1.从语气上看:refuse属普通用词;而reject则属于正式用词,多用于较正式的场合。
2.从意思上看:refuse表示“拒绝”,强调态度的肯定和坚决;而reject则强调摈弃、不采用或不使用。
They refused him admittance. 他们不允许他入场。
They rejected all the bad apples. 他们扔掉了所有的坏苹果。
注:若不严格区分,有时(如表示拒绝接受时)两者也可换用。如:
He refused [rejected] her offer of help. 他拒绝了她的援助提议。
The editors refused [rejected] this article. 编辑拒不采用这篇文章。
3.从是否及物来看:refuse可用作及物或不及物动词,而reject通常只用作及物动词。比较下面两句动词后宾语的有无:
I asked him to lend me his car, but he refused. 我请求他把车借给我,但他拒绝了。
I proposed to her but she rejected me. 我向她求婚,但被她拒绝了。
4.refuse后可接不定式表示“拒绝做某事”,而reject通常不这样用。如:
He refused to come to the meeting. 他拒绝来参加会议。
The door refuses to open. 这门打不开。