dear /dɪə/ CET4 TEM4 ( dearer, dears, dearest )

• 1. 

  ADJ You use dear to describe someone or something that you feel affection for. 亲爱的 [ADJ n]

  例：

  Mrs. Cavendish is a dear friend of mine.

  凯文迪许太太是我亲爱的朋友。

• 2. 

  ADJ If something is dear to you or dear to your heart, you care deeply about it. 宝贵的; 珍视的 [v-link ADJ 'to' n]

  例：

  This is a subject very dear to the hearts of academics up and down the country.

  这是全国学者都极为重视的话题。

• 3. 

  ADJ Dear is written at the beginning of a letter, followed by the name or title of the person you are writing to. 亲爱的 (写在信首，位于收信人的姓名或称呼前) [ADJ n]

  例：

  Dear Peter, I have been thinking about you so much during the past few days.

  亲爱的彼得，在过去的几天中我一直深深思念着你。

• 4. 

  CONVENTION You begin formal letters with "Dear Sir" or "Dear Madam." You can also begin them with "Sir" or "Madam." 尊敬的 [书面]

  例：

  "Dear Sir," she began.

  “尊敬的先生”，她开始写到。

• 5. 

  N-VOC You can call someone dear as a sign of affection. 亲爱的 [情感]

  例：

  You're a lot like me, dear.

  你和我太像了，亲爱的。

• 6. 

  INTERJ You can use dear in expressions such as "oh dear," "dear me," and "dear, dear" when you are sad, disappointed, or surprised about something. 啊呀 [情感]

  例：

  "Oh dear, oh dear." McKinnon sighed. "You, too."

  “啊，天哪，”麦金农叹息道，“你也一样。”