pardon?
pardon? — verb
1. to forgive a small mistake or rude moment, often as part of a polite expression.
to forgive a small mistake or rude moment, often as part of a polite expression.
Pardon me for interrupting, but the school gate is closing now.
pardon me for + -ing as a polite opening
Please pardon the mess while Nora finishes unpacking the kitchen boxes.
pardon + the mess for a minor inconvenience
Daichi asked his coach to pardon the late reply after practice.
Pardon my French, but that meeting was a complete waste.
- blame
to hold someone responsible instead of letting the mistake pass
文法句型
pardon + someone
pardon + noun
pardon me for + -ing
用法筆記
Common in set phrases such as 'pardon me' and 'pardon my French'. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is for social fault or annoyance, not a court or state decision.
常見錯誤
2. to use official legal power to free someone from punishment for a crime.
to use official legal power to free someone from punishment for a crime.
The president pardoned two firefighters who had broken strike laws.
subject is an authority with legal power
After new DNA evidence appeared, the governor pardoned Imran immediately.
Three activists were pardoned and released before the national holiday.
The court cannot pardon offenders once their sentences have begun.
文法句型
pardon + someone
be pardoned by + authority
用法筆記
The subject is usually a president, monarch, governor, or another legal authority. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense always involves crime and state punishment.
常見錯誤
pardon? — noun
1. an official act or document that releases a convicted person from legal punishme
an official act or document that releases a convicted person from legal punishment.
Lawyers spent years seeking a pardon for the jailed journalist.
seek a pardon for + person
The governor signed a full pardon on Christmas Eve.
full pardon as an official act
Gabriel received a presidential pardon before his sentence ended.
Without a royal pardon, the rebel leaders stayed in prison.
- conviction
the legal finding of guilt that a pardon can remove
- sentence
the punishment that a pardon stops
文法句型
grant a pardon
receive a pardon
a pardon for + offense
用法筆記
Usually appears with verbs such as 'grant', 'seek', 'sign', or 'receive'. It often refers either to the legal decision itself or to the written order recording it.
常見錯誤
2. forgiveness or excuse for a mistake, rude act, or other fault.
forgiveness or excuse for a mistake, rude act, or other fault.
After the harsh joke, Mert asked for pardon from the whole table.
ask for pardon after causing offence
The letter ended with a request for pardon for the delay.
Tara begged her sister's pardon after breaking the blue vase.
The coach offered no pardon for slacking off at training.
- forgiveness
the normal everyday word for letting a fault go
- excuse
can mean a reason as well as forgiveness, so it is broader
- mercy
stronger and more emotional than this polite formal noun
- blame
holding the fault against someone
- punishment
imposing a consequence instead of forgiving
文法句型
ask for pardon
beg pardon
without pardon
用法筆記
This sense is more literary or formal than everyday 'forgiveness'. It often appears in phrases such as 'beg pardon' or 'ask pardon' when someone admits a personal fault.
常見錯誤
pardon? — exclamation
1. a polite question used when you want the other person to repeat their words or m
a polite question used when you want the other person to repeat their words or make them clearer.
Pardon? The train doors were closing, so Kian missed the announcement.
Pardon? used alone to ask for repetition
Pardon me, could you repeat the flat number more slowly?
Pardon me, could you...? polite request
Mayumi leaned closer and asked, "Pardon? Was that gate seventeen?"
I beg your pardon, did you say Tuesday morning or Thursday morning?
- sorry?
more casual British way to ask someone to repeat
- excuse me?
more common American equivalent
- come again?
more informal than 'Pardon?'
文法句型
Pardon?
Pardon me?
I beg your pardon?
用法筆記
Said with rising intonation, like a question. It is more typical in British English than in American English, where speakers more often say 'Excuse me?' or 'Sorry?'.
常見錯誤
2. a sharp reply showing that you are shocked or offended by what someone just said
a sharp reply showing that you are shocked or offended by what someone just said.
I beg your pardon! That remark was rude and completely unfair.
I beg your pardon! to challenge an insult
Pardon me? Baraka frowned at the caller after hearing that insult on the phone.
When the waiter mocked her accent, Christopher snapped, "Pardon?"
Pardon? Did you really call my cooking a public danger?
- excuse me?
common equivalent for offended disbelief
- what did you say?
more direct and less formal
- hold on
can challenge someone, but it does not directly signal offence
文法句型
Pardon?
Pardon me?
I beg your pardon!
用法筆記
The speaker has heard perfectly well and is challenging the offensive comment. Distinguish from sense 1 by tone and context: this sense is sharp and often written with an exclamation mark or an angry follow-up sentence.