1. health:该词是表示表示“健康”最常用的词,用于笼统地表示“健康”,主要指“身体没有疾病”,不强调身体是否强壮。如:
She's a normal healthy child. 她是个正常健康的孩子。
We’re anxious about her health. 我们担心她的健康。
The climate gravely affected his health. 气候严重地影响了他的健康。
Poor health may be a bar to success in life. 健康不佳可能成为人一生中取得成功的障碍。
The City Health Department is giving us until this evening. 市卫生局给我们的限期是到今晚为止。
We’re rather concerned about father’s health. 我们相当担心父亲的健康。
2. fitness:它是由形容词fit派生来的名词,侧重指因锻炼而变得健康,所以多用于指健壮或体力好。
I'm trying to improve my fitness by cycling to work. 我每天骑脚踏车上班,想以此来改善健康状况。
Not all athletes attain this standard of physical fitness. 并非所有的运动员都达到这个身体素质标准。
I’ve decided to hire a personal fitness trainer. 我打算用一位私人健身教练员。
Good muscles are one of the prerequisites of physical fitness. 肌肉发达是身体健康的一个必备条件。
Running marathons requires a high level of physical fitness. 跑马拉松需要有十分健壮的身体。
正因为有以上区别,所以在某些语境中,只能选择其中的一个。比如:
抽烟有害健康。
误:Smoking is bad for your fitness.
正:Smoking is bad for your health.
你可以使用我们的所有健身器材。
误:You can have the full use of our health facilities.
正:You can have the full use of our fitness facilities.
再比较:
a health club 健康俱乐部
a fitness club 健身俱乐部