upset、agitate、disturb与perturb这些动词均有“使不安、使心烦意乱”之意。
upset : 最普通，最通俗用词，侧重失去精神上的平静，心理上完全丧失平衡。
- It still upsets him when he thinks about the accident.
一想起那次事故他仍很恼火。
agitate : 强调内心的焦虑难于控制、表露于外，并失去冷静和自制力。
- 我不想告诉她昨天她那精明的叔父被控犯谋杀罪，免得她焦虑。
I didn't want to agitate her by telling her that her shrewd uncle was indicted for murder yesterday.
延伸阅读：小词详解 | agitate
disturb : 指因某人的行动、扰乱、妨碍安静等而使人不得安宁。
- Please don't disturb your sister - she's trying to do her homework.
请不要打扰你姐姐——她正在做家庭作业。
perturb : 书面语用词，指使人焦急烦恼，扰得心情不安。
- News of the arrest perturbed her greatly.
逮捕的消息使她心绪不宁。
