VOA名师答疑2023 release和relief的区别

（单词翻译）

Hello!

大家好!

This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question about the difference between “release” and “relief.”

本周《名师答疑》，我们回答关于release和relief有何区别的问题。

Hello VOA Learning English, I am Renna.

你好，美国之音英语学习栏目，我是雷纳。

I am glad you saw my email.

很高兴你们看到了我的电子邮件。

I want to ask the difference between “release” and “relief.”

我想问一下release和relief之间有什么区别。

Thank you so much, Renna.

非常感谢，雷纳。

Dear Renna, these words are often mistaken because they sound similar.

亲爱的雷纳，这两个词经常被人弄错，因为它们的发音很相似。

Both words come from Latin and old French before making their way into the English language.

这两个词都来自拉丁语和古法语，然后进入了英语词汇。

They have completely different meanings and parts of speech.

它们的意思和词性完全不同。

Let’s begin by looking at “release.”

让我们先看release吧。

The word “release” can be either a verb or a noun.

release这个词可以是动词，也可以是名词。

As a verb it can take a direct object.

作为动词，它可以带直接宾语。

“Release” has several meanings.

它有几种含义。

The first meaning is to free or let go, especially if limited in some way.

第一个意思是使自由或放开，尤其是受到某种限制的情况下。

The teacher released the class 15 minutes early.

老师提前15分钟让学生下课。

The kidnappers¹ released their hostages when the negotiations² ended.

谈判结束后，绑架者释放了人质。

“Release” as verb can also mean to express, especially feelings or ability.

作为动词，release也可以表示表达，尤其是表达感情或能力。

Sarah released many emotions during therapy.

萨拉在治疗期间释放了许多情绪。

The acting³ class will help release my inner artist.

表演课将帮助我释放出内心的艺术家。

Lastly, “release” can mean to make available or to publicize.

最后，release可以指使变得可用或公布。

VOA Learning English has released its new video series, Let’s Learn English with Anna online.

美国之音英语学习栏目发布了最新系列视频《和安娜在线学英语》。

The White House press office released the president’s plan to reach net-zero emissions⁴ by 2050.

白宫新闻办公室公布了总统到2050年实现净零排放的计划。

As a noun, a “release” is the action or process of being released.

作为名词，release是被释放的动作或过程。

The activists⁵ postponed⁶ the fish release when the river level dropped.

河水水位下降了，活动人士推迟了鱼儿放生活动。

Now let’s move onto “relief.”

现在再接着说relief吧。

“Relief” as a noun is the easing of pain, difficulty or lack.

relief作为名词，意思是减轻痛苦、减少困难或缓解匮乏状态。

The only relief for her headache was to lie still in a dark room.

她缓解头痛的唯一方法就是静静地躺在一间黑屋子里。

It is such a relief to know you’re back home safely.

得知你平安到家了，真是松了一口气。

The government opened roads so relief, including medicine, could get through to the disaster site.

政府开通了道路，以便药品等救援物资可以送达灾区。

And lastly, “relief” means a person who takes on the responsibility of others to provide support.

最后，relief是指帮他人承担起提供支持的责任的人。

As a relief employee, Pat works at all the local hospitals filling in when a nurse takes leave.

作为换班员工，帕特在当地所有的医院工作，护士休假时他就接班。

One important note about the word “relief.”

关于relief这个词，有一点很重要。

“Relief” as a verb is “relieve,” which can sometimes be confused as “release.”

relief的动词是relieve，有时会和release混淆。

The meanings of “relieve” are connected to those of “relief,” but just in the verb or action form.

relieve的含义与relief的含义相关，只不过是动词或动作形式。

For example, to “relieve” means to cause something to be less such as pain or stress.

例如，relieve指的是减轻某事物，如痛苦或压力。

A visit to the steam room relieved her back pain.

去了趟蒸汽浴室，她的背疼减轻了。

“Relieve” can also mean to free someone of a job, duties, a burden, or responsibility, like the relief nurse.

relieve也可以指把某人从工作、职责、负担或责任中解脱出来，就算接班护士所做的那样。

A relief nurse takes over or relieves another nurse of their work.

接班护士接替另一名护士的工作。

This meaning of “relieve” is most closely related to “release” as “to make available.”

relieve的这个意思与release表示“使变得可用”的意思最为密切相关。

He carried my bags for me, which relieved me.

他帮我提行李，这让我轻松了不少。

Please let us know if these explanations and examples have helped you, Renna.

请让我们知道这些解释和例子是否对你有帮助，雷纳。

And that’s Ask a Teacher.

以上就是本期《名师答疑》。

I’m Faith Pirlo.

我是费思·皮尔洛。