dilemma

名词 dilemma:

1. state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options
   同义词：quandary

1. The patient's condition was critical and she needed an operation but there was no guarantee that she would survive the anaesthetic; the surgeon was on the horns of a dilemma.
   病人情况危急，因而需要手术，但又无法保证她是否能经受得住麻醉剂，外科医生处于进退两难的境地。
2. The bad weather put us in a dilemma.
   糟糕的天气使我们进退两难
3. Faced with the dilemma, he opted for soldiering on.
   面临着进退两难的困境，他决定顽强地坚持下去。
4. Faced with that dilemma, he was perplexed.
   他面对进退两难的局面，不知如何是好。

di.lem.ma

n.（名词）
A situation that requires a choice between options that are or seem equally unfavorable or mutually exclusive.
进退两难：需要在相等或相互排斥的选择物之间进行选择的处境
Usage Problem A problem that seems to defy a satisfactory solution.
【用法疑难】 难题：表面看来似乎不能取得满意解决的问题
Logic An argument that presents an antagonist with a choice of two or more alternatives, each of which contradicts the original contention and is conclusive.
【逻辑学】 二难推理，两刀论法：在两个或两个以上可供选择的对象中提供一种选择，但不管选择那一个对象，它同样又是反对这一选择的决定性论证

来源：
Late Latin
后期拉丁语
from Greek dilômma [ambiguous proposition]
源自 希腊语 dilômma [模棱两可的命题]
di- [two] * see di-
di- [两个] *参见 di-
lômma [proposition] * see lemma
lômma [命题] *参见 lemma

【引伸】
dil.emmat.ic
In its primary sensedilemma denotes a situation in which a choice must be made between alternative courses of action or argument. Although citational evidence attests to widespread use of the term meaning simply .problem. or .predicament. and involving no issue of choice,74 percent of the Usage Panel rejected the sentence
dilemma 的主要意思是表示处于进退维谷的境地。 尽管引用的论据证明含意仅为.问题.或.困境.的词语达到了普遍运用并涉及没有选择的问题，但有74％的用法专题使用小组成员否定了句子
例句：
Juvenile drug abuse is the great dilemma of the 980`s. ·
青少年吸毒的陋习是80年代的大问题。

It is sometimes claimed that because thedi- in dilemma comes from a Greek prefix meaning .two,. the word should be used only when exactly two choices are involved.But '4 percent of the Usage Panel accepts its use for choices among three or more options in the example
据说有时因为dilemma 中的 di- 出自于一个含意为.两个.的希腊语前缀， 所以只有当在包含恰恰正是两种选择的时候才应使用这个词。但有'4％的用法小组成员承认在三个或更多选择的例句中的使用，如
例句：
Ph.D. students who haven`t completed their dissertations by the time their fellowships expire face a difficult dilemma:
哲学博士生们在研究生职位期限终止时还没有完成其论文就要面临一种进退两难的境地：

whether to take out loans to support themselves, to try to work part-time at both a job and their research,or to give up on the degree entirely.
不是扣除支持其学业的贷款从事半工半读，就是彻底放弃学位