adj (1) 认真的，热切的(serious and determined in purpose)： an～expression/face 认真的表情/面容; He is a very～young man. 他是个非常认真的年轻人。She is very amusing，but her fiancé is very～. 她是一个颇有风趣的人，但她的未婚夫却非常严肃。〖同〗 determined，resolute; 〖反〗 irresolute;

(2) 诚(真)挚的，热心的 (showing or expressing deep，sincere feelings and intentions) [作attrib]：an～attempt/desire/pursuit认真的尝试/真诚的愿望/热切的追求;The king knelt in～prayer. 国王虔诚地下跪祈祷。The boy made an～request for help. 那个男孩子迫切地请求帮助。〖同〗sincere，eager，enthusiastic;〖反〗insincere，indifferent，unenthusiastic;

(3) 重要的，严重的 (seriously important)：～consideration of what one is going to do 对自己所要采取的行动作严肃的考虑; Life is real! Life is～! 人生是真实的! 人生是重要的! 〖同〗grave，important，serious，solemn; 〖反〗 unimportant;

n 认真;诚挚(a serious and intent mental state)： in dead/deadly/good/real/sad/sober～认(当)真;Are you in～in what you say? 你说的话当真吗? Believe me，I'm in deadly～. 相信我，我是认真的。Were you in～when you offered to help me to learn French? 你提出要帮我学法语是真的吗? The students got down to work in～a month before the examination. 学生们早在考试前一个月就开始认真复习功课。It soon began to rain in real～. 不久雨便真的下大了。

→′earnestly adv 认真地、真诚地;′earnestness n 认真，真诚;

【辨异】earnest与resolute，serious和sincere都可以表示认真或真诚。earnest 指明确的目的和认真的态度，如：a group of earnest students (一群刻苦的学生);resolute 更多地指决心和意志，如：He is resolute in his attempt to climb to the top of the mountain. (他决意要登上山顶。); serious 表示严肃的态度，与寻欢作乐和轻浮恰恰相反，如： a serious young man (一个持重的年轻人); sincere 强调的是诚意和可信赖性，如 He is a sincere friend. (他是一个诚挚的朋友。)