) -
The decision was made by the company president. [=the company president made the decision]这个决定是由公司总裁做出的。
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Coal has been replaced by oil. [=oil has replaced coal]煤炭已经被石油取代。
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He was killed by a falling rock. [=a falling rock killed him]他是被一块坠落的岩石砸死的。
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I was greatly surprised by the result. [=the result surprised me greatly]结果令我大感惊讶。
b —
used to indicate the thing that is used to do something通过,凭,靠(表示使用的工具或手段) c —
used to indicate an action that is done for a particular purpose以…方式(表示为实现特定目的所做的行为) -
You can reset the machine by pressing this button. [=you can press this button to reset the machine]你可以按这个按钮重新设置这台机器。
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He began his speech by thanking the President and ended it by telling a joke.他的讲话以感谢总统开始,以一个笑话结束。
4
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used to indicate the person who wrote or created something由…所作,由…创作(表示作者或创作者) 5
a —
used to indicate the method used to go somewhere, send something, etc.乘坐,经由,通过(表示交通、传递等的方式) -
Some people came by [=via] train while others came by car.有些人是坐火车来的,而另一些人是坐汽车来的。
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He returned by [=on, via] the last train.他是乘末班火车回来的。
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They sent him a message by [=via] e-mail.他们用电子邮件给他发了条信息。
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We drove here by the back roads.我们是从小路开车过来的。
b —
used to indicate the method used to enter or leave a place从…(表示进入或离开的途径) 6
a —
used to indicate the name that is used for someone or something表示人或物的名字 -
The American writer Samuel L. Clemens was known by the name “Mark Twain.”美国作家塞缪尔·L.克莱门斯更为人知的名字是“马克·吐温”。
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Her full name is Elizabeth but she goes by (the nickname) “Lizzie.”她的全名是伊丽莎白,但昵称是“莉齐”。
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The Federal Bureau of Investigation is usually referred to by its initials “FBI.”人们通常用首字母组合FBI来指代联邦调查局。
b —
used to indicate how someone is spoken to, identified, etc.表示对某人讲话或辨认某人的方式 c —
used to introduce the name of someone or something important as proof that you are speaking the truth以…的名义(表示起誓) —
often used in phrases like by God to add emphasis常用于by God等短语,表示强调 d : when using (a specified word or phrase)使用(某个具体的词或短语) -
What do you mean by “acceptable levels?” [=what levels do you consider acceptable?]你说的“可以接受的水平”是什么意思?
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She called my theory “interesting,” but I don't know what she meant by that. [=I don't know whether she was being sincere, polite, etc.]她说我的理论“有意思”,我不知道她这么说是什么意思。
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It's hard to know what the author intended by this phrase.很难知道作者使用这个短语的用意。
7
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used to indicate the part of something or of a person's body that is held, grasped, etc.表示抓住、握住的人或物的部位 -
He grasped the shovel by the/its handle. [=he grasped the handle of the shovel]他握着铁锹的锹把儿。
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She grabbed him by the arm. [=she grabbed his arm]她抓住了他的胳膊。
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He held/took his daughter by the/her hand. [=he held/took his daughter's hand]他拉着女儿的手。
8
a : during the time of (day or night)在…期间;在(白天或夜晚)的时候 b —
used to indicate the kind of light that occurs or is used when something is being looked at, read, etc.借助…的光线 9
a : not later than (a specified time) : at, in, on, or before (a specified time)不晚于;在…之前 -
We need to leave by noon at the latest.我们最晚要在正午离开。
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They should be here by tomorrow.他们明天应该到了。
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I don't know where she is. She should have been back by now.我不知道她在哪儿。现在她本该回来了。
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By this time next year she hopes to have a new job.她希望明年的这个时候找到份新工作。
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She's planning to get married next year, by which time she hopes to have a new job.她计划明年结婚,而且希望那时能有份新工作。
b : during the time until (a specified time)截至;至 10
a : in a way that agrees with or follows (something, such as a rule)按照(规则等) b : in a way that is based on (something)依据 c : according to (something)根据;按照 11
a —
