trust
trust — 動詞
1. to feel certain that a person is honest, reliable, and will not cause you harm,
信任；相信
相信某人誠實可靠或某事安全有效
to feel certain that a person is honest, reliable, and will not cause you harm, or that an object or system is safe and will perform as expected
The team members trusted their new manager to make fair decisions.
團隊成員信任他們的新經理能做出公平的決定。
trust + noun phrase + to-infinitive
The elderly woman would not trust anyone else with the keys to her flat.
那位年長婦女不願把公寓鑰匙交給其他任何人。
trust + noun phrase + with + noun phrase
The community has always trusted the local newspaper for honest reporting.
社區一直信賴當地報紙提供誠實的報導。
It took months for the rescue dog to trust its new owner.
那隻救援犬花了幾個月才開始信任牠的新主人。
Can we really trust the results of a test carried out in a hurry?
我們真的能相信一項匆匆完成的測試結果嗎？
- rely on
suggests practical dependence more than emotional confidence
- count on
emphasises that plans or expectations rest on someone's behaviour
- have faith in
stronger, often with emotional or spiritual overtones
文法句型
trust + noun phrase
trust + noun phrase + to-infinitive
trust + noun phrase + with + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often used with a to-infinitive clause (trust sb to do sth) or with an object followed by 'with' (trust sb with sth). The negative imperative 'don't trust…' is common as a warning. The intransitive use typically appears with 'in' (trust in sb/sth).
常見錯誤
2. to be certain that a particular fact is correct or that an event will happen, es
確信；期盼
相信並期待某事會成真
to be certain that a particular fact is correct or that an event will happen, especially when based on good reasons rather than hard proof — for example, trusting that a delayed train will arrive, or that an investment will grow
The board of directors trusts that the new policy will improve company results.
董事會確信新政策將能改善公司的業績。
trust + that-clause for confident expectation
The family trusts that the medical team is doing everything possible for their son.
家屬確信醫療團隊正在為他們的兒子盡一切努力。
The charity trusts that the donated funds will reach the communities that need them most.
慈善機構期盼捐贈的資金能送到最需要幫助的社區手中。
The head teacher trusts the matter will be handled with great care.
校長期盼這件事能得到非常謹慎的處理。
- assume
more neutral; implies something is taken for granted
- presume
formal; suggests confidence based on likelihood
- be confident
less formal alternative that expresses certainty
文法句型
trust + that-clause
trust + (that) + clause
用法筆記
Almost always followed by a that-clause, though 'that' is often omitted in less formal writing. The subject is typically 'I' or 'we' when expressing a polite wish or hope. This sense carries a formal tone; in everyday conversation, 'hope' or 'think' is more natural.
常見錯誤
❌ 'I trust you are well.' (sending to a close friend in a casual text) — While grammatically correct, this sounds overly formal. Use 'I hope you are well' instead.
trust — 名詞
1. the strong feeling that a person is honest, reliable, and will not harm you, or
信任；信賴
相信某人或某事可靠誠實的感覺
the strong feeling that a person is honest, reliable, and will not harm you, or that something is safe and will perform correctly
Building trust between a manager and their team takes time and consistent effort.
在主管與團隊之間建立信任需要時間與持續的努力。
uncountable; used with 'build'
The success of any partnership depends on mutual trust and open communication.
任何合作關係的成功都仰賴雙方的互信與開放的溝通。
collocation: mutual trust
Trust between a doctor and a patient is essential for good medical treatment.
醫生與病人之間的信任是良好醫療照護的基礎。
The elderly woman placed her trust in the young carer who visited her every morning.
那位年長婦女將信任寄託在每天早晨來探望她的年輕看護身上。
Without trust, no team can function properly or achieve its goals.
沒有信任，任何團隊都無法順利運作或達成目標。
- confidence
broader term; can apply to abilities as well as character
- faith
stronger and more emotional; often used in spiritual contexts
- reliance
emphasises the practical need to depend on someone or something
用法筆記
Uncountable. Often modified by adjectives such as 'mutual,' 'complete,' 'blind,' or 'public.' Common in the fixed expression 'place your trust in [sb/sth].' The verb phrase 'earn someone's trust' implies that trust is built through actions over time.
常見錯誤
2. the act of accepting a statement or claim as accurate without demanding any fact
篤信
在無充分證據下相信某事
the act of accepting a statement or claim as accurate without demanding any facts or verification
The jury accepted the witness's entire statement on trust.
陪審團在沒有查證的情況下接受了證人的全部說詞。
fixed phrase: on trust
The old man took the mechanic's estimate on trust and paid the full amount in advance.
那位老先生憑信任接受了修車廠的估價，並全額預付了費用。
The committee asked members to take the safety report on trust rather than demand an audit.
委員會要求成員相信安全報告的內容，而不是要求進行審計。
The young couple took the estate agent's word on trust when they signed the rental agreement.
