let
let — 動詞
1. to say yes to someone doing something that they want to do, or to not prevent an
讓；允許
允許某人做某事或不予阻止
to say yes to someone doing something that they want to do, or to not prevent an action or event from taking place.
Diego let his younger sister borrow his bicycle for the afternoon.
Diego 讓他的妹妹下午借用他的自行車。
let + person + do something (infinitive without to)
The teacher let the class leave five minutes early after the quiz.
老師讓全班在小考後提早五分鐘下課。
Nila's parents will not let her stay out past ten on school nights.
Nila 的父母不允許她在上學日的晚上十點以後還待在外面。
Sora let the vegetables simmer on the stove while he chopped more garlic.
Sora 讓蔬菜在爐子上慢慢燉煮，同時他繼續切更多大蒜。
Please let me know if you change your mind about the trip.
如果你對這趟旅行改變了主意，請讓我知道。
文法句型
let + person/thing + infinitive without to
let + something + happen
用法筆記
The verb after 'let' is always an infinitive without 'to'. Frequently used with 'will/won't' to talk about rules and permission.
常見錯誤
2. to stop opposing something or someone's behaviour, accepting the outcome even if
任由
無奈接受某事發生
to stop opposing something or someone's behaviour, accepting the outcome even if it is not what you wanted.
Emre knew he could not change his sister's mind, so he let her make her own choice.
Emre 知道無法改變妹妹的想法，於是他任由她自己做決定。
let + person + do something (resigned acceptance)
After trying to fix the leak for an hour, Asher let it be and called a real plumber.
Asher 試著修理漏水一小時後，決定算了，打電話找了一位真正的水電工。
fixed phrase: let it be
The referee let the play continue even though the crowd disagreed with the call.
裁判讓比賽繼續進行，儘管觀眾對判決很不滿。
Sometimes you just have to let things take their natural course and wait.
有時候你只能讓事情順其自然，然後耐心等待。
- allow (to happen)
more neutral; 'let' in this sense carries a tone of reluctant acceptance
- tolerate
stronger connotation of enduring something unpleasant
文法句型
let + person/thing + verb
let + something + be/go/pass
用法筆記
Frequently occurs in fixed expressions ('let it be', 'let things go', 'let it slide'). Unlike GIVE PERMISSION sense, this sense emphasizes the speaker's willingness to stop fighting the outcome.
3. a way of stating a fervent wish that something happen, common in solemn speeches
但願；祈願
強烈希望某事發生（較正式）
a way of stating a fervent wish that something happen, common in solemn speeches or dramatic writing.
Let the rain come — the crops need it badly this year.
讓雨來吧——今年的作物非常需要雨水。
let + noun + verb (wish formula)
Let peace finally be restored to the troubled region.
願和平終能重新降臨這個動盪的地區。
Let no one forget the sacrifices made by the volunteers during the crisis.
願沒有人忘記志工在危機中所做出的犧牲。
Let the celebrations begin — the team has finally won the championship.
讓慶祝活動開始吧——這支隊伍終於贏得了冠軍。
- may
more formal and slightly old-fashioned; 'May peace return' is equivalent to 'Let peace return'
文法句型
let + noun + verb (wish formula)
用法筆記
Almost never used in past tenses. Common in prayers, speeches, blessings, and literary writing. Modern conversational use is restricted to fixed expressions such as 'let's hope'.
4. used to make a suggestion, offer, or mild instruction that includes the person s
我們（去做）
提出包含說話者的建議
used to make a suggestion, offer, or mild instruction that includes the person speaking as well as the person being spoken to.
Let's meet at the library after school and work on the project together.
我們放學後在圖書館碰面，一起做那個作業吧。
let's + verb (suggestion)
The café closes in ten minutes, so let's order quickly.
咖啡廳再十分鐘就要關了，我們快點點餐吧。
Let's not argue about the same thing again tonight, please.
我們今晚就別為同一件事爭吵了，好嗎？
Let's take a short walk along the beach, shall we?
