door

这两个短语的意思侧重点不同:前者强调“在户外,露天”; 而后者通常用于表示“在外面”,特别指在家庭、团体、会议等的外面。例如:

We often have our food out of doors in summer.

夏天我们常在野外用餐。

The quarrels of their family were going on not only within doors, but sometimes without doors.

他们家庭的争吵不但在家里进行,有 时也在外面进行。

虽然这两个词都可译成“门”,但二者之间有着明显的区别,一般不可混用。door主要指楼、房间、碗橱、壁橱等建筑或家具上的门; 而gate通常指城墙、围墙、院墙等的门,往往译成“城门”“栅门”“闸门”等。试比较:

He stood within the door.

他站在室内。(不是室外)

He stood within the gate.

他站在大门内。(是室外)

He stood outside the door.

他站在室外。(有可能在院内)

He stood outside the gate.

他站在大门外。(不在院内)

注意:如果用于引申义或构成复合词时,这两个词有时可以通用。例如:

Their cooperation opened the door〔gate〕 to success.他们之间的合作为成功创造了条件。

That old man is a door〔gate〕 keeper.那位老人是看门的。

I found him sitting in the door〔gate〕 way to enjoy the cool.我发现他坐在门口乘凉。

He knew then he was at the door〔gate〕 of death.那时他知道自己已奄奄一息。

The heavy rain kept us indoor(s).

The heavy rain kept us within doors.

The heavy rain kept us indoors.

大雨使我们不能出门。