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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Concern: Definition, Usage, and Common Mistakes (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：cause worry (concern)

concern 🔊

/kənˈsɜːrn/

vt.

To cause someone to feel worried or anxious about something.

Concern meaning illustrated by a worried person reading news on a smartphone.

cause worry 🔊

➕

/kɔːz ˈwʌr.i/

vt.

To make someone feel troubled, uneasy, or anxious about a potential problem or outcome.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'cernere' (to sift, discern) → to 'see' or 'distinguish' → the idea of 'enclosing together' (con- + cernere).

💡 Mnemonic

Picture a CONductor of a train looking at all the cars (SERN) attached—he is CONCERNed with how they are all connected and the safety of each.

📖 Example

The constant noise from the construction site concerned the residents trying to work from home. 🔊 The ongoing disturbance from the building area made the people living there feel anxious as they attempted to do their jobs remotely.

🔗 Collocations

deeply concern – to worry someone very much

major concern – a primary source of worry

express concern – to state one's worry about something

🔄 Synonyms

worry (vt.) – to cause to feel anxious or troubled

trouble (vt.) – to cause distress or anxiety to

disturb (vt.) – to interrupt the quiet, rest, or peace of; to make anxious

🚫 Antonyms

reassure (vt.) – to say or do something to remove someone's doubts or fears

comfort (vt.) – to ease the grief or distress of

🌱 Derivatives

concerned (adj.) – worried or anxious about something

concerning (prep.) – relating to; about

concernment (n.) – importance; a matter of interest

📖 Cultural Story

Originally from Latin 'cernere' (to separate, decide). In business, 'concern' often refers to a company or enterprise, reflecting its primary role in people's lives. It's frequently used in formal reports and news media to introduce topics of public interest.

Meaning 2：relate to (concern)

concern 🔊

/kənˈsɜːrn/

vt.

To be about or connected to a particular subject, person, or situation.

relate to 🔊

➕

/rɪˈleɪt tuː/

vt.

To be connected with, relevant to, or about a particular person, group, subject, or matter.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

This new rule concerns all employees who work remotely, so please read the email carefully. 🔊 This recently established regulation is relevant to every staff member that performs their job from outside the office, therefore careful attention to the email is advised.

🔗 Collocations

directly concern – to be immediately relevant to

matter of concern – an issue that is relevant and important

as far as ... is concerned – regarding a specific person or thing

🔄 Synonyms

involve (vt.) – to include as a necessary part or result

regard (vt.) – to relate or refer to; concern

pertain to (phrasal v.) – to be relevant or applicable to

🚫 Antonyms

exclude (vt.) – to deliberately leave out; to not include