我們沿著沙灘散個步吧，好不好？
- shall we...?
used in questions to make suggestions
- why don't we...?
a common conversational alternative to 'let's'
文法句型
let's + verb
let's not + verb
let's + verb + shall we?
用法筆記
The contracted form 'let's' (without apostrophe: 'lets') is a common spelling mistake. The tag question for 'let's' suggestions is 'shall we?', not 'don't we?'.
常見錯誤
5. to give someone the right to occupy your property for a set period by paying you
出租
將房屋或土地出租給他人
to give someone the right to occupy your property for a set period by paying you money on a regular basis.
The Watanabe family lets their apartment to students during the summer holidays.
渡邊家把他們的公寓在暑假期間租給學生。
let + property + to + person
Stefan decided to let his garage to a neighbor who needed storage space.
Stefan 決定把他的車庫租給一位需要儲物空間的鄰居。
Rooms in the old guesthouse are let by the week to travelers passing through.
那間老旅館的房間按週出租給路過的旅客。
My aunt lets her beach cottage to tourists from June through September each year.
我的姑姑每年六月到九月把她的海邊小屋租給觀光客。
- rent (from)
to pay money to use someone else's property
文法句型
let + property + to + person
let + property + for + price
用法筆記
Chiefly British English. In American English, 'rent' or 'rent out' is used instead. This sense is distinct from the noun 'let' which refers to a rental agreement.
常見錯誤
let — 副詞
1. following a negative clause, this phrase introduces a more extreme situation tha
更不用說
否定句後強調可能性更低
following a negative clause, this phrase introduces a more extreme situation that is even less likely than the one already stated as not true.
I can barely afford a bus ticket, let alone a plane ticket to Japan.
我連公車票都幾乎買不起了，更不用說去日本的機票。
negative statement + , let alone + noun phrase
The baby cannot sit up yet, let alone walk across the room.
這個寶寶還不會坐起來，更不用說在房間裡走路了。
Allison had never been to Taipei before, let alone to any other city in Asia.
Allison 以前從來沒去過臺北，更不用說亞洲的其他城市了。
The team could not score a single goal, let alone win the championship trophy.
那支球隊連一球都踢不進，更不用說贏得冠軍獎盃了。
- much less
more formal; used in the same structure as 'let alone'
文法句型
negative clause + , let alone + noun phrase/clause
用法筆記
The phrase 'let alone' connects two clauses or noun phrases. The first part is negative or contains a negative word ('never', 'barely', 'hardly', 'scarcely'). The second part presents an even more extreme example.
常見錯誤
let — 名詞
1. in tennis and similar racket games, a serve or shot that hits the net and lands
觸網重發
網球發球觸網後重新發球
in tennis and similar racket games, a serve or shot that hits the net and lands in the correct area, requiring the point to be replayed.
The umpire called a let after Ayesha's serve clipped the top of the net.
Ayesha 的發球擦到網帶頂端，主審喊了觸網重發。
call a let
Ife's first serve hit the net cord, so the chair umpire ruled a let and she served again.
Ife 的第一發球碰到了網繩，因此主審判定觸網，她重新發球。
A let in tennis means you get to replay the point without any penalty.
網球中觸網重發代表你可以不受處罰地重新打這一分。
The crowd groaned when the player's winning shot was ruled a let on the net cord.
當選手的致勝球被判觸網重發時，觀眾群發出了嘆息聲。
- net ball
less formal; describes the same situation in casual play
用法筆記
Not to be confused with a 'fault' (a serve that lands outside the correct area). A let is replayed; a fault counts against the server's score.
2. a situation in which there is nothing preventing someone from doing something.
阻礙
法律上不受阻止的狀態
a situation in which there is nothing preventing someone from doing something.
The contract guarantees that goods may pass through the port without let or hindrance.
合約保證貨物可以暢行無阻地通過港口。
fixed legal phrase: without let or hindrance
Citizens have the right to travel freely within the country without let.
公民有權在國內自由旅行，不受任何阻礙。
The new trade agreement allows capital to move across borders without let.
新的貿易協定允許資金不受阻礙地跨境流動。
Under the terms of the will, the estate passes to the heirs without let.
