liberty
liberty — 名詞
1. The condition in which people are not ruled by a harsh or unfair government and
自由權
不受政府壓迫的政治自由
The condition in which people are not ruled by a harsh or unfair government and can freely express their opinions, gather with others, and take part in political life.
The new constitution guarantees every citizen the right to liberty and personal safety.
新憲法保障每位公民享有自由權與人身安全。
collocation: right to liberty
After decades of military rule, the country finally achieved true liberty.
歷經數十年的軍事統治後，這個國家終於實現了真正的自由。
Ayana argued that strict internet monitoring threatens the basic liberties of ordinary people.
Ayana 認為，嚴格的網路監控威脅到一般人的基本自由權。
The Statue of Liberty has long stood as a symbol of freedom for people arriving from overseas.
自由女神像長久以來一直是來自海外的人們心目中自由的象徵。
Ravindra's family fled political violence in search of liberty and peace.
Ravindra 的家人為了逃離政治暴力，遠走他鄉尋找自由與和平。
- freedom
broader and more common than 'liberty'; covers both personal and political contexts
- autonomy
emphasizes self-governance and independence from outside control, often used for regions or groups
- independence
focuses on being free from control by another country or authority
- oppression
prolonged cruel or unfair treatment by those in power
- tyranny
harsh, absolute rule by a single leader or government
文法句型
liberty to + infinitive
civil liberties
personal liberties
用法筆記
Often appears in the plural form 'liberties' when referring to specific rights protected by law, such as 'civil liberties' or 'individual liberties.'
常見錯誤
2. The ability to live your daily life in the way you want, making your own choices
自主
依自己意願生活的自由
The ability to live your daily life in the way you want, making your own choices about work, relationships, and habits without other people controlling you.
Teenagers often argue with their parents about how much personal liberty they should have.
青少年經常為了該擁有多少個人自主權而與父母爭論。
collocation: personal liberty
Haruto chose to work as a freelancer because he valued his liberty more than a steady salary.
Haruto 選擇當自由工作者，因為他重視自主更甚於穩定的薪水。
Living alone for the first time gave Pim a wonderful feeling of liberty.
第一次獨自生活讓 Pim 感受到一種奇妙的自主感。
The pandemic forced people around the world to give up some personal liberties for public safety.
疫情迫使世界各地的人為了公共安全而放棄部分個人自由。
A group of friends rented a cabin in the mountains, enjoying the liberty to wake up whenever they pleased.
一群朋友在山裡租了一間小屋，盡情享受想什麼時候起床就什麼時候起床的自由。
- freedom
everyday word for being able to do what you want; less formal than 'liberty'
- independence
not relying on others for money, housing, or decisions
- restriction
a rule or limit that prevents you from doing what you want
- dependence
relying on others to make decisions for you
文法句型
the liberty to + infinitive
someone's personal liberty
用法筆記
Overlaps with 'freedom' in everyday speech. 'Liberty' can sound slightly more formal or legal; 'freedom' is more common in casual conversation about everyday choices.
常見錯誤
3. The formal or legal right that allows a person to do or say something that would
許可
做某事的正式權利或允許
The formal or legal right that allows a person to do or say something that would otherwise not be permitted.
The students did not have the liberty to leave the school grounds during lunch.
學生在午餐時間沒有離開校園的許可。
have the liberty to + infinitive
Employees at the company are given the liberty to set their own working hours.
該公司的員工獲准自行設定工作時間。
passive: are given the liberty
Christopher asked for the liberty to speak openly during the meeting without being interrupted.
Christopher 請求准許在會議中暢所欲言而不被打斷。
The judge granted the journalist the liberty to report on the closed hearing.
法官准許該記者報導這場不公開的聽證會。
A visa gives foreign visitors the liberty to stay in the country for a limited period.
簽證讓外國訪客獲得在該國停留一段有限時間的許可。
- permission
more common in everyday English; less formal than 'liberty'
- authorization
official approval from an authority, often written
- entitlement
a right to something that the law or rules say you deserve
- prohibition
an official order or rule that forbids something
- ban
an official decision to stop something from being done
文法句型
have the liberty to + infinitive
give someone the liberty to + infinitive
用法筆記
Frequently used in legal, official, or workplace contexts. For everyday permission (like asking to borrow a pen), 'permission' is more natural.
常見錯誤
4. The state of not being held in prison, jail, or any form of physical confinement
釋放
不受監禁或束縛的狀態
The state of not being held in prison, jail, or any form of physical confinement; the condition of being able to move freely.
The hostage was finally set at liberty after six months of captivity.
那名人在被囚禁六個月後終於重獲自由。
phrase: set at liberty
The rescued bird was returned to liberty once its injured wing had healed.
那隻獲救的鳥在受傷的翅膀痊癒後被放回大自然。
Élise wrote a moving poem about the joy of liberty after her release from detention.
Élise 在獲釋後寫了一首感人的詩，歌頌重獲自由的喜悅。
The dogs rescued from the abandoned building were restored to liberty and placed in a shelter.
那些從廢棄建築中救出的狗被送回自由環境，安置在收容所。
The court ordered that the wrongly accused man be immediately set at liberty.
法院下令立即釋放那名被冤枉的男子。
- captivity
the state of being kept as a prisoner or in a confined space
- imprisonment
the state of being in prison
- confinement
the act of being kept in a restricted space
文法句型
at liberty
restore someone to liberty
set someone at liberty
用法筆記
Nearly always appears in set phrases like 'set at liberty' or 'restored to liberty.' Outside legal or formal writing, 'set free' or 'release' are more common.
