# 2.3.2. 重音（Stress）

当一个词汇由一个以上的音节构成之时，其中的某个音节可能带有重音（*stress*），在音标中使用 `ˈ` 作为标记。

When a word contains more than one syllable, one of those syllables may carry the *stress*, marked by `ˈ` in phonetic notation.

一个多音节词汇中，最多只有一个重音音节，但，可能还有另外一些音节是**次重音**（*secondary stress*），在音标中使用 `ˌ` 作为标记。比如，*serendipity* `/ˌserənˈdɪpət̬i/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/serendipity-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/serendipity-us-female.mp3"></span>，有一个**重音**和一个**次重音**。而 *[Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis)* 总计有 19 个音节，其中 7 个是次重音，唯一的重音是 `oʊ`……

In a multisyllabic word, there is *only one* syllable with *primary stress*. However, there may be other syllables with *secondary stress*, marked by `ˌ` in phonetic notation. For instance, *serendipity* `/ˌserənˈdɪpət̬i/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/serendipity-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/serendipity-us-female.mp3"></span> has one primary stress and one secondary stress. On the other hand, the word *[Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis)* consists of *19* syllables in total, with *7* carrying secondary stress and the *sole* primary stress falling on `oʊ`.

在学习英文的时候，亚洲人特别需要注意的是，要从心理上纠正一个对应关系，“英文音节 - 字”，而不是 “英文单词 - 字” —— 亚洲文字，无论是中文、日文还是韩文，所有的字都是单音节构成。

What Asian learners of English must be especially mindful of is to mentally correct the correlation from "*English syllable - Asian Character*" instead of "English word - Asian Character". This is because all characters in Asian languages, whether Chinese, Japanese, or Korean, are composed of single syllables.

*individual* `/ˌɪndəˈvɪdʒuəl/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/individual-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/individual-us-female.mp3"></span> 这一个单词，总计 *5* 个音节，即，相当于 *5* 个汉字的长度…… 对比以下句子的音节数量：

The word *individual* `/ˌɪndəˈvɪdʒuəl/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/individual-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/individual-us-female.mp3"></span> has a total of *5* syllables, which is equivalent to the length of *5* Chinese characters. Consider the comparison between the number of syllables in the following sentences

> * 人们看法各不相同。`[Rénmen kànfǎ gè bù xiāngtóng]` —— 总计 *8* 个字，*8* 个音节。
> * 人们看法各不相同。`[Rénmen kànfǎ gè bù xiāngtóng]` - *8 characters in Chinese, 8 syllables*.
> * People's opinions vary from individual to individual. `/ˈpiːpəlz əˈpɪnjənz ˈveri frɑːm ˌɪndəˈvɪdʒuəl tuː ˌɪndəˈvɪdʒuəl/` —— 总计 *7* 个单词yar，*19* 个音节。
> * People's opinions vary from individual to individual. `/ˈpiːpəlz əˈpɪnjənz ˈveri frɑːm ˌɪndəˈvɪdʒuəl tuː ˌɪndəˈvɪdʒuəl/` - *7* words in English, *19* syllables.

这个对应关系的纠正很重要，因为这个对应关系在最底层影响连贯声音的理解方式。

Recognizing this correlation is crucial as it fundamentally affects how we comprehend the flow of sounds in a sentence.

另外一个重点在于，英文的音节有**重音**、**次重音**、**非重音**的区别，这一点也和亚洲语言明显不同。

Another crucial point is that English syllables have varying degrees of stress: *primary stress*, *secondary stress*, and the *unstressed*, which is noticeably different from Asian languages.

5 个汉字（或者日文字、韩文字）排在一起大概是这样的：

When 5 Chinese characters (or Japanese or Korean characters) are lined up, it might look like this:

![5-chars](/images/5-chars.svg)

但，由 5 个音节构成的词汇 *individual* 相应应该是这样的：

However, the word *individual*, which is composed of 5 syllables, would likely be represented like this:

![5-syllables](/images/5-syllables.svg)

英语里除了**重音**、**次重音**、**非重音**之外，还有**弱音**，比如被弱化成 `ə` 的 *schwa*。

In English, in addition to primary stress, secondary stress, and unstressed syllables, we also have weakly pronounced syllables, like the schwa (`ə`) sound that occurs when syllables are reduced.

