Catch 22

更新时间:2026-06-28 14:30:00   栏目: 英语词典

Catch 22

1. 定义

"Catch 22" 是一个英语短语,用来形容一种自相矛盾的困境或处境。在这种困境中,解决问题的办法本身却成了问题的障碍。通常意味着你不能从一个情况中逃脱或改变,因为你受到相互矛盾的规定、条件或要求的限制。

2. 词源

这个短语源自约瑟夫·海勒的小说《Catch-22》(1961年出版)。小说中的“Catch-22”指的是一个军规,即如果一名飞行员愿意继续执行危险的飞行任务,那么他已经表明自己是理智的,因此不能被认定为精神病,因此无法免除任务。而如果他不愿继续飞行任务,则说明他是疯子,可以被免除任务,但这又意味着他没有资格因为疯子而被免除。这个“Catch-22”形成了一个无解的循环。

3. 音标

/ˌkætʃ ˈtwentiˈtuː/

4. 翻译

"Catch 22" 可以翻译为“死循环”、“两难困境”或“自相矛盾的局面”。

5. 用法

这个词通常用来描述一类看似无解的困境,特别是当两者条件互相排斥或矛盾时。

6. 例句

It's a Catch-22 situation: you need experience to get a job, but you can't get experience without a job.
这是个死循环:你需要经验才能找到工作,但没有工作就无法获得经验。

The regulations create a Catch-22 where employees must be vaccinated to avoid being fired, but they can’t get vaccinated unless they’ve already received an exemption from the company.
这些规定创造了一种两难困境,员工必须接种疫苗才能避免被解雇,但除非公司已为他们提供免疫豁免,否则他们无法接种疫苗。

You can't get a loan without a good credit score, but you can't build a good credit score without a loan. It's a Catch-22.
你没有良好的信用评分就无法贷款,但没有贷款就无法建立良好的信用评分。这是个死循环。

I was in a Catch-22: I had to have a job to get health insurance, but I needed health insurance to be eligible for a job.
我处于一个两难困境:我必须有一份工作才能获得健康保险,但我需要健康保险才能有资格获得工作。

The rules about qualifications create a Catch-22 for many people, making it difficult for them to advance.
这些关于资格的规定为许多人创造了死循环,使得他们很难向前发展。

He found himself caught in a Catch-22 where he needed to quit his job to attend school but couldn't afford to attend school without his job.
他发现自己陷入了一个两难困境:他需要辞去工作去上学,但没有工作就无法负担得起上学的费用。

The bureaucratic process can be a Catch-22: the more paperwork you submit, the more they ask for.
官僚程序可能是个死循环:你提交的文书越多,他们要求的就越多。

The Catch-22 of being a small business owner is that you need to invest money to grow, but you don’t have enough money to invest.
作为小企业主的两难困境是,你需要投资才能发展,但你没有足够的钱进行投资。

There’s a Catch-22 when trying to get a visa: you need a job offer to get the visa, but you need the visa to be considered for the job.
在申请签证时有一个死循环:你需要工作邀请才能获得签证,但你需要签证才能考虑工作机会。

It's a Catch-22: to succeed in the industry, you need experience, but you can’t get experience without success.
这是个死循环:要在这个行业成功,你需要经验,但没有成功你就无法获得经验。

7. 短语搭配

Caught in a Catch-22: 被困在死循环中

Caught between a Catch-22: 处于两难境地

A Catch-22 situation: 一种两难局面

Catch-22 dilemma: 死循环困境

A perfect Catch-22: 完美的死循环

8. 相关词汇

Paradox: 矛盾,悖论

Vicious circle: 恶性循环

Catch: 陷阱,陷入困境

9. 总结

"Catch 22" 是一个用来形容自相矛盾的困境的短语,起源于约瑟夫·海勒的小说,表示一种无法逃脱的局面。在现实生活中,它广泛应用于各种矛盾的情境,尤其是在制度、规则或要求互相排斥时。