1. the right or condition of self-government
自治的權利或狀態
The region fought for and gained its autonomy.
該地區為爭取自治而奮鬥並最終獲得自治權。
The university has a high degree of financial autonomy.
這所大學擁有高度的財政自主權。
Autonomy Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
autonomy
noun
快速理解
What does "Autonomy" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Autonomy"?
指個人、地區或組織擁有自我管理、獨立決策的權利或狀態。
- 1
個人自主
EN: The ability to make your own decisions and govern yourself.
翻譯: 個人自主決定和自我管理的能力。
- 2
政治自治
EN: The right of a region or group to govern itself independently.
翻譯: 一個地區或群體獨立管理自己的權利。
- 3
機構獨立性
EN: The freedom of an organization to operate independently from external control.
翻譯: 一個機構不受外部控制、獨立運作的自由。
- 4
哲學/道德自主
EN: The capacity to act based on one's own moral principles or rational will.
翻譯: 基於自身道德原則或理性意志行事的能力。
小提醒：注意：在中文語境中，'autonomy' 常譯為「自治」或「自主權」，但前者多用於政治實體（如自治區），後者則更強調個人或機構的獨立性。
發音（How to Pronounce "Autonomy" in English）
How to pronounce "Autonomy" in English?"Autonomy" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Autonomy" from YouTube Videos
Chade-Meng Tan: Everyday compassion at Google
TED
“That's one. The second ingredient is autonomy.”
(1 out of 6)
Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Autonomy"?How does "Autonomy" change by context?
2. freedom from external control or influence; independence
不受外部控制或影響的自由；獨立性
The artist valued her creative autonomy above all else.
這位藝術家最重視的是她的創作自主性。
The committee operates with complete autonomy from the main board.
該委員會完全獨立於董事會運作。
3. the capacity of an individual to make their own informed, uncoerced decisions
個人做出自己知情、非強迫決定的能力
Respecting patient autonomy is a fundamental principle of medical ethics.
尊重病人的自主權是醫學倫理的基本原則。
As teenagers grow, they naturally seek more autonomy from their parents.
隨著青少年成長，他們自然會尋求更多脫離父母的自主權。
4. a self-governing community or organization
一個自治的社區或組織
The island is an autonomy within the larger federation.
這個島嶼是較大聯邦內的一個自治體。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Autonomy"?How to make natural sentences with "Autonomy"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| autonomy + of + noun | ...的自主權 | The autonomy of the region is guaranteed by the constitution. (該地區的自主權受到憲法保障。) |
| autonomy + over + noun | 對...的自主權 | The subsidiary has full autonomy over its daily operations. (該子公司對其日常營運擁有完全的自主權。) |
| autonomy + to + verb | 做...的自主權 | The team was given the autonomy to make its own decisions. (團隊被賦予了自行做決定的自主權。) |
| gain/achieve autonomy | 獲得/實現自主 | The colony fought for decades to achieve autonomy. (該殖民地為實現自主奮鬥了數十年。) |
| exercise autonomy | 行使自主權 | The manager exercises considerable autonomy in hiring staff. (經理在聘僱員工方面行使相當大的自主權。) |
| respect/preserve autonomy | 尊重/維護自主權 | It is important to respect the patient's autonomy in medical decisions. (在醫療決策中尊重病人的自主權是很重要的。) |
| a degree/level of autonomy | 一定程度的自主權 | The research center operates with a high degree of autonomy. (該研究中心以高度的自主權運作。) |
| personal/professional autonomy | 個人/專業自主權 | The job offers a good salary and professional autonomy. (這份工作提供優渥的薪水和專業自主權。) |
用法說明
How is "Autonomy" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Autonomy"?
autonomy to do vs autonomy in doing
- autonomy to do 強調擁有做出某項具體決定或採取某項行動的權力或自由。結構上常與動詞不定詞（to + V）連用，表示被授予的權力範圍。
- autonomy in doing 則強調在進行某個過程、活動或領域中享有的自主性。結構上常與介系詞 "in" 加上動名詞（V-ing）或名詞連用，描述自主運作的範疇。
- 有時兩者可以互換，但細微差別在於："to do" 指向決策點，"in doing" 指向過程中的自由度。 EN: The regional branch was given full autonomy to set its own budget. 翻譯: 該地區分部被授予完全的自主權來制定自己的預算。
EN:Researchers enjoy considerable autonomy in conducting their experiments.