那對年輕夫婦憑信任接受了房仲的話，簽下了租約。
- credence
formal; giving belief to a report or claim
- acceptance
more general; receiving something as true without challenge
- scepticism
a tendency to question or doubt claims without evidence
- disbelief
refusal to accept something as true
用法筆記
Uncountable. This sense almost always appears in the fixed expressions 'take [sth] on trust' or 'accept [sth] on trust.' Unlike noun sense 1 (BELIEF), this meaning focuses on accepting a statement or claim as true without verification, rather than on confidence in a person's character.
3. a formal legal setup where an individual or organisation holds and manages asset
信託
由受託人管理財產的法律安排
a formal legal setup where an individual or organisation holds and manages assets on behalf of a different person, often for a defined duration or until a particular event happens
The lawyer explained that the money would be held in a trust for the children until they turned twenty-one.
律師解釋說，這筆錢將以信託方式為孩子們保管，直到他們年滿二十一歲。
countable: a trust
The wealthy landowner set up a trust to manage his properties after his death.
那位富有的地主設立了一個信託，以便在他去世後管理他的房產。
collocation: set up a trust
The trust was created to protect the family's assets for several future generations.
這個信託是為了保護家族資產，讓未來好幾代子孫都能受益。
Under the terms of the trust, the farmland cannot be sold until all the beneficiaries agree.
根據信託條款，農地在所有受益人同意之前不得出售。
The funds from the trust can only be used to pay for the grandchildren's school fees.
這個信託的資金只能用來支付孫子女們的學費。
用法筆記
Can be countable (a trust, two trusts) or uncountable. The uncountable use refers to the legal arrangement as a concept; the countable use refers to a specific fund or estate managed under such an arrangement. Key legal terms: 'settlor' (the person who creates the trust), 'trustee' (the person who manages it), and 'beneficiary' (the person who benefits from it).
4. an organisation or company that manages money, property, or investments on behal
信託機構
管理他人財產或資金的組織
an organisation or company that manages money, property, or investments on behalf of other people or for a charitable purpose
The investment trust manages a large portfolio of shares and bonds for its clients.
這家投資信託公司為客戶管理大量的股票與債券投資組合。
countable; collocation: investment trust
The charitable trust donated over a million pounds to local schools last year.
那家慈善信託去年捐贈了超過一百萬英鎊給當地的學校。
collocation: charitable trust
The trust was founded in 1950 to support scientific research and public education.
該信託成立於一九五〇年，旨在支持科學研究與公眾教育。
Several housing trusts work together to provide affordable homes in the city centre.
幾家住宅信託機構合作，在市中心提供價格合宜的住房。
用法筆記
Countable. Refers to the organisation itself, not just the legal arrangement. Often preceded by an adjective describing the purpose: 'charitable trust,' 'investment trust,' 'housing trust.' Unlike sense 3 (LEGAL ARRANGEMENT), which names the legal structure, this sense names the entity that operates within that structure.
5. included as a word in the titles of various banking and financial companies
信託銀行
用於部分銀行名稱中
included as a word in the titles of various banking and financial companies
The customer opened a savings account at the Northern Counties Trust bank.
那名客戶在北方郡信託銀行開了一個儲蓄帳戶。
used in proper noun: Northern Counties Trust
The business has been banking with the Merchants Trust for over thirty years.
那家企業已經與商人信託銀行往來超過三十年。
The board of the Allied Trust voted to merge with a larger European bank.
聯合信託的董事會投票決定與一家更大的歐洲銀行合併。
The finance director recommended switching the company accounts to the Pacific Trust.
財務總監建議將公司的帳戶轉到太平洋信託銀行。
用法筆記
Countable. Always appears as part of a proper noun and is capitalised within the full name. This is a naming convention rather than a distinct meaning; the institution typically offers standard banking services alongside trust management.
6. several businesses that combine illegally to limit market competition, fix price
托拉斯
非法聯營以控制價格的企業集團
several businesses that combine illegally to limit market competition, fix prices, or dominate an industry
The three energy companies were accused of forming an illegal trust to fix prices.
這三家能源公司被指控組成非法托拉斯以操控價格。
countable; collocation: form a trust
The government introduced new laws to break up the powerful railroad trusts of the nineteenth century.
政府制定了新的法律來瓦解十九世紀強大的鐵路托拉斯。
collocation: break up a trust
The steel trust controlled more than eighty per cent of the national market.
鋼鐵托拉斯控制了全國百分之八十以上的市場。
Several small retailers complained that the transport trust was driving them out of business.
幾家小型零售商抱怨說，運輸托拉斯正在把他們逼出市場。
- competition
the normal market condition that trusts aim to eliminate
用法筆記
Countable. Chiefly North American English. Refers to historical business combinations from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, such as the Standard Oil trust. The term survives today mainly in legal texts and historical writing. The related adjective 'anti-trust' (or 'antitrust') describes laws designed to prevent such monopolies.