常見錯誤
5. The power or right to decide between different options based on your own judgmen
選擇權
根據自身判斷選擇的自由
The power or right to decide between different options based on your own judgment, without being forced or pressured by others.
The new policy gives patients the liberty to choose their own doctor.
新政策讓病人可以自由選擇自己的醫生。
liberty to + infinitive
Kian believes that shoppers should have the liberty to decide which brands to support.
Kian 認為消費者應該有權決定要支持哪些品牌。
In a real democracy, voters have the liberty to support whichever candidate they trust most.
在真正的民主社會中，選民有權支持他們最信任的候選人。
The university allows students the liberty to select their own courses after the first year.
這所大學允許學生在一年級後自由選課。
Sofie valued the liberty of deciding what to study without her parents telling her what to do.
Sofie 很珍惜自由決定學習內容的權利，不需要聽從父母的安排。
- choice
simpler and more direct; 'the power of choice' is a common paraphrase
- discretion
formal; the freedom to decide what should be done in a particular situation
- compulsion
being forced to do something against your will
- coercion
the use of threats or pressure to make someone do something
文法句型
have the liberty to + infinitive
the liberty of + gerund
用法筆記
Closely related to sense 3 (PERMISSION), but sense 3 focuses on official authorization while sense 5 focuses on the general ability to choose between options.
6. An action or remark that goes beyond what is considered polite or respectful, of
冒犯
不尊重他人的過度言行
An action or remark that goes beyond what is considered polite or respectful, often making others feel uncomfortable because the person behaves as if they have a closer relationship than they actually do.
Nellie felt that her neighbor had taken a liberty by reading her private mail.
Nellie 覺得鄰居擅自閱讀她的私人信件是一種冒犯。
take a liberty
The young journalist was criticized for taking liberties with the facts in her report.
那位年輕記者因為在報導中對事實任意添油加醋而受到批評。
take liberties with + facts
I know you mean well, but taking the liberty of giving my number to strangers is not acceptable.
我知道你是好意，但把我的電話號碼隨便給陌生人是不對的。
The guest took the liberty of helping himself to a drink from the host's private cabinet.
那名客人在未告知的情況下擅自從主人的私人酒櫃裡倒酒來喝。
Aunt Rosa took the liberty of rearranging the kitchen furniture while we were on holiday.
Rosa 阿姨趁我們度假的時候擅自把廚房家具重新擺放了一番。
- presumption
behavior that is too confident and shows a lack of respect for others' feelings
- impertinence
rudeness or lack of respect, especially toward someone older or in authority
- overfamiliarity
acting as if you know someone better than you really do
- politeness
behavior that shows respect and consideration for others
- deference
polite respect shown toward someone, especially an older person or authority
文法句型
take liberties with someone/something
take the liberty of + gerund
用法筆記
Often expresses mild annoyance rather than serious offense. 'Take the liberty of' can sometimes be used politely ('I took the liberty of ordering coffee for you') — the context determines how negative it sounds.
常見錯誤
7. The act of changing someone else's work, story, or information in a way that goe
擅改
未經許可修改他人作品或事實
The act of changing someone else's work, story, or information in a way that goes beyond acceptable limits, often distorting the original meaning or truth.
The editor took far too many liberties with the novelist's original manuscript.
那位編輯對小說家的原稿進行了過度修改。
take liberties with + manuscript
Historical movies often take liberties with real events to create a more exciting story.
歷史電影經常為了讓情節更精彩而任意改編真實事件。
take liberties with + real events
Chiara complained that the ghostwriter had taken gross liberties with her life story.
Chiara 抱怨代筆作家對她的人生故事進行了大量不當的改動。
The court found that the newspaper had taken liberties with the witness's original statement.
法院判定該報社對證人的原始陳述進行了曲解。
Marta warned her team not to take liberties with the data when preparing the final report.
Marta 提醒她的團隊在準備最終報告時不要對數據任意改動。
- distortion
the act of twisting or changing facts, especially deliberately
- falsification
more serious: deliberately making something false
- misrepresentation
giving a false or misleading account of something
文法句型
take liberties with + noun phrase (text, facts, truth)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 6 (RUDE FAMILIARITY): sense 7 is about textual or factual distortion, while sense 6 is about social rudeness. Both use 'take liberties with,' but the object determines the meaning.
常見錯誤
8. Physical or sexual behavior toward someone that is too familiar for the relation
踰矩
未經同意的親暱或越軌行為
Physical or sexual behavior toward someone that is too familiar for the relationship, done without clear permission and often making the other person feel uncomfortable or threatened.
The manager was dismissed for taking liberties with junior members of staff.
該主管因為對下屬員工做出越軌行為而被開除。
take liberties with + person (workplace context)
Iris felt deeply uncomfortable when her date began to take liberties during the ride home.
Iris 的約會對象在送她回家的路上開始毛手毛腳，讓她感到極不舒服。
The swimming coach faced serious accusations of taking liberties with young athletes.
那名游泳教練被指控對年輕選手有越軌行為。
Dylan warned his friend not to take any liberties with his younger sister at the party.
Dylan 警告他的朋友在派對上不要對他妹妹有任何越軌舉動。
- molestation
much stronger and more serious; a legal term for unwanted sexual touching
- harassment
unwanted behavior that makes someone feel intimidated or offended
文法句型
take liberties with + person
用法筆記
This is a dated but still understood expression. In modern English, more direct terms like 'harassment' or 'assault' are often preferred in serious contexts, but 'take liberties' is still used in less formal accounts or historical fiction.