pleasure

/ˈpleʒə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · [plˈɛʒɚ] /ˈpleʒər/ (ame, ipa) · [plˈɛʒɚ] /ˈple-zhər ˈplā-/ (ame, mw)

pleasure — noun

  • pleasuresingular
  • pleasuresplural

1. a happy, satisfied feeling, or a person, thing, or event that gives you that fee

1.名詞B1
釋義

a happy, satisfied feeling, or a person, thing, or event that gives you that feeling

例句

Constanza's letter brought her father real pleasure during his hospital stay.

give somebody pleasure

Seeing the twins dance on stage gave Grandpa deep pleasure.

同義詞
  • joy

    usually stronger and more emotional than pleasure

  • delight

    brighter and more lively, often for a special moment

  • satisfaction

    often connected with getting a result you wanted

反義詞
  • pain

    the opposite physical or emotional experience

  • displeasure

    formal and usually means annoyance rather than enjoyment

文法句型

give somebody pleasure

take pleasure in + noun/gerund

be a pleasure to + verb

one of somebody's pleasures

用法筆記

Often uncountable when it means the feeling itself, but countable when it means a source of that feeling. This is also the only sense used in patterns like It is a pleasure to meet you.

常見錯誤

❌I am pleasure to meet you.
✅It is a pleasure to meet you.' / 'I am pleased to meet you.
💡pleasure is a noun; pleased is an adjective.
❌Shopping gives me many pleasures.
✅Shopping gives me a lot of pleasure.
💡Use uncountable pleasure for the feeling itself.

2. an activity or part of life that you do for fun, especially when it is not work

2.名詞B2
釋義

an activity or part of life that you do for fun, especially when it is not work

例句

Devika paints birds for pleasure after finishing her office work.

for pleasure = not for work

Christopher studies French for pleasure, not for any exam.

同義詞
  • fun

    more informal and often more lively

  • recreation

    more formal and common in organized activities

  • pastime

    usually a regular hobby or way to pass time

  • leisure

    often focuses on free time, not one activity

反義詞
  • work

    activity done as a job or duty

  • duty

    something you must do rather than enjoy doing

文法句型

for pleasure

do something for pleasure

用法筆記

Most often appears after for to show that something is done because people enjoy it. Distinguish from sense 1, which names the good feeling or the thing that brings it.

常見錯誤

❌I read history in pleasure.
✅I read history for pleasure.
💡The usual preposition with this sense is for.
❌She joined the club for a pleasure.
✅She joined the club for pleasure.
💡This pattern is usually uncountable.

3. used in fixed expressions to politely say that you are glad to help or happy to

3.名詞B1
釋義

used in fixed expressions to politely say that you are glad to help or happy to agree

例句

After Amira thanked Eli for the umbrella, he said, 'My pleasure.'

polite reply after thanks

'Would you carry this upstairs?' 'With pleasure,' the porter replied.

polite acceptance: with pleasure

同義詞
  • gladly

    used when happily accepting a request rather than after thanks

  • certainly

    polite acceptance, but less warm than with pleasure

文法句型

my pleasure

with pleasure

用法筆記

This sense appears almost only in fixed expressions such as my pleasure and with pleasure. Distinguish from sense 1, which names enjoyment, and sense 2, which names an enjoyable activity.

常見錯誤

❌With pleasure I carried the bags yesterday.
✅I carried the bags gladly yesterday.' / '"With pleasure," she replied.
💡As a fixed polite reply, with pleasure is mainly used when answering a request.
❌My pleasure means my favorite hobby.
✅In "My pleasure," it means I was glad to help.
💡In this fixed reply, pleasure does not mean entertainment.