细细体会 *individual* `/ˌɪndəˈvɪdʒuəl/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/individual-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/individual-us-female.mp3"></span> 这个词，如果每个音节都清晰地用同样的强度读出来的话，应该是 `/ɪn-dɪ-vɪ-dʒju-əl/`…… 这里面，第 2 个音节 `/dɪ/`里的元音 `ɪ` 被弱化为 `ə`；另外，第 4 个音节 `/dʒu/` 里的元音 `ju` 也被弱化成了 `ə`，但保留了 `u` 的音色；而处于音节末尾的 `l`，之前自带着轻微的 `ə`，于是连成了很轻的 `wᵊl`……

Let's dig deep into the word *individual*, for example, it's pronounced as `/ˌɪndəˈvɪdʒuəl/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/individual-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/individual-us-female.mp3"></span>. If each syllable was placed equal stress, it would sound something like /ɪn-dɪ-vɪ-dʒju-əl/... Within this pronunciation, the vowel `ɪ` in the second syllable `/dɪ/` is reduced to the schwa sound, `ə`; likewise, the vowel `ju` in the fourth syllable `/dʒu/` is also reduced to `ə`, but retains the coloration of `u`. The `l` at the end of the syllable, which originally carries a slight `ə` sound, thus becomes a very light `wᵊl`...

![5-syllables-individual](/images/5-syllables-individual.svg)

英文的元音有长短之分。需要注意的是：当一个**短元音**构成的**音节**是**重音**的时候，该音节会自然而然读得更长一些，比如 *city* 或者 *silly* 之中的第一个重音音节 `/ˈsɪ/` —— 可能是因为 `s` 音拉得更长；再比如，*Thanks, I owe you a big one.* 这句话里的 *big* —— 可能是因为 `bɪg` 这个词（**音节**）的**音调**（pitch, [2.5.1](2.5.1-pitch)）拉高，或者干脆是 `ɪ` 这个**短元音**拉长……

In English, vowel sounds can vary in length. It's interesting to note that when a syllable with a short vowel sound is *stressed*, it's naturally pronounced a bit longer. For example, the first stressed syllable in words like *city* or *silly*, `/ˈsɪ/` may be extended due to the drawn-out `s` sound. Similarly, the word *big* in the sentence "*Thanks, I owe you a big one*," may be elongated because the pitch of the syllable `bɪg` is raised or simply because the short vowel `ɪ` is stretched out.

有些时候，同样的词汇，因**重音位置**不同会产生**词义**或**词性**的变化。比如，*address*, `/ˈædres/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/address-noun.mp3"></span> 是名词，“地址”；`/əˈdres/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/address-verb.mp3"></span> 是动词，“强调”；再比如，*record*，可以读作 `/ˈrekɚd/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/record-noun.mp3"></span> 或 `/rɪˈkɔːrd/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/record-verb.mp3"></span>，前者是名词，后者是动词。

At times, the same word can bear different meanings or parts of speech due to the varying placement of the *stress*. For example, the word *address* when pronounced as `/ˈæˌdres/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/address-noun.mp3"></span> is a *noun*, meaning *place of residence*. However, when pronounced as `/əˈdres/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/address-verb.mp3"></span>, it is a *verb*, indicating to *highlight* or *bring attention to*. And *record* can be pronounced as `/ˈrekɚd/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/record-noun.mp3"></span> or `/rɪˈkɔːrd/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/record-verb.mp3"></span>. The former is a *noun*, while the latter is a *verb*.

类似的还有很多，比如以下常见词汇[^1]：

Note, the same word, when pronounced with stress on different syllables, can change its part of speech. Consider the following common words as examples:

| Noun                                                                                                              | Verb                                                                                                             |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 'conduct `/ˈkɑːndʌkt/`   <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/conduct-noun.mp3"></span> | con'duct `/kənˈdʌkt/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/conduct-verb.mp3"></span>    |
| 'conflict `/ˈkɑːnflɪkt/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/conflict-noun.mp3"></span> | con'flict `/kənˈflɪkt/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/conflict-verb.mp3"></span> |
| 'convert `/ˈkɑːnvɝːt/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/convert-noun.mp3"></span>    | con'vert `/kənˈvɝːt/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/convert-verb.mp3"></span>    |
| 'digest `/ˈdaɪdʒest/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/digest-noun.mp3"></span>      | di'gest `/daɪˈdʒest/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/digest-verb.mp3"></span>     |
| 'permit `/ˈpɝːmɪt/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/permit-noun.mp3"></span>      | per'mit `/pɚˈmɪt/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/permit-verb.mp3"></span>      |
| 'rebel `/ˈrebəl/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/rebel-noun.mp3"></span>         | re'bel `/rɪˈbel/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/rebel-verb.mp3"></span>        |
| 'subject `/ˈsʌbdʒekt/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/subject-noun.mp3"></span>    | sub'ject `/səbˈdʒekt/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/subject-verb.mp3"></span> |

在随后的章节里我们会涉及到重音音节的另外一个重点 —— 音调（*tone*，[2.5.2](2.5.2-tone)）。

In the upcoming sections, we'll be covering another important aspect of stressed syllables — tone ([2.5.2](2.5.2-tone)).

