redeem

redeem — 動詞

1. to make a bad situation, fault, or poor-quality thing seem less unpleasant or mo

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

彌補

讓不好的情況顯得沒那麼糟

to make a bad situation, fault, or poor-quality thing seem less unpleasant or more acceptable, especially by adding something good that balances the negative aspects

例句

The hotel's friendly staff redeemed an otherwise disappointing stay.

這家旅館親切的服務人員，彌補了原本令人失望的住宿體驗。

Nikhil tried to redeem himself after forgetting his wife's birthday by planning a surprise dinner.

Nikhil 忘記妻子的生日後，策劃了一場驚喜晚餐來彌補過錯。

reflexive use: redeem oneself

同義詞
  • make up for

    more general and everyday; can apply to any shortcoming or loss

  • offset

    more technical; suggests a precise balancing of positive and negative

  • compensate for

    slightly more formal; often implies giving something of equal value in return

反義詞
  • worsen

    to make a bad situation even worse

  • ruin

    to destroy any remaining good quality

文法句型

redeem + object

redeem oneself + by + V-ing

redeem + object + with + noun

用法筆記

Often used in the pattern 'redeem oneself' when someone repairs their own reputation after a failure. The object is typically something negative — a bad situation, a mistake, or a personal fault.

常見錯誤

❌The chef redeemed the salty soup by adding more water.
✅The chef fixed the salty soup by adding more water.
💡'redeem' in this sense is used for situations involving reputation, character, or overall quality, not for fixing a practical problem in the moment.

2. to get back an item you previously sold, pawned, or given as security by paying

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

贖回

付錢取回已賣掉或抵押的物品

to get back an item you previously sold, pawned, or given as security by paying the person or business that holds it

例句

Christopher redeemed his guitar from the pawn shop after he got paid.

Christopher 領到薪水後，就去當鋪贖回他的吉他。

redeem + object + from + [place]

Mira saved for months to redeem her grandmother's ring from the pawnbroker.

Mira 存了好幾個月的錢，才從當鋪老闆那裡贖回祖母的戒指。

同義詞
  • buy back

    more literal and conversational; buying back something you owned

  • reclaim

    suggests asserting a right to get something back

  • recover

    broader; can apply to lost items or abstract things like health

反義詞
  • pawn

    to give something as security for a loan

  • sell

    to give up ownership in exchange for money

  • forfeit

    to lose the right to something

文法句型

redeem + object + from + [person/place]

用法筆記

The item being redeemed must have been previously owned by the person and then given away as part of a loan or sale agreement. This sense does not apply to buying something new.

常見錯誤

❌I redeemed a new phone from the electronics store.
✅I redeemed my old camera from the pawn shop.
💡'redeem' in this sense means to get back something you previously owned, not to buy a new product.

3. to exchange a ticket, coupon, voucher, or points for money, goods, or a service

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

兌換

將票券或點數換成金錢或商品

to exchange a ticket, coupon, voucher, or points for money, goods, or a service that they are officially worth

例句

The students redeemed their meal vouchers at the school cafeteria.

學生們在學校餐廳兌換了他們的餐券。

Iker redeemed his loyalty points for a free flight to Japan.

Iker 用他的會員點數兌換了一張飛往日本的免費機票。

redeem + points + for + [reward]

同義詞
  • exchange

    more general; swapping one thing for another, not necessarily by right

  • cash in

    informal; converting something into its monetary value

  • trade in

    giving up an old item as part payment for a new one

文法句型

redeem + object + for + [reward/money/goods]

用法筆記

Common objects include coupons, vouchers, gift certificates, loyalty points, and tickets. The person presenting the document receives cash or goods of equivalent stated value, not a discount on a purchase.

常見錯誤

❌She redeemed her credit card at the supermarket.
✅She redeemed her store coupon at the supermarket.
💡You redeem a voucher, coupon, or certificate, not a payment card.

4. to act on a commitment you made earlier, or to settle a financial obligation by

4.動詞及物C1
釋義

履行

實踐承諾或清償債務

to act on a commitment you made earlier, or to settle a financial obligation by paying what is due

例句

The local government failed to redeem its promise to build new public schools.

地方政府未能履行興建新公立學校的承諾。

collocation: redeem a promise

Maeve redeemed her pledge to donate five percent of her salary to the charity.

Maeve 履行了她的承諾，將百分之五的薪水捐給慈善機構。

同義詞
  • fulfill

    more general; carrying out a duty or a wish

  • honour

    British spelling; suggests moral integrity in keeping one's word

  • repay

    specific to financial debts, not promises

反義詞

文法句型

redeem + [promise/debt/pledge]

用法筆記

Subject is often a person, company, or institution. Common objects are 'promise', 'pledge', 'debt', 'mortgage', and 'loan'. This sense carries a formal tone and is common in financial and political contexts.

常見錯誤

❌The politician redeemed his speech at the rally.
✅The politician redeemed his campaign promise to lower taxes.
💡'redeem' with this meaning requires the object to be a promise, debt, or pledge — not a speech or action.

5. in Christian teaching, to release human beings from the hold and penalty of evil

5.動詞及物C1
釋義

救贖

基督教中指使人脫離罪惡

in Christian teaching, to release human beings from the hold and penalty of evil, especially through a divine sacrifice

例句

In Christian belief, Christ died to redeem humanity from sin.

根據基督教信仰，基督為救贖人類脫離罪惡而死。

religious use: redeem + humanity + from sin

The priest spoke of how faith could redeem even the worst sinner.

牧師談到信仰如何能救贖最嚴重的罪人。

同義詞
  • save

    the most common synonym in religious contexts; broader, can mean rescue from any danger

  • deliver

    more formal and biblical; to set free from captivity or evil

  • absolve

    specifically means to declare free from guilt or sin, often through a formal act

反義詞
  • condemn

    to declare someone guilty and deserving of punishment

  • damn

    in religious contexts, to send to hell

文法句型

redeem + [humanity/sinner/soul] + from + sin/evil

be redeemed

用法筆記

Used almost exclusively in Christian theology. 'To redeem' in this sense means to free from the power and consequences of sin through a divine sacrifice. Frequently appears in passive constructions ('are redeemed by Christ').

常見錯誤

❌Yoga redeemed him from his daily stress.
✅Yoga helped him find relief from his daily stress.
💡The religious sense of 'redeem' is specific to sin and salvation in Christian theology; it is not used for general relief from problems.