核心差别
arduous 强调形容某事需要付出巨大努力、非常困难或充满挑战，strenuous 则侧重strenuous 是一个形容词
使用场景对比
| 对比方面 | arduous | strenuous |
|---|---|---|
| 核心含义 | 形容某事需要付出巨大努力、非常困难或充满挑战，常用于描述任务、旅程或过程。 | strenuous 是一个形容词，指需要付出巨大努力或体力的，常用于描述活动、工作或任务非常费劲或艰苦。 |
| 词性 | 形容词 | 形容词 |
| 使用语域 | 通常用作定语修饰名词，如 arduous task/journey/process，或作表语与系动词连用，如 The climb was arduous. | strenuous 通常用作定语形容词，修饰名词如 activity、exercise、effort 等，表示这些事物需要大量体力或精力。 |
对比例句
The hike up the mountain was arduous, but the view from the top was worth it.
爬山很费力，但山顶的景色值得这一切。
Learning a new language can be an arduous process, especially for adults.
学习一门新语言可能是个费力的过程，尤其对成年人来说。
After a strenuous hike, we were all exhausted and needed a long rest.
经过一次费劲的徒步后，我们都筋疲力尽，需要长时间休息。
She avoids strenuous exercise because of her recent injury.
由于最近的受伤，她避免进行费劲的锻炼。
常见误用提醒
使用 arduous：The work is arduously. → The work is arduous. (arduous 是形容词，直接作表语，不需要加 -ly 变成副词。正确用法是 The work is arduous，表示工作很费力。)
使用 arduous：He made an arduous decision quickly. → He made a difficult decision quickly. (arduous 通常描述需要体力或持续努力的任务或过程，不常用于形容快速的决定。difficult 更合适，表示困难的决定。)
使用 strenuous：He made a strenuous try to finish the project. → He made a strenuous effort to finish the project. (strenuous 通常修饰 effort、activity 等名词，而不是 try；try 作为名词时较少与 strenuous 搭配，应改为 effort 以更符合英语习惯。)