根據遺囑條款，遺產無阻礙地傳給繼承人。
- obstruction
everyday word for something that blocks or delays
- hindrance
paired with 'let' in the legal phrase
文法句型
without let or hindrance
用法筆記
Now largely confined to legal and formal writing. Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'without let or hindrance'. Rare in everyday conversation.
3. an arrangement or contract by which someone rents a house, flat, or other proper
出租合約
房屋等不動產的出租契約
an arrangement or contract by which someone rents a house, flat, or other property to another person for a period of time.
The tenants signed a two-year let on the office space near the train station.
租戶簽了一份火車站附近辦公室的兩年租約。
signed a let (legal agreement)
Short-term holiday lets have become very popular in coastal towns.
短期度假出租在沿海城鎮變得非常受歡迎。
The estate agent arranged a let on the third-floor flat within a week.
房仲在一週內就談妥了三樓公寓的出租合約。
The agency specializes in holiday lets for families visiting the national park.
這家仲介專門處理前往國家公園的家庭度假出租案。
用法筆記
Chiefly British English. In American English, 'lease' or 'rental' is preferred for this meaning.
let — 字尾
1. a group of letters added to the end of a noun to make a new noun meaning a small
小（後綴）
表示「小」或「次要」的後綴
a group of letters added to the end of a noun to make a new noun meaning a smaller or less important version of the original thing.
A booklet is a small book, often with a paper cover and just a few pages.
booklet 是一本小書，通常只有紙封面和幾頁內容。
book + let = small book
A piglet is a young pig that has not yet grown to full size.
piglet 是還沒長到成豬大小的小豬。
pig + let = young/small pig
The word 'leaflet' means a small sheet of printed paper, usually given out on the street.
leaflet 這個詞指的是一小張印刷紙，通常在路上發送。
There was a small islet just offshore where the seabirds nested each spring.
離岸不遠處有一座小小的島嶼，每年春天海鳥都在那裡築巢。
文法句型
[noun] + -let = smaller version
用法筆記
The suffix '-let' is not productive in modern English — you cannot freely add it to any noun. Common words using it (booklet, piglet, leaflet, bracelet, anklet) should be learned as whole vocabulary items.
let — 名詞字尾
1. a group of letters attached to a noun to show that the thing is small in size.
小東西
表示小型物體的名詞後綴
a group of letters attached to a noun to show that the thing is small in size.
An owlet is a young owl that still has its baby feathers.
owlet 是還長著絨毛的幼年貓頭鷹。
owl + let = small/young owl
A small stream that flows away from a river is called a rivulet.
從河流分流出去的小溪流稱為 rivulet。
-let suffix: small stream = rivulet
A ringlet is a small curl of hair that hangs down from the head.
ringlet 是從頭上垂下的細小捲髮。
The queen wore a gold circlet around her head during the ceremony.
女王在典禮上戴了一只金色的環形小冠冕。
文法句型
[noun] + -let = small object
用法筆記
Overlaps with the DIMINUTIVE SUFFIX sense. This '-let' specifically marks the resulting noun as a physical object that is small.
2. a group of letters attached to the name of a body part to form a word for an ite
穿戴飾品
表示穿戴於某身體部位的飾品
a group of letters attached to the name of a body part to form a word for an item of jewellery or clothing worn on that part.
An anklet is a decorative chain or band worn around the ankle.
anklet 是戴在腳踝上的裝飾性鍊子或帶子。
ankle + let = jewellery worn on ankle
A wristlet is a small bag or band that attaches around the wrist.
wristlet 是一種可以繫在手腕上的小包包或帶子。
The dancer wore a silver armlet high on her right arm during the performance.
那位舞者在表演時右臂上方戴了一只銀色臂環。
The dancer wore a golden anklet that jingled as she moved across the stage.
那位舞者戴了一條金色腳鍊，隨著她在舞台上移動而叮噹作響。
文法句型
[body part] + -let = item worn on that body part
用法筆記
A narrow and specialised meaning of '-let'. Only a handful of English words follow this pattern, including 'anklet', 'wristlet', and 'armlet'.