Under vs Below vs Beneath vs Underneath
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UNDER, BELOW, BENEATH, UNDERNEATH can all mean IN A LOWER PHYSICAL PLACE.
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UNDER, BELOW, BENEATH, UNDERNEATH均可意为 “在……下面，在……下方”。
UNDER:
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UNDER is the most frequently used word to say that one thing is at a lower level than another and it can also be used to say that one thing is covered by another thing and these two things are touching.
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UNDER是表示“在……下面，在……下方”最常用的一个词，也可用来指某件物品被另一件物品所覆盖，有接触面。
★ We sat
under
the stars and listened to the night sounds.★ 我们坐在星空下，听夜的声音。
★ Keeping the boxes
under
the bed helps to save space.★ 把箱子放在床下有助于节省空间。
★ The cat was sleeping
under
the blanket.★ 这只猫正在毯子下面睡觉。
●
UNDER can mean “guided by or managed by” 由…管理、经营。
★ The restaurant will be
under
his management starting in March.★ 自三月起，这家饭店由他管理。
★ There would be no new taxes
under
his leadership.★ 在他主政期间不会增加新税种。
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UNDER can also mean “in a condition or state” 在下。
★ The shopping center is
under
construction until next year.★ 该购物中心正在建设中，明年完工。
★ Under normal conditions, only about 20 to 40 percent of vitamin E is absorbed.
★ 正常情况下，仅有20%到40%的维生素E会被吸收。
●
UNDER can also mean “lower than in age”.
●
UNDER可用来表示年龄低于……。
★ It is unlawful to buy cigarettes if you are
under
21 years of age.★ 未满21岁，购买香烟是非法的。
★ It is unlawful to buy cigarettes if you are 21 years of age or
under
.★ 21岁或21岁以下，购买香烟是非法的。
●
UNDER can also be used as a prefix. As such, it can mean “below” or “less than an expected or correct amount” and can be an adjective or a verb.
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UNDER也可作前缀，表示“低于预期或实际的数量”，构成形容词或动词。
★ I cannot permit you to enter this club. You’re underage.
★ 我不能让你进这个俱乐部，你还未成年。
★ They undercooked the chicken. I can’t eat it now.
★ 鸡肉没有煮熟，现在没法吃。
●
UNDER expressions:
◆
under the weather:
If you say that you are under the weather, you mean that you feel slightly ill有点不舒服
★ I was still feeling a bit under the weather.
★ 我还是觉得有点不舒服。
◆
under the law: in conformity with law or subject to the law按法律规定或受法律约束
★ We are all equal under the law and everybody must obey the law.
★ 法律面前人人平等，人人都必须遵守法律。
◆
under arrest: in custody of the police or other legal authorities被捕
★ The man suffered serious burns and has been placed under arrest.
★ 该男子被严重烧伤，已被逮捕。
◆
under one’s breath: in a very quiet voice, almost inaudibly用非常小的声音说，甚至听不见
★ He swore violently under his breath.
★ 他小声地咒骂着。
BELOW:
●
BELOW is mainly used when two things are not touching and on the same plane.
●
BELOW通常用来表达两个物体没有接触面，在同一平面上。
★ He lives in an apartment directly below Andy’s.
★ 他住在安迪家正下方的一个公寓里。
★ There's a tunnel 100 meters below the surface.
★ 地表下100米处有一条隧道。
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We can also use BELOW when we look at a reference point.
●
低于某个参考点，用BELOW。
★ The Temperatures remained
below freezing
all day.★ 气温一整天都保持在冰点以下。
★ Her work was well
below average
for the class.★ 她的功课远在班级的中等水平以下。
★ One significant finding is that 20% of children live
below the poverty line
.★ 一个重要发现是，20%的儿童生活在贫困线以下。
★ Death Valley is 86M below
sea level
.★ 死亡谷位于海平面以下86米。
●
BELOW can also mean “lower than in height and temperature”.
●
BELOW可用来表示温度或高度低于……。
★ Temperatures in the Midwest fell
below
zero last week.★ 上周中西部地区的气温降至零度以下。
★ In Leh and Ladakh, the temperature always dips
below 0°c
.★ 在列城和拉达克，气温总是在0°C以下。
●
BELOW can also be used when identifying someone of a lower rank.
●
BELOW可用来表示某人级别较低。
★ In the U.S. army, a lieutenant is below a captain.
★ 在美国*中，中尉的头衔低于上尉。
★ Andy is below Cathy in the rankings.
★ 安迪的级别低于凯西。
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NEATH is a very old English word that means UNDER.
●
NEATH是一个非常古老的英语单词，与UNDER同义。
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BENEATH and UNDER can be interchangeable, but BENEATH is more formal and less common in spoken English.
●
BENEATH与UNDER可互换使用，但BENEATH比较正式，在英语口语中不太常见。
★ He could feel the soft ground
beneath
his feet.★ 他能感受到脚下的土地很柔软。
★ She found pleasure in sitting
beneath
the trees.★ 她喜欢坐在树下。
★ No matter where we live on the surface of the Earth, we all live
beneath
the stars.★ 无论我们生活在地球的哪个角落，我们都生活在这片星空下。
★ When I arrived, my daughter was sleeping like a log
beneath
her blanket.★ 我到的时候，我女儿盖着毯子睡得正酣。
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UNDERNEATH has a similar meaning to UNDER and is a more formal way of saying UNDER and it is more emphatic. We usually use it when one thing is covered or hidden by another thing on top.
●
UNDERNEATH与UNDER意思相近，比UNDER更正式一些，语气更强。通常指某样物品被另一件物品所覆盖、所掩盖。
★ The device exploded
underneath
a van.★ 该装置在一辆货车底下发生了爆炸。
★ Your life jacket is
underneath
the seat.★ 救生衣在座位下面。
★ This jacket's too big, even with a sweater
underneath
.★ 即使里面穿一件毛衣，这件外套也太大了。
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BELOW, BENEATH can refer to people or things that are unworthy in some way or of a lower social ranking.
●
BELOW, BENEATH可用来表达某人或某物不值得、不够好或社会地位较低，意为“不如、配不上”。
★ He considers such jobs
beneath
him.★ 他觉得这种工作有失他的身份。
★ Some people think that they are special and we are all
beneath
them.★ 有些人认为自己很特别，觉得我们都不如他们。
★ Some people think she married
below
her family.★ 有些人认为下嫁了。
●
Beneath, Underneath can also refer to hidden personal qualities or emotions.
●
Beneath, Underneath也可以用来指隐藏的个人品质或情绪。
★
Underneath
her cool exterior, she was really very frightened.★ 她外表冷静，其实内心十分害怕。
★ He seems bad-tempered, but he's very soft-hearted
underneath
.★ 他表面脾气暴躁，实则菩萨心肠。
★ Somewhere deep
beneath
the surface lay a caring character.★ 在内心深处的某个角落里藏着一颗爱心。
★ There is a sad person
beneath
that happy face.★ 快乐的面孔下住着一个悲伤的人。
Practice:
Choose the best answer for each sentence. Some sentences have more than one possible answer. Write your answers in the comments section.
1. I do not want to engage in small disagreements. Such behavior is _______ me.
2. In school systems, teachers are _______administrators.
3. A cat ran _______ the car this morning and has been hiding there for hours.
4. The temperatures in summer here usually do not fall _______ 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. I have a good friend who lives ________ me in my apartment building.
6. This game is suited for children ages 10 and _________.
7. The university’s English program is ________ new supervision.
Answers:
1. beneath / below
2. below
3. under / underneath / beneath
4. below
5. below
6. under
7. under