lesser

漢語翻譯

詞意辨析：

less, lesser

這兩個詞都是little的比較級，都可指“較少”或“較小”。less偏重於“not so much”的意思，lesser偏重於“not so great或smaller、minor、lower”的意思。它們都可用於數量、重量、程度、重要性、價值等方面，但在用法及跟其他詞語搭配上有很大不同，二者不能互換。
less: 所修飾的名詞是不可數的，且沒有冠詞在前；less可帶than，並指二者或多於二者的比較；

• i received less pay than he.
  我收的薪金比他少。
• i want less sugar for my coffee.
  我的咖啡要加少些糖。
• these days，i eat less rice than i used to.
  近來我吃飯比以前少。

lesser: 不用than，而用of，並只限於二者的比較；涉及程度、價值、重要性等方面時，一般用lesser（指 smaller，not so great，minor，lower）。

• i prefer a lesser amount of meat.
  我選擇較少量的肉食。
• rice and wheat are two staple foods in china．in the north，rice is the lesser of the two.
  米和小麥是中國的兩種主要食糧。在北方，米較小麥為次要。

英文解釋：

形容詞 lesser:

1. of less size or importance
2. smaller in size or amount or value

形容詞 less:

1. (comparative of `little' usually used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning not as great in amount or degree
   同義詞：less
2. (usually preceded by `no') lower in quality
   同義詞：less
3. (nonstandard in some uses but often idiomatic with measure phrases) fewer
   同義詞：less

例句：

1. The case has been remitted from the appeal court to a lesser tribunal.
   此案已由抗訴法庭轉給下級法庭處理。
2. She has also been affected, but to a lesser degree.
   她也受到波及，但程度較輕。
3. He is stubborn, and so is she, but to a lesser degree.
   他很固執，她也固執，不過程度輕些。
4. This is the lesser evil of the two.
   這是兩種弊病中較輕的。