◙ adverb 1. in or after a short time • 不久；很快 »everyone will soon know the truth. 很快每个人都会知道真相的。 »he'll be home soon. 他很快就会到家了。 »they arrived soon after 7.30. 他们7点半一过就到了。 early • 早；快 »how soon can you get here? 你多快能到这儿？ »it's a pity you have to leave so soon. 你这么快就离开太令人遗憾了。 »I wish you'd told me sooner. 你要是早点告诉我就好了。 »it was too soon to know. 太早了还不可能知道呢。 2. used to indicate one's preference in a particular matter • 宁可，宁愿 »I'd just as soon Tim did it. 我宁可提姆做这件事。 »I would sooner resign than transfer to Toronto. 我宁愿辞职也不愿被调到多伦多。
【IDIOMS】
◘ no sooner —— than 1. used to convey that the second event mentioned happens immediately after the first • 一…就… »she had no sooner spoken than the telephone rang. 她刚一说话，电话就响了。 ◘ sooner or later 1. at some future time;eventually • 早晚；迟早 »you'll have to tell him sooner or later. 你迟早得告诉他。 ◘ sooner rather than later 1. before much time has gone by • 越早越好 »I would be grateful if you would come to your senses sooner rather than later. 你要是能早点恢复理智我就谢天谢地了。
【派生】
♦ soonish adverb
【语源】
1. Old English sōna 'immediately', of West Germanic origin
【用法】
1. In standard English, the phrase no sooner is followed by than, as in we had no sooner arrived than we had to leaveThis is because sooner is a comparative, and comparatives are followed by thanearlier than; better thanand so on). It is incorrect to follow no sooner with when rather than than, as in we had no sooner arrived when we had to leave