This post continues my CET-6 vocabulary journal. Day 2 focuses on higher-level words that often appear in serious discussions, such as politics, education and social issues, as well as some useful vocabulary for academic writing.
Introduction
For Day 2, I focus on two groups of language:
- core vocabulary about behavior, attitudes and complexity (for example: bribe, intricate, ambivalent, tolerant).
- academic writing words and phrases that help me sound more formal and precise in essays (for example: substantiate, exacerbate, give rise to).
For each item I include:
- a concise English definition
- a few synonyms
- at least one example sentence, followed by its meaning in Chinese when needed
Word list for Day 2
Meaning: money or something valuable given to someone to persuade them to do something dishonest or illegal; to give such money or gifts.
Synonyms: payoff, illegal payment, corrupt money.
Example: The official was accused of accepting a large bribe from the company.
中文： 这名官员被指控收受该公司的大笔贿赂。
Meaning: having many small parts or details that are closely arranged in a complicated way.
Synonyms: complex, detailed, elaborate.
Example: The artist spent hours working on the intricate pattern on the vase.
中文： 这位艺术家花了几个小时才完成花瓶上复杂精细的图案。
Meaning: to encourage or stir up strong, often violent or unlawful behavior or feelings in other people.
Synonyms: provoke, stir up, spur.
Example: He was arrested for the offense of inciting racial hatred.
中文： 他因煽动种族仇恨这一罪行而被捕。
Meaning: not important or serious; having little value or significance.
Synonyms: unimportant, minor, insignificant.
Example: We shouldn't waste time arguing about such trivial matters.
中文： 我们不应该把时间浪费在这种无关紧要的小事上。
Meaning: three similar-looking words with different uses:
- adept (adj.): very skilled or good at doing something.
- adapt (v.): to change something or yourself so that it works better in a new situation.
- adopt (v.): to take something and start using it as your own (for example, a child, an idea or a method).
Synonyms:
- adept: skilled, proficient, expert.
- adapt: adjust, modify, accommodate.
- adopt: accept, take up, embrace.
Example: She is adept at explaining intricate concepts in a simple way, which helps students adapt to new ideas and adopt better study habits.
中文： 她非常擅长用简单的方式讲清复杂的概念，这有助于学生适应新观点并养成更好的学习习惯。
Meaning: having mixed or conflicting feelings about someone or something at the same time.
Synonyms: torn, uncertain, conflicted.
Example: She felt ambivalent about studying abroad, excited about new opportunities but worried about leaving her family.
中文： 她对出国留学感到很矛盾，一方面为新的机会感到兴奋，另一方面又担心离开家人。
Meaning: based on personal feelings, opinions or experiences rather than on facts.
Synonyms: personal, biased, one-sided.
Example: Our evaluation of a movie is often highly subjective.
中文： 我们对一部电影的评价往往是非常主观的。
Meaning: willing to accept other people's opinions, behaviors or beliefs, even if you do not agree with them.
Synonyms: open-minded, accepting, patient.
Example: A tolerant society respects different cultures and lifestyles.
中文： 一个宽容的社会会尊重不同的文化和生活方式。
Meaning: (adj.) able to express ideas and feelings clearly and effectively in words; (v.) to express something clearly.
Synonyms: (adj.) clear, expressive, eloquent; (v.) express, state, explain.
Example: She is very articulate and can explain complex issues in simple language.
中文： 她表达能力很强，能够用简单的语言讲清复杂的问题。
Meaning: to state clearly and firmly that something must be done, usually in an agreement or law.
Synonyms: specify, require, set out.
Example: The contract stipulates that all assignments must be completed before the deadline.
中文： 合同规定所有任务必须在截止日期前完成。
Meaning: to care for and encourage the growth or development of someone or something.
Synonyms: foster, cultivate, support.
Example: Parents and teachers should work together to nurture students' creativity.
中文： 家长和老师应该共同培育学生的创造力。
Meaning: to involve something as a necessary or unavoidable part or result.
Synonyms: involve, require, bring about.
Example: Improving your English often entails making time for daily reading and practice.
中文： 提高英语水平往往意味着要腾出时间进行每天的阅读和练习。
Meaning: to fully understand and absorb new ideas or information; to become part of a group or culture and be accepted by it.
Synonyms: absorb, integrate, incorporate.
Example: It takes time to assimilate new vocabulary and use it naturally in speaking and writing.
中文： 完全吸收并自然运用新的词汇需要时间。
Meaning: to agree to do something or to start doing a task or responsibility.
Synonyms: take on, assume, begin.
Example: The team decided to undertake a long-term research project on online education.
中文： 这个团队决定承担一个关于在线教育的长期研究项目。
Meaning: to cause something to happen or to persuade someone to do something.
Synonyms: cause, lead to, persuade.
Example: Lack of sleep can induce serious health problems over time.
中文： 长期缺乏睡眠可能会引发严重的健康问题。
Meaning: the ability to recover quickly from difficulties, stress or failure.
Synonyms: toughness, adaptability, strength.
Example: Developing resilience helps students handle exam pressure more confidently.
中文： 培养抗压能力有助于学生更自信地应对考试压力。
Writing vocabulary and phrases for essays
substantiate (v.)
Meaning: to provide facts, evidence or examples to show that a claim or opinion is true.
Synonyms: prove, support, confirm.
Example: You need to substantiate your argument with clear data and research findings.
中文： 你需要用清晰的数据和研究结果来证实你的观点。
exacerbate (v.)
Meaning: to make a problem, situation or feeling worse than before.
Synonyms: worsen, aggravate, intensify.
Example: Cutting public services may exacerbate social inequality.
中文： 削减公共服务可能会加剧社会不平等。
advocate (v./n.)
Meaning: (v.) to publicly support or recommend a particular idea, policy or way of doing something; (n.) a person who strongly supports something.
Synonyms: support, champion, recommend.
Example: Many experts advocate taking more effective measures to protect the environment.
中文： 许多专家提倡采取更有效的措施来保护环境。
utilize (v.)
Meaning: to use something in an effective or practical way.
Synonyms: use, employ, make use of.
Example: Students should learn to utilize online resources to improve their English.
中文： 学生应该学会利用网络资源来提高英语水平。
give rise to
Meaning: to cause something, especially something bad or difficult, to happen.
Synonyms: cause, lead to, result in.
Example: Rapid urbanization has given rise to a series of environmental problems.
中文： 快速城市化引发了一系列环境问题。
be indispensable to
Meaning: to be absolutely necessary or essential for something.
Synonyms: be essential to, be vital to, be crucial to.
Example: Water is indispensable to life.
中文： 水对生命来说是不可或缺的。
attach great importance to
Meaning: to consider something extremely important and give it a high priority.
Synonyms: value highly, place great emphasis on.
Example: The government attaches great importance to education.
中文： 政府非常重视教育。
Reflection
Today I moved beyond basic meaning memorization and focused on how these words actually function in serious discussions and formal writing. Words like “ambivalent”, “subjective” and “tolerant” help me describe attitudes more accurately, while verbs like “substantiate” and “exacerbate” make my arguments in essays sound more logical and precise.
In the next entries, I will continue to combine core vocabulary with writing-focused expressions, and try to design short review tasks that connect Day 1 and Day 2 so that these words can truly become part of my active vocabulary.
