Pathetic 可以表示令人同情，如 a pathetic sight；在非正式批评中，也表示非常差或软弱得让人难堪，如 a pathetic excuse。它不表示充满崇高情感。感情充沛、打动人的演讲用 passionate 或 emotional；过分夸张、自命不凡的演讲则是 pompous。
pathetic：这次词义能选对吗？
写一句英语，检查词义是否符合内容并查看错误解释。
本次检查比平时稍久，完成后反馈会自动显示在这里。
a pathetic + excuse/attempt/performance; look/sound + pathetic; it's pathetic + that + clause; passionate, emotional (not pathetic)
- Blaming the traffic is a pathetic excuse when you're late for work every single day.
- The wet kitten looked so pathetic that we took it home and dried it with a towel.
- The team's performance in the first half was pathetic, and some fans left early.
修改原因
修改前Our director gave a pathetic speech about the company's future, and everyone applauded.
修改后Our director gave a passionate speech about the company's future, and everyone applauded.
一些语言中，相似的词表示感人或情绪饱满，因此容易把 a pathetic speech 当成赞美。英语里这更像是在说演讲可怜、糟糕，后面大家鼓掌就显得不协调。带着强烈感情和信念发表演讲，应说 passionate。
Pathetic 的第一种意思表达同情：The injured bird looked pathetic. 第二种表达轻蔑：That's pathetic!，相当于这也太不像话了。因此用 pathetic 形容一个人，很容易成为侮辱。
动手练习
When she thanked her parents at the graduation ceremony, her voice was shaking. It was a very ___ moment for the whole family.
查看答案
emotional — 她激动得声音发颤，整个时刻令人感动，因此选 emotional。Pathetic 会变成令人难堪、可怜的时刻，好像典礼上出了严重差错。
回想在学校、工作或家里听过或编过的蹩脚借口。写发生了什么，以及为什么那个借口很 pathetic。
When I was twelve, I told my teacher that my little brother had drawn on my homework, which was a pathetic excuse because I don't have a brother.
练习把新词用准确
用正在学的词造句。LetsWords 检查用法和语法，提供修改与母语解释，再通过复习巩固。