核心畫面

You can picture privilege as a special key handed to one particular person or group: the same door, but everyone else waits outside while these few can walk in and get something the rest can't. At heart it's a right or advantage given to some, not to all.

可以想成一把「只發給某些人的鑰匙」:同一扇門,別人都在外面等,唯獨某個人或某個群體手上有這把鑰匙,能先進去、能拿到別更多收起可以想成一把「只發給某些人的鑰匙」:同一扇門,別人都在外面等,唯獨某個人或某個群體手上有這把鑰匙,能先進去、能拿到別人拿不到的好處。privilege 講的多半就是這種不是人人都有、被特別發出去的權利或優勢。

From the word’s history

From Latin privilegium 'a law applying to one person,' from privus 'individual, private' + lex (legis) 'law' — literally a law written for a single person. A law should treat everyone alike, yet a privilegium was made for just one, which lands exactly on the modern core: a right that belongs to some, not to everyone.

來自拉丁文 privilegium,字面是「為單獨一個人訂的法律」:privus(個別的、私人的)+ lex/legis(法律)。法律本該對所有人一樣,但 privilegium 卻是專為某一個人開的——這正好對上今天的核心:只屬於某些人、不屬於全體的權利。

etymonline.com/word/privilege (Latin privilegium < privus 'individual' + lex/legis 'law')

Four branches

特權·優勢地位

這一支最貼近核心:被特別給出去、別人沒有的好處,從單一權利到整個處境都算。

special right · noun · C1

A special right or advantage that is given only to one person or group, not to everyone.

特權

榮幸·被特別給的機會

同樣是「只輪到某些人」,但重點從權利轉到被特別挑中的那份幸運與驕傲。

honor · noun · C1

A special chance to do something good that you feel lucky and proud to do.

榮幸

法律上的保密·免責權

把「特別給某些人的權利」用進法律裡:某種身分或某個場合,享有別人沒有的法律保護。

legal confidentiality · noun · C1

In law, the right of doctors, lawyers, and their clients to keep their private talks secret from other people.

保密特權

動詞:優待·偏重

名詞是「被特別給的權利」,動詞就是去做那個「給」的動作:把某些人或某些東西當成比較重要,給他們比別人好的待遇。

favor, treat specially · verb · C1

To treat some people or things as more important, giving them better treatment than others.

優待/偏重

原始詞典資料11 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。

privilegenoun/ˈpɹɪv.(ɪ.)lɪd͡ʒ/

  • 1

    historicalecclesiasticallawlifestyleAn exemption from certain laws granted by the Pope.

  • 2

    A particular benefit, advantage, or favor; a right or immunity enjoyed by some but not others; a prerogative, preferential treatment.

    • All first-year professors here must teach four courses a term, yet you're only teaching one! What entitled you to such a privilege?
    • Special privileges should be reserved for family and village life, while steps should be taken to prevent families and family ownings from being broken up by inheritance.
  • 3

    An especially rare or fortunate opportunity; the good fortune (to do something).

    • I had the privilege to sit near him in the House for a small part of his Commons service and there was an additional device provided to aid his participation in debates.
  • 4

    The fact of being privileged; the status or existence of (now especially social or economic) benefit or advantage within a given society.

    • People who at any other time would cling like glue to their miserable scraps of privilege, will surrender them fast enough when their country is in danger.
    • There is no complexity expressed in the feverish discussions of white privilege that periodically grips South Africa's chattering class.
  • 5

    A right or immunity enjoyed by a legislative body or its members.

    • Dr Grigori Loutchansky is – according to a congressman speaking under congressional privilege – a "purported Russian mob figure".
  • 6

    archaicbusinessfinanceA stock market option.

  • 7

    lawA common law doctrine that protects certain communications from being used as evidence in court.

    • Your honor, my client is not required to answer that; her response is protected by attorney-client privilege.
  • 8

    computingengineeringmathematicsAn ability to perform an action on the system that can be selectively granted or denied to users.

privilegeverb/ˈpɹɪv.(ɪ.)lɪd͡ʒ/

  • 1

    archaicTo grant some particular right or exemption to; to invest with a peculiar right or immunity; to authorize

    • to privilege representatives from arrest
  • 2

    archaicTo bring or put into a condition of privilege or exemption from evil or danger; to exempt; to deliver.

  • 3

    To prioritize.

    • “Rolling Stone” is spacious and ethereal but not directionless — it is R&B that privileges mood over structure, soft daubs of feeling over authoritative belting.

資料來源:英文維基詞典 English WiktionaryCC BY-SA 4.0)。 原文照列,未經改寫。