infectious,contagious
這一對詞都是形容詞,又都具有傳染性的、傳染病的`意義,但內涵和使用場合有所不同。
Infectious disease 是間接傳染的病,指病菌通過空氣、食物、水、衣服、容器等物的傳染。例:
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease.
肺結核是一種傳染病。
Its said that cancer is not infectious.
據說癌症是不會傳染的。
Contagious disease 是直接傳染的病,一般指跟病人直接接觸而感染的病。例:
Scarlet fever is a contagious disease.
猩紅熱是一種傳染病。
Measles and aids are highly contagious.
麻疹和艾滋病是很易傳染的。
這兩個詞用作轉義時,可以互換使用,它們都表示感化、感染之意。例如:
The enthusiasm for the pop-singer is contagious.
He stood there like a fool amid the infectious laughter of his friends.
Infectious 的名詞是 infection;contagious的名詞是contagion.