assurance
/əˈʃʊərəns/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈʃʊrəns/ (ame, ipa) · /ə-ˈshu̇r-ən(t)s/ (ame, mw)
assurance — 名詞
1. a firm spoken or written commitment that something will happen or is true, often
保證；承諾
明確口頭或書面的保證
a firm spoken or written commitment that something will happen or is true, often given to calm someone's worries.
The mayor gave residents an assurance that the new bridge would open by June.
市長向居民保證新橋會在六月前開通。
assurance + that-clause
Despite repeated assurances from the airline, Mei-Ling's suitcase never arrived in Taipei.
儘管航空公司一再保證，美玲的行李箱始終沒有送到台北。
plural: repeated assurances from [source]
Mr. Patel wanted a written assurance before he signed the contract.
帕特爾先生在簽約前希望拿到書面保證。
The doctor's calm assurance that the surgery was routine helped Dilnoza sleep that night.
醫師沉穩地向卡洛斯保證手術只是例行程序，讓他那晚得以安心入睡。
Parents are seeking assurances from the school about safety on the field trip.
家長正向學校尋求校外教學安全的保證。
文法句型
assurance + that-clause
give/seek/receive an assurance
用法筆記
Often appears in the fixed pattern 'give/receive/seek an assurance (that)…'. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is countable and refers to the spoken or written promise itself, not the inner feeling of certainty.
常見錯誤
2. a calm feeling of trust in your own judgement or skills, shown in how you speak
自信；從容
對自身能力或判斷的篤定感
a calm feeling of trust in your own judgement or skills, shown in how you speak and act.
Leila answered every question with the quiet assurance of an experienced lawyer.
莉娜以資深律師般的從容自信回答每一個問題。
with + adjective + assurance
After two years on stage, the young pianist plays with real assurance.
經過兩年的舞台歷練，這位年輕鋼琴家彈奏時充滿自信。
with assurance (manner)
Anaya speaks with an easy assurance that puts new students at ease.
馬可斯說話自信而從容，讓新生立刻放鬆下來。
Attorney Nakamura's assurance in the courtroom impressed even the senior judges.
中村律師在法庭上的從容自信連資深法官都印象深刻。
The captain's assurance during the storm kept the crew from panicking.
暴風雨中船長的鎮定自信讓船員不至於驚慌。
- confidence
more common everyday word; 'assurance' sounds more poised and adult
- poise
stresses graceful self-control under pressure
- self-assurance
near-identical meaning; emphasises the source is the self
- self-doubt
the inner uncertainty 'assurance' is free from
文法句型
with quiet/calm/easy assurance
用法筆記
Uncountable; never 'an assurance' in this sense. Distinguish from sense 1 by structure: this sense usually appears as 'with [adjective] assurance' to describe manner, not as the object of 'give' or 'receive'.
常見錯誤
3. in British English, a kind of insurance that pays money when the holder dies, si
人壽保險
英式英語指人壽保險
in British English, a kind of insurance that pays money when the holder dies, since death is sure to occur at some point.
Mr. Brown took out life assurance soon after his daughter was born.
布朗先生在女兒出生後不久就投保了人壽保險。
fixed phrase: life assurance
In Britain, banks often sell life assurance alongside home loans.
在英國，銀行常會在辦房貸時一併推銷人壽保險。
regional note: British use
The family received a payout from his life assurance policy last spring.
去年春天，這家人從他的人壽保險保單領到了理賠金。
Our adviser, Mrs. Khan, recommended a low-cost assurance plan for young couples.
我們的顧問可汗太太推薦年輕夫妻一份低保費的壽險方案。
- life insurance
the standard American term for the same product
文法句型
life assurance
take out assurance
用法筆記
Almost always appears as 'life assurance' and is mainly British. American English uses 'life insurance' for the same product. Distinguish from sense 1 (a promise) by collocation: 'take out assurance', 'assurance policy'.