A formal verb meaning to go past a line you were not supposed to cross — to break a rule, a law, or an unwritten social or moral standard. The picture underneath is physical: stepping over a boundary. That is why it feels bigger than 'break a rule'.

A formal verb meaning to go past a line you were not supposed to cross這是個正式動詞，意思是越過一條你不該跨的線 to break a rule, a law, or an unwritten social or moral standard也就是違反一條規則、法律、或沒寫下來的社會或道德標準。The picture underneath is physical它底下的畫面是實體的 stepping over a boundary跨過一條界線。That is why it feels bigger than 'break a rule'這就是為什麼它感覺比'break a rule'違反規則更嚴重。

You can transgress a law, but the word is at home with moral and religious wrong ('transgress God's commandments') and with the quiet rules nobody writes down ('he had transgressed by asking her salary'). It works with an object ('transgress the law') and without one ('those who transgress will be punished').

You can transgress a law你可以transgress違反一條法律 but the word is at home with moral and religious wrong但這個詞更常用在道德和宗教上的過錯 ('transgress God's commandments')像'transgress God's commandments'違背神的誡命 and with the quiet rules nobody writes down也用在沒人寫下來的潛規則 ('he had transgressed by asking her salary')像'he had transgressed by asking her salary'他問了她的薪水，算是越界了。It works with an object ('transgress the law')它可以帶受詞，像'transgress the law'違反法律 and without one ('those who transgress will be punished')也可以不帶受詞，像'those who transgress will be punished'違規的人將受懲罰。

Register: high. In ordinary speech people say 'break the rules', 'go too far', 'cross the line' — you would sound odd saying 'I transgressed' about being ten minutes late.

Register: high語域：高，很正式。In ordinary speech people say 'break the rules', 'go too far', 'cross the line'日常說話大家會說'break the rules'違反規定、'go too far'太過分、'cross the line'越線 you would sound odd saying 'I transgressed' about being ten minutes late如果只是遲到十分鐘就說'I transgressed'，聽起來會很奇怪。

Two places you will actually meet it: religious and legal texts, where it is heavy and serious; and art, literature, and cultural criticism, where it has flipped positive — a 'transgressive' film or novel is one that breaks taboos on purpose, and critics often mean that as praise. So the same word can condemn or admire, depending on who is holding it.

Two places you will actually meet it你實際上會在兩個地方遇到它 religious and legal texts, where it is heavy and serious宗教和法律文本，語氣沉重嚴肅 and art, literature, and cultural criticism, where it has flipped positive還有藝術、文學、和文化評論，這裡意思反轉成正面的 a 'transgressive' film or novel is one that breaks taboos on purpose一部'transgressive'的電影或小說是故意打破禁忌的作品 and critics often mean that as praise評論家常常是把這當成讚美。So the same word can condemn or admire, depending on who is holding it所以同一個字可以是譴責，也可以是讚賞，看是誰在用它。