翻譯:研究人員在進行實驗方面享有相當大的自主權。
總結建議
一般來說，指「有權去做某事」用 "autonomy to do"，而指「在某個領域或過程中有自主權」則用 "autonomy in doing"。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Autonomy" and similar words?How to choose "Autonomy" vs alternatives?
autonomy vs independence
「autonomy」強調在一個體系或框架內自我管理、自我決策的權利與能力，通常保有某種從屬關係；「independence」則指完全脫離外部控制或依賴，成為自主的個體或國家。
autonomy vs freedom
「autonomy」側重於自我管理、按自身原則行事的權利與能力，常涉及組織或系統內的決策權；「freedom」範圍更廣，泛指不受限制、束縛或壓迫的狀態，強調行動或選擇的自由。
autonomy vs sovereignty
「autonomy」通常指一個較小實體（如地區、機構）在較大體系內擁有的自我管理權；「sovereignty」則指國家層級的至高無上、不受外部干涉的統治權，是獨立國家的根本特徵。
口語用法
How is "Autonomy" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Autonomy"?
引述
在對話中，當引述他人觀點或轉述一個概念時，常會用到這個詞。 EN: She kept talking about the importance of autonomy in her team. 翻譯: 她一直強調她團隊裡自主權的重要性。
EN:What he really wants is more autonomy over his schedule.
翻譯:他真正想要的是對自己行程有更多自主權。
語氣強調
用來強調對獨立性或自我掌控的渴望或主張，語氣通常較強。 EN: I need autonomy to make these decisions, not constant approval. 翻譯: 我需要的是做這些決定的自主權，而不是不斷地尋求批准。
EN:That's the whole point – it's about autonomy, not just following orders.
翻譯:重點就在這裡 – 這是關於自主權，而不僅僅是服從命令。
停頓填充
在組織思緒或尋找合適詞語時，可能會用這個較正式的詞作為填充，但較少見。 EN: The project's success hinges on... autonomy, and clear communication. 翻譯: 這個專案的成功取決於... 自主權，以及清晰的溝通。
EN:We're looking for a balance between guidance and... well, autonomy.
翻譯:我們正在尋找指導和... 嗯，自主權之間的平衡。
正式書寫提醒：在正式報告或學術寫作中，應避免將「autonomy」用作口語中的停頓填充詞，以保持文章的嚴謹與流暢。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Autonomy"?What fixed phrases with "Autonomy" should I remember?
personal autonomy
adjective + autonomy
個人自主權
regional autonomy
adjective + autonomy
區域自治
financial autonomy
adjective + autonomy
財政自主
to grant autonomy
verb + autonomy
授予自治權
to exercise autonomy
verb + autonomy
行使自主權
a degree of autonomy
a degree/level/amount of + autonomy
一定程度的自主權
to strive for autonomy
verb + for + autonomy
爭取自主權
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Autonomy"?Which "Autonomy" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×He has a strong autonomy.
✓He has a high degree of autonomy.
Autonomy is an uncountable noun and is not typically modified by 'strong'. Use phrases like 'a high degree of autonomy', 'great autonomy', or 'considerable autonomy'.
×The company wants to get autonomy from the parent group.
✓The company wants to gain/achieve autonomy from the parent group.
While 'get' is a common verb, it is too informal and vague for this context. 'Gain', 'achieve', 'attain', or 'secure' are more precise verbs to use with 'autonomy'.
×We respect the autonomy of other countries.
✓We respect the autonomy of other countries.
The sentence is grammatically correct. The common mistake is confusing 'autonomy' (self-governance, independence) with 'sovereignty' (supreme power/authority). For a country, 'sovereignty' is often more precise, but 'autonomy' can be used for regions within a country. The correction here is conceptual, not grammatical.
×She made an autonomy decision to quit her job.
✓She made an autonomous decision to quit her job.
'Autonomy' is a noun. The adjective form is 'autonomous'. Use 'autonomous' to describe a noun (e.g., autonomous region, autonomous decision).
×Financial autonomy is very important for a university.
✓Financial autonomy is very important for a university.
The sentence is correct. The common mistake is using 'autonomy' to mean simply 'freedom' in a general, non-governance context. 'Autonomy' specifically implies self-direction and independence from external control, often in an organizational, political, or personal development context. Don't use it as a synonym for casual 'freedom'.
×The team works with autonomy.
✓The team works autonomously. / The team has the autonomy to work independently.
Using the noun 'autonomy' after the preposition 'with' is not a standard collocation. It's more natural to use the adverb 'autonomously' to describe how they work, or to rephrase the sentence to use 'autonomy' as the object (e.g., 'has the autonomy').
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Autonomy"?What are tense/participle forms of "Autonomy"?