licence
licence — 名詞
1. a card or document issued by an official body that allows you to drive, own a ve
執照；牌照
政府核發的許可證件
a card or document issued by an official body that allows you to drive, own a vehicle, fish, sell alcohol, run a business, or do another activity that the law would otherwise restrict
Quan passed his driving test last week and finally received his full driving licence.
Quan 上週通過駕照考試，終於拿到了正式的駕駛執照。
driving licence — official document for driving
The restaurant lost its licence to sell alcohol after serving drinks to teenagers.
那家餐廳因為賣酒給青少年而被吊銷了賣酒牌照。
licence + to-infinitive for permitted activity
Femi renewed his fishing licence online before the summer holiday began.
Femi 在暑假開始前在網上更新了他的釣魚執照。
The council refused to grant a licence for the new nightclub near the school.
市議會拒絕向學校附近的新夜店發出營業執照。
- permit
a permit is often for a specific one-time activity rather than an ongoing document
- certificate
a certificate proves you have completed training; a licence gives ongoing permission
- authorisation
refers to the act of giving permission rather than the physical document
文法句型
licence + to-infinitive
licence + for + noun phrase
用法筆記
In UK English, the noun is always spelled 'licence'. Do not confuse with 'license', which is the verb form.
常見錯誤
2. the freedom to act or speak as one pleases without outside control, particularly
放任
不受約束的自由（常指越界）
the freedom to act or speak as one pleases without outside control, particularly when this goes further than what most people consider reasonable
The journalist took too much licence with the facts in her article about the politician.
那位記者報導政治人物的私生活時，對事實過於放任。
take too much licence with — common phrase for going too far
Layla felt the teacher gave the older students too much licence to skip assignments.
Layla 覺得老師對高年級學生不交作業這件事太過放任。
Rafael feared the new rules gave police too much licence to search homes.
Rafael 擔心新規定讓警方在搜查住宅方面擁有過多的放任空間。
The film director took considerable licence with the historical timeline in her latest movie.
這位電影導演在新片中對歷史時間軸運用了相當大的創作自由。
- restriction
a limit or control on what someone may do
文法句型
licence to + infinitive
take (too much) licence with
用法筆記
This sense often carries a negative tone — it implies the freedom is being used irresponsibly or beyond reasonable limits. A more neutral alternative is 'freedom' or 'latitude'.
常見錯誤
3. the freedom that artists, writers, musicians, and filmmakers have to change fact
創作自由
藝術家不受事實限制的自由
the freedom that artists, writers, musicians, and filmmakers have to change facts or break normal rules in order to create a better or more powerful effect in their work
By artistic licence, the novel's hero meets the queen years before their real meeting.
藉由創作自由，這本小說的主角在兩人真正見面的許多年之前就遇見了女王。
artistic licence — freedom to change facts for effect
Ryo defended his use of modern slang in the historical play as poetic licence.
Ryo 為自己在歷史劇中使用現代俚語辯護，稱這是詩歌創作自由。
Critics complained that the documentary relied too heavily on dramatic licence rather than real evidence.
評論家批評這部紀錄片過度依賴戲劇創作自由，而非真實證據。
Sven accepts historical licence in costume dramas as long as the main events feel true.
Sven 可以接受古裝劇有一定程度的歷史創作自由，只要主要事件屬實。
- creative freedom
broader and more neutral — does not specifically imply changing facts
- artistic freedom
nearly synonymous but slightly less specific to bending rules
文法句型
[adjective] + licence
用法筆記
The most common form of this sense is 'poetic licence', which specifically refers to a writer or poet changing facts or language rules. 'Artistic licence' and 'dramatic licence' are also used in the visual arts and theatre.
4. an arrangement in which the owner of a brand, design, invention, or piece of wri
授權
經版權或專利所有者的許可
an arrangement in which the owner of a brand, design, invention, or piece of writing gives legal permission for another person or company to make or sell copies of it
The Japanese car company builds its most popular model under licence from a German manufacturer.
這家日本汽車公司最受歡迎的車款是經由德國製造商授權生產的。
under licence from — standard commercial phrase
Faisal's software firm agreed to produce the game under licence from the original creator.
Faisal 的軟體公司與原創作者達成協議，獲得授權製作這款遊戲。
The publisher paid a large fee for the licence to translate the novel into Chinese.
出版社支付了高額費用，以取得將這本小說翻譯成中文的授權。
The university granted an exclusive licence to the startup to develop the new hearing aid.
大學給予這家新創公司開發新型助聽器的獨家授權。
- franchise
a franchise is a broader business agreement that includes brand, systems, and support; 'licence' is narrower
- authorisation
more general; 'licence' specifically implies IP rights
文法句型
under licence
licence from [company/person]
用法筆記
This sense nearly always appears in the phrase 'under licence' (e.g., 'manufactured under licence') or with 'licence to' followed by a commercial activity. It is specific to intellectual property and manufacturing rights.
常見錯誤
licence — 動詞
1. to give official permission for a person or organisation to do, own, or use some
許可；授權
正式准許
to give official permission for a person or organisation to do, own, or use something. Note: in UK English the verb form is spelled 'license' (with an 's'), while the noun is spelled 'licence' (with a 'c').
The local council licensed the street vendor to sell food on the market square.
當地市議會許可這位街頭小販在市場廣場賣食物。
licensed + person + to-infinitive
Hugo's pharmacy is licensed to dispense controlled medicines under strict regulations.
Hugo 的藥局獲准在嚴格的法規下配發管制藥品。
The new nightclub was finally licensed by the city authorities after a long delay.
這家新夜店在漫長的等待後，終於獲得市政府許可營業。
The government licensed three new television stations to broadcast in rural areas.
政府許可了三家新的電視台在農村地區播放節目。
- ban
to officially forbid an activity
文法句型
license + person/company + to-infinitive
be licensed to do something
用法筆記
In British English, the verb is always 'license' and the noun is always 'licence'. This is the opposite of American English, where both are spelled 'license'. Learners writing for a UK audience must remember: noun = c, verb = s.