punishment

/ˈpʌnɪʃmənt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈpʌnɪʃmənt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈpə-nish-mənt/ (ame, mw)

punishment — noun

  • punishmentsingular
  • punishmentsplural

1. Something that is given or done to a person, animal, or group that has broken a

1.名詞B1
釋義

Something that is given or done to a person, animal, or group that has broken a rule or done something wrong, usually to cause some form of suffering, loss, or inconvenience as a result.

例句

Ryo received a harsh punishment for cheating on the final exam.

collocation: harsh punishment

The judge decided that the punishment should match the seriousness of the crime.

pattern: punishment + should match + noun

同義詞
  • penalty

    More specific than punishment; usually a fixed consequence set by a rule or contract (a parking penalty, a contractual penalty). Punishment is broader and often carries moral overtones.

  • sentence

    A punishment officially ordered by a court of law (a prison sentence). Only used in legal contexts.

  • discipline

    Systematic training that corrects behaviour, not necessarily through suffering. Discipline focuses on learning, while punishment focuses on consequences.

反義詞
  • reward

    Something given for good behaviour or achievement, the opposite of punishment in behavioural systems.

  • pardon

    Official forgiveness that cancels or prevents a punishment.

文法句型

punishment + for + noun phrase / gerund

as a punishment

punishment + of + person

用法筆記

As an uncountable noun, punishment refers to the general concept (“Punishment is needed to maintain order”). As a countable noun, it refers to a particular penalty (“The court handed down a fair punishment”).

常見錯誤

❌The teacher gave punishment to the class' (natural but vague).
✅The teacher gave the class a punishment' or 'The teacher punished the class.
💡When referring to a specific act, use the countable form 'a punishment' or switch to the verb 'punish.'

2. A situation in which someone or something is handled, used, or affected very rou

2.名詞B2
釋義

A situation in which someone or something is handled, used, or affected very roughly over a period of time, often resulting in damage, wear, or injury.

例句

Chidi’s old hiking boots have taken a lot of punishment on rocky trails.

collocation: take a lot of punishment

The car’s suspension cannot withstand the punishment of these unpaved mountain roads.

collocation: withstand the punishment of

同義詞
  • abuse

    Stronger, implying intentional cruelty or neglect. Punishment in this sense is more accidental or circumstantial (wear and tear vs deliberate harm).

  • wear

    Focuses on gradual damage from use. Punishment implies a more intense or aggressive level of treatment.

文法句型

take (a lot of) punishment

withstand punishment

show signs of punishment

用法筆記

This sense is most common in fixed expressions like take punishment, withstand punishment, and show punishment. It is almost never used as a countable noun (“two punishments” would be understood as sense 1). The subject is typically an inanimate object or a body part, not a person who committed wrongdoing.

常見錯誤

❌My backpack has taken many punishments over the years.
✅My backpack has taken a lot of punishment over the years.
💡In the "rough treatment" sense, punishment is always uncountable.