不妨逐个练习一下以下常用多音节词汇，注意**重音**、**次重音**，以及**非重音**和**弱音** `ə`（*schwa*）：

Let's practice the pronunciation of the following commonly used multi-syllable words one by one. Pay attention to the *primary stress*, *secondary stress*, as well as *unstressed*, or *weak* `ə` (schwa) sounds:

> * *accommodate* `/əˈkɑːmədeɪt/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/accommodate-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/accommodate-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *anniversary* `/ˌænəˈvɝːsɚi/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/anniversary-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/anniversary-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *anticipate* `/ænˈtɪsəpeɪt/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/anticipate-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/anticipate-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *appreciate* `/əˈpriːʃieɪt/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/appreciate-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/appreciate-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *beautiful* `/ˈbjuːt̬əfəl/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/beautiful-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/beautiful-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *celebration* `/ˌseləˈbreɪʃən/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/celebration-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/celebration-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *characteristic* `/ˌkerəktəˈrɪstɪk/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/characteristic-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/characteristic-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *communication* `/kəˌmjuːnəˈkeɪʃən/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/communication-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/communication-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *determination* `/dɪˌtɝːmɪˈneɪʃən/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/determination-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/determination-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *discovery* `/dɪˈskʌvɚi/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/discovery-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/discovery-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *encouragement* `/ɪnˈkɝːɪdʒmənt/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/encouragement-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/encouragement-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *entrepreneur* `/ˌɑːntrəprəˈnɝː/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/entrepreneur-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/entrepreneur-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *environment* `/ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/environment-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/environment-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *exaggerate* `/ɪɡˈzædʒəreɪt/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/exaggerate-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/exaggerate-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *examination* `/ɪɡˌzæməˈneɪʃən/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/examination-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/examination-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *explanation* `/ˌekspləˈneɪʃən/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/explanation-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/explanation-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *fascinating* `/ˈfæsəneɪtɪŋ/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/fascinating-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/fascinating-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *government* `/ˈɡʌvɚnmənt/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/government-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/government-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *hospitality* `/ˌhɑːspɪˈtælət̬i/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/hospitality-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/hospitality-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *imagination* `/ɪˌmædʒəˈneɪʃən/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/imagination-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/imagination-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *impossible* `/ɪmˈpɑːsəbəl/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/impossible-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/impossible-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *incredible* `/ɪnˈkredəbəl/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/incredible-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/incredible-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *independent* `/ˌɪndɪˈpendənt/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/independent-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/independent-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *information* `/ˌɪnfɚˈmeɪʃən/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/information-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/information-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *inspiration* `/ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/inspiration-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/inspiration-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *interesting* `/ˈɪntrɪstɪŋ/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/interesting-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/interesting-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *international* `/ˌɪnt̬ɚˈnæʃənəl/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/international-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/international-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *knowledgeable* `/ˈnɑːlɪdʒəbəl/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/knowledgeable-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/knowledgeable-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *opportunity* `/ˌɑːpɚˈtuːnət̬i/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/opportunity-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/opportunity-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *personality* `/ˌpɝːsənˈælət̬i/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/personality-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/personality-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *photography* `/fəˈtɑːɡrəfi/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/photography-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/photography-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *professional* `/prəˈfeʃənəl/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/professional-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/professional-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *recognition* `/ˌrekəɡˈnɪʃən/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/recognition-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/recognition-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *rehabilitation* `/ˌriːhəˌbɪləˈteɪʃən/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/rehabilitation-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/rehabilitation-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *relationship* `/rɪˈleɪʃənʃɪp/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/relationship-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/relationship-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *responsibility* `/rɪˌspɑːnsəˈbɪlət̬i/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/responsibility-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/responsibility-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *revolutionary* `/ˌrevəˈluːʃəneri/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/revolutionary-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/revolutionary-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *satisfaction* `/ˌsæt̬ɪsˈfækʃən/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/satisfaction-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/satisfaction-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *spectacular* `/spekˈtækjəlɚ/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/spectacular-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/spectacular-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *temperature* `/ˈtempɚətʃɚ/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/temperature-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/temperature-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *transportation* `/ˌtrænspɚˈteɪʃən/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/transportation-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/transportation-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *unbelievable* `/ˌʌnbɪˈliːvəbəl/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/unbelievable-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/unbelievable-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *understand* `/ˌʌndɚˈstænd/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/understand-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/understand-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *understanding* `/ˌʌndɚˈstændɪŋ/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/understanding-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/understanding-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *unforgettable* `/ˌʌnfɚˈɡet̬əbəl/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/unforgettable-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/unforgettable-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *university* `/ˌjuːnəˈvɝːsət̬i/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/university-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/university-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *vegetarian* `/ˌvedʒəˈteriən/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/vegetarian-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/vegetarian-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *vocabulary* `/voʊˈkæbjəleri/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/vocabulary-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/vocabulary-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *vulnerable* `/ˈvʌlnɚəbəl/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/vulnerable-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/vulnerable-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * *wonderfully* `/ˈwʌndɚfəli/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/wonderfully-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/wonderfully-us-female.mp3"></span>

[^1]: Sound files in this page mostly come from [CEPD online edition](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/pronunciation/).