used to indicate units of measurement or quantity按…计量 -
The eggs are sold by the dozen.鸡蛋按打卖。
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She gets paid by the hour.她按小时取酬。
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They have been making progress by small degrees.他们一直在一点一点地进步。
b —
used to indicate the number that multiplies or divides another number表示乘数或除数 -
multiply 8 by 12*8乘以12
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divide 10 by 4*10除以4
c —
used to indicate the numbers of a measurement表示尺寸 12
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used to indicate an amount, length, etc.多出…,以…之差(表示数量、长度等) -
The horse won the race by a nose.这匹马以微弱优势赢得了比赛。
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She's taller than I am by several inches. [=she's several inches taller than I am]她比我高几英寸。
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The price has been increased by five dollars.价格涨了五美元。
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This one is better by far than that one. [=this one is much better than that one]这个比那个好多了。
13
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used to indicate someone's job, origin, character, etc.表示工作、出身、性格等 -
She's a lawyer by profession.她的职业是律师。
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He's French by birth, although he has lived in America for many years.尽管已在美国生活了许多年,但他在血统上是法国人。
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I'm an optimist by nature. [=it is my nature to be optimistic]我天生就是乐观的人。
14
a —
used in phrases to describe the speed at which something happens or changes用于短语,表示事物发生或变化的速度 -
The work is getting done bit by bit. [=the work is getting done gradually in small amounts]工作正在一点一点地进行。
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He's getting better little by little.他正在逐渐好转。
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His health is growing worse day by day. = His health is growing worse by the day. [=his health is growing worse every day]他的身体一天不如一天。
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The situation is getting more dangerous by the second/minute/hour.情况每秒钟/分钟/小时都在变得更为危险。
b —
used in phrases to describe how a series of people or things proceed or are dealt with用于短语,表示一群人的行进方式或一连串事物的处置方式 -
They entered the room two by two. [=two at a time] [=two of them entered the room, then two more entered the room, etc.]他们两个两个地走进房间。
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I solved the problems one by one. [=I solved the first problem, then the second one, etc.]我把问题一个一个地解决了。
15
informal : in the opinion of (someone)在…看来 16 somewhat formal
a : on behalf of (someone)为了,为帮助(某人) b —
used to indicate the husband or wife who is the parent of someone's child由…所生 -
He had two daughters by his first wife and a son by his second wife. [=his first wife was the mother of his two daughters and his second wife was the mother of his son]他与第一任妻子生有两个女儿,与第二任妻子生有一个儿子。
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She has two children by her first husband.她与第一任丈夫生了两个孩子。
by the by
old-fashioned or by the bye
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used to introduce a statement that provides added information or that mentions another subject顺便说一句;附带说说 -
I recently met his wife who, by the by [=by the way, incidentally], is a well-known author.我最近见到他太太了。顺便提一句,他太太是位知名作家。
by yourself
: without others : alone独自;一个人 -
He sat (all) by himself, reading the newspaper.他独自坐着读报。
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The new law will help, but it can't solve the problem (all) by itself.新法会有帮助,但不可能仅靠它解决这个问题。
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You shouldn't lift that heavy box (all) by yourself. Let me help you.你不应该一个人提那么重的箱子。我来帮你。
Learner's definition of BY
1
: 4past -
The bus went right by without stopping.公共汽车径直开了过去,没有停车。
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We stood and applauded as the parade went/passed by.游行队伍走过时我们站起来鼓掌。
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The last few years have gone by [=have passed] so quickly.最近几年过得真快。
2
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used with put to describe something that is being kept or saved for a future use与put连用,表示把某物存起来以备将来使用 3
: at or to someone's home在某人家;去某人家
by and by
literary + old-fashioned
by and large
1
: in a general way : in general大体上;总的说来 2
: in most cases : in general通常情况下;一般来说