take trouble/have trouble

【问】 take trouble与have trouble在《现代英语用法词典》(P.4961)里均被译为“费事”，它们的意思是否相同?

【答】 take(the)trouble是指“费心”、“费力”，后面可接带to的动词不定式，表示“费心或费力去做某事”：

1. Please take the trouble to read the contract thoroughly. (FWF)

请费心把合同全文认真地读一下。

2. He took the trouble to gather the materials for us.

他不辞辛苦地为我们收集资料。

have trouble则是“有困难”，后面可跟(in)doing，表示“在……上有困难，很费力”：

1. The patient has trouble breathing— I think he’s dying. (Chambers)

这个病人呼气困难，我看他要死了。

2. I had a lot of trouble finding the book you wanted. (Chambers)

我费了很大劲才找到了你所需要的那本书。

3. I had some trouble in reading the letter. His handwriting is very bad. (Palmer)

我读这封信很费力。他写的字太糟了。