charity

/ˈtʃærəti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtʃærəti/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈcher-ə-tē ˈcha-rə-/ (ame, mw)

charity — 名詞

  • charitysingular
  • charitiesplural

1. a group that raises money or collects goods to help people who are poor, sick, o

1.名詞B1
釋義

慈善機構

幫助有需要的人的組織

a group that raises money or collects goods to help people who are poor, sick, or in difficulty, and does not exist to earn profits for its owners

例句

The local charity runs a food bank for families who cannot afford meals.

當地的慈善機構為無力負擔餐費的家庭經營一間食物銀行。

charity + runs + [service]

Ravi donated his old clothes to a charity that supports homeless teenagers.

Ravi 把舊衣服捐給一個幫助無家可歸青少年的慈善機構。

collocation: donate + to + charity

同義詞
  • nonprofit

    more common in American English; broader term covering any organization not run for profit, not only those helping the needy

  • foundation

    usually a large charity set up with an initial fund, often focused on long-term projects or research

  • trust

    a charity managed by a board of trustees, often with a specific legal structure

用法筆記

Countable noun — you can say 'a charity' or refer to 'many charities'. Commonly used as a modifier before another noun (charity shop, charity event, charity work).

常見錯誤

❌She works for charity at the hospital' (when referring to a specific organization).
✅She works for a charity at the hospital.
💡When referring to an organization, use the article 'a' or 'the' because charity is a countable noun in this sense.

2. money, food, clothing, or other aid that people give freely to support those who

2.名詞B1
釋義

慈善

自願給予弱勢者的金錢或物資援助

money, food, clothing, or other aid that people give freely to support those who are poor, sick, or suffering, as well as the organized system of doing this through special groups

例句

Priya gives ten percent of her salary to charity every month.

Priya 每個月將薪水的十分之一捐作慈善。

collocation: give + to + charity

All the leftover food from the wedding was given to charity.

婚禮剩下的所有食物都被捐作慈善用途。

passive: be given to charity

同義詞
  • donation

    refers to a single gift of money or goods, not the overall system of giving

  • aid

    broader term covering government and institutional help; less personal than charity

  • philanthropy

    more formal; usually describes large-scale giving by wealthy individuals or foundations

  • alms

    old-fashioned; specifically money or food given to the poor, often in a religious context

用法筆記

Uncountable — do not use 'a charity' or 'charities' when referring to the general concept of giving aid. Common in the fixed phrase 'give to charity' and 'raise money for charity.'

常見錯誤

❌I donated to a charity every year' (when meaning the general practice of giving).
✅I donate to charity every year.
💡When referring to the general act of giving to those in need, do not add 'a' before charity.

3. a gentle and generous attitude towards other people that makes you willing to se

3.名詞C2
釋義

寬容

對他人的善意與寬厚的評判態度

a gentle and generous attitude towards other people that makes you willing to see their good side rather than judge their faults harshly

例句

Yara treated the shy new students with charity, remembering her own difficult first day.

Yara 以寬容的態度對待害羞的新同學，想起自己第一天有多難熬。

collocation: treat + with + charity

Diego spilled coffee on the report, but his boss showed charity and handed him a towel.

Diego 把咖啡灑在報告上，但他的主管沒有苛責，而是拿了一條毛巾給他。

collocation: show charity (gentle response to a mistake)

同義詞
  • benevolence

    more formal; describes a general wish to do good for others

  • compassion

    focuses on feeling sympathy for someone's suffering rather than on not judging them

  • leniency

    narrower; specifically about being less strict or harsh when judging someone

  • humanity

    broader; refers to the quality of being kind, thoughtful, and sympathetic towards others in general

反義詞
  • cruelty

    the opposite of kindness; deliberately causing pain or suffering

  • harshness

    the opposite of gentle judgment; being severe or critical

用法筆記

Distinguish from SENSE 2 (GIVING): sense 2 refers to money or material help given to people in need, while this sense refers to a personal inner attitude of kindness and gentle judgment. Most common in formal, literary, or reflective writing.

常見錯誤

❌He showed charity by giving them money' (when meaning material generosity).
✅He showed charity by giving them money
💡but this mixes sense 2 and 3. For the kindness sense: 'He showed charity by not pointing out her mistake in front of everyone.' — Make sure the context is about gentle judgment, not material help.