對著有權決定的人說話：情感面的懇求
這一支就是核心畫面本身最赤裸的樣子：拿掉法庭、拿掉制度，只剩一個人對另一個人講話，而決定權完全在對方手上。
beg · verb · C2
To ask for something you want very much, in a sincere and emotional way that shows how much it matters to you.
懇求
核心畫面
One way to hold it: someone standing before a person who has the power to decide, putting their case into words — with feeling, with reasons, hoping the words will move the decision.
一個人站在「有權決定的人」面前，把自己的話說出來——不是命令，也不是閒聊，而是把理由、把情緒、把自己的處境攤開，希望…更多收起
一個人站在「有權決定的人」面前，把自己的話說出來——不是命令，也不是閒聊，而是把理由、把情緒、把自己的處境攤開，希望對方聽完之後改變決定。plead 這個字的重量全在這個場景裡：你沒有權力，對方有；你能做的就是說。所以它同時可以很情緒（拜託你）也可以很正式（在法庭上陳述），因為兩邊做的事其實是同一件——向裁決者陳情。From the word’s history
English 'plead' comes through Old French 'plaidier' (to go to law, to argue a case) from Medieval Latin 'placitum', a court decree or lawsuit — literally 'that which has been agreed/decided'. The word was born inside the courtroom: to plead was to put your case before the body that decides. The emotional 'beg' sense grew out of that courtroom picture, not the other way round.
plead 來自古法語 plaidier（打官司、為案子辯論），再往上是中世紀拉丁語 placitum（判決、訴訟）。也就是說，這個字是從法庭裡長出來的：原本就是「在裁決者面前把你的案子講出來」。今天最常見的「苦苦哀求」反而是後來的延伸——把法庭上那個「向有權者陳情」的姿態，搬到日常的人與人之間。理解這個順序，就不會覺得「懇求」和「答辯」是兩個不相干的字了。
Wiktionary, 'plead' (from Middle English pleden < Old French plaidier < Medieval Latin placitum); consistent with Online Etymology Dictionary
Three branches
在法庭上陳述：制度化的說話
同一個「向裁決者陳情」的畫面，只是搬進了有規矩的空間：現在誰能說、什麼時候說、說了算什麼，都由制度規定。
enter a legal plea · verb · C2
In a court of law, to say officially that you did or did not do the crime you are charged with.
答辯
把理由端出來當擋箭牌
還是「說出理由」，但目的從爭取變成脫身：你端出一個原因，好讓對方不再要求你。
give as an excuse · verb · C2
To give a particular reason as an excuse for what you did, or for not doing something.
託辭
原始詞典資料4 筆記錄
以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，原文照列，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。
pleadverb/pliːd/
- 1
To present (an argument or a plea), especially in a legal case.
- The defendant has decided to plead not guilty.
- O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!
- 2
To beg, beseech, or implore, especially emotionally.
- He pleaded with me not to leave the house.
- He was pleading for mercy.
- 3
To offer by way of excuse.
- Not wishing to attend the banquet, I pleaded illness.
- It is no defence to plead that you were only obeying orders.
- 4
To discuss by arguments.
資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。