1. to release or set someone or something free
釋放;使自由
The firefighters worked to free the trapped passengers.
消防員努力解救被困的乘客。
He freed the bird from its cage.
他把鳥從籠子裡放了出來。
作為動詞,free 主要表示使某人或某物從限制、束縛或危險中解脫出來。
釋放
EN: to release someone from captivity or confinement
翻譯: 釋放某人脫離囚禁或限制。
使解脫
EN: to relieve someone from a burden, obligation, or constraint
翻譯: 使某人從負擔、義務或限制中解脫出來。
使可用
EN: to make something available or clear for use
翻譯: 使某物可供使用或騰出空間。
解救
EN: to remove something harmful or unwanted from something else
翻譯: 將有害或不需要的東西從某物中去除。
小提醒:注意 'free someone from something' 和 'free something of/from something' 這兩個常用結構,它們分別用於表示『使人解脫』和『使物去除』。
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Free" from YouTube Videos
Boghuma Kabisen Titanji: Ethical riddles in HIV research
TED
“Now, during the clinical trial, she'd been given all her antiretroviral drugs free of charge and her transportation costs had been covered by the research funds.”
1. to release or set someone or something free
釋放;使自由
The firefighters worked to free the trapped passengers.
消防員努力解救被困的乘客。
He freed the bird from its cage.
他把鳥從籠子裡放了出來。
2. to remove something that is blocking or restricting
清除障礙;解開
She used a knife to free the zipper that was stuck.
她用刀子把卡住的拉鍊弄開。
We need to free this drainpipe; it's clogged with leaves.
我們需要疏通這條排水管,它被樹葉堵住了。
3. to make someone available for other tasks or activities
使有空;騰出(時間或人力)
The new software will free up staff to focus on more important projects.
新軟體將能騰出員工的時間,讓他們專注於更重要的專案。
Can you free some time in your schedule for a meeting tomorrow?
你能在明天的行程中騰出一些時間開個會嗎?
4. to relieve someone from a difficult or unpleasant situation
使擺脫(困境或不愉快的處境)
The scholarship freed her from the burden of student debt.
這筆獎學金使她擺脫了學生貸款的負擔。
He wanted to free himself from the obligations of his family business.
他想擺脫家族企業的義務束縛。
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| free + noun | 釋放;使自由 | The activists worked to free the captured animals. (活動人士致力於釋放被捕的動物。) |
| free + noun + from + noun | 將...從...中解放出來 | The surgery freed him from chronic pain. (手術將他從慢性疼痛中解放出來。) |
| free + noun + of + noun | 清除...的...;使...擺脫... | They freed the room of all dust and allergens. (他們清除了房間裡所有的灰塵和過敏原。) |
| free + reflexive pronoun + from/of + noun | 使自己擺脫... | She finally freed herself from that toxic relationship. (她終於讓自己擺脫了那段有毒的關係。) |
| free + up + noun | 騰出;空出 | I need to free up some time this weekend. (我需要騰出一些本週末的時間。) |
EN:After finishing her duties, she was finally free to pursue her hobbies.
翻譯:完成職責後,她終於可以自由地去追求自己的愛好了。
一般來說,表達「可以自由做某事」時,應使用 free to do 或 free + 受詞 + to do 的結構。
free vs release
「free」強調從束縛、限制或困境中解脫,常帶有給予自由或免除費用的含義;「release」則側重於正式地放開、解除或允許離開,多用於法律、技術或物理上的束縛。
free vs liberate
「free」是通用詞,適用於各種解脫情境;「liberate」語氣更強烈,常指從壓迫、暴政或軍事佔領中解放,帶有政治或社會意義。
free vs exempt
「free」可指免除費用或義務;「exempt」則特指正式免除法律、稅務或規則上的責任,屬更正式的用語。
在口語中,'free' 常用來引述他人的提議或邀請,表示接受或確認。 EN: So you're saying the drinks are free? 翻譯: 所以你是說飲料免費?
EN:If the ticket is free, I'm definitely in.
翻譯:如果票是免費的,那我一定參加。
在對話中,'free' 可以透過重音或重複來強調「完全免費、無附加條件」的語氣。 EN: No, it's free-free. No hidden charges. 翻譯: 不,是完完全全免費,沒有隱藏費用。
EN:I got it for free, can you believe it?
翻譯:我免費拿到這個,你能相信嗎?
在思考或組織語句時,'free' 有時會作為一個短暫的停頓填充詞,尤其是在討論選項或可能性時。 EN: We could, free... I don't know, just go without a plan. 翻譯: 我們可以,嗯… 不知道,就沒有計畫地去。
EN:The options are: pay, wait, or free... maybe there's a trial version.
翻譯:選項有:付費、等待,或者免費… 也許有試用版。
正式寫作注意:上述口語用法,特別是作為「停頓填充」或非正式的「語氣強調」,通常不適用於正式書面報告、學術論文或商業文件。在正式文體中,應使用更精確的表述,如 'complimentary'、'at no cost'、'without charge' 或完整句子來清楚說明條件。
free from
free [sb/sth] from [sth]
使...擺脫或免除(某種負面事物)
free up
free up [sth]
騰出、釋出(時間、資源、空間)
free oneself
free oneself
使自己獲得自由、擺脫束縛
free of charge
free of charge
免費的
free the way
free the way for [sth]
為...掃清道路、鋪路
free to choose
free to [verb]
可自由選擇...
×They freed from prison.
✓They freed him from prison.
作為及物動詞,'free' 後面必須接賓語(被釋放的人或事物)。
×I will free the computer tomorrow.
✓I will make the computer free tomorrow. / I will free up the computer tomorrow.
想表達「使某物可供使用」時,用形容詞 'free' 搭配 'make',或用短語動詞 'free up'。動詞 'free' 主要指「釋放、解脫」,不直接用於表示「騰出(時間、資源)」。
×The treatment freed him of pain.
✓The treatment freed him from pain.
表示「從(束縛、困境、痛苦)中解脫」時,常用搭配是 'free someone/something from something'。'free of' 通常用於形容詞意義(如 'free of charge')或表示「沒有(某物)」,動詞用法較少。
×The hostages could free after negotiations.
✓The hostages could be freed after negotiations.
人質是被釋放的,必須使用被動語態 'be freed'。
×The company will free a new product next month.
✓The company will release/launch a new product next month.
'free' 作動詞時,不適用於產品、軟體、音樂、電影的「發布、發行」。應使用 'release', 'launch', 或 'issue'。