indulgence
/ɪnˈdʌldʒəns/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈdʌldʒəns/ (ame, ipa) · /in-ˈdəl-jən(t)s/ (ame, mw)
indulgence — 名詞
- indulgencesingular
- indulgencesplural
1. Letting yourself enjoy a pleasure or treat even though you know it may not be he
放縱；享樂
允許自己享受不該做的事
Letting yourself enjoy a pleasure or treat even though you know it may not be healthy, necessary, or wise — for instance, spending a whole afternoon reading a novel when you have chores waiting.
Mateo's only indulgence was a weekly chess game with his neighbor, deadlines or not.
Mateo 唯一放縱自己的事，就是每週和鄰居下一盤西洋棋，即使有截稿壓力也照做不誤。
possessive + 'only' + indulgence: a person's sole treat
Olivia decided that a piece of dark chocolate after dinner was an indulgence worth keeping.
Olivia 決定晚餐後吃一塊黑巧克力，是值得保留的一項放縱。
collocation: indulgence worth keeping
For someone on a tight budget, a monthly massage feels like an expensive indulgence.
對於預算有限的人來說，每月一次按摩算是昂貴的享受。
Talia considered buying the silk scarf an affordable indulgence for her birthday.
Talia 認為買那條絲巾，是她生日時負擔得起的一項放縱。
A hot bath with candles was the only indulgence Mira allowed during exam week.
在考試期間，一缸熱水澡加蠟燭是 Mira 唯一允許的放縱。
- treat
more informal and suggests something occasional and shared, e.g. buying yourself a coffee as a treat
- luxury
focuses on high quality and expense, not necessarily guilt; a luxury hotel is not an indulgence
- extravagance
stronger sense of wastefulness and excess; carries more disapproval than indulgence
- self-indulgence
more negative than indulgence, emphasizing weakness of will rather than an occasional pleasure
- deprivation
the state of being denied pleasures or basic comforts
文法句型
[possessive] indulgence
something is an indulgence
用法筆記
Frequently preceded by a possessive adjective (my indulgence, his indulgence) or used in the pattern '[something] is an indulgence.' Common in the phrase 'worth the indulgence.'
常見錯誤
2. A willingness to forgive someone's mistakes or bad behavior rather than punishin
寬容
對他人過錯的包容
A willingness to forgive someone's mistakes or bad behavior rather than punishing or criticizing them — for example, a parent overlooking a broken window because the child was trying to help.
The teacher showed indulgence toward the late assignment because the student had been sick.
老師對遲交的作業展現寬容，因為該學生生病了。
show indulgence toward [something]
Devika's friends treated her indulgence as kindness, not weakness, when she forgave their broken promises.
Devika 的朋友們把她對違約的寬容視為善意、而非軟弱。
Grandparents often treat their grandchildren with an indulgence they never showed their own children.
祖父母對孫子女的寬容，往往是他們當年對自己孩子從未展現過的。
Ayana was surprised by her manager's indulgence when she admitted to missing the project deadline.
Ayana 對主管在她坦承錯過專案截止日時的寬容感到驚訝。
- leniency
very close in meaning but suggests the person in authority had the power to punish and chose not to
- forbearance
more formal; emphasizes patience and restraint in the face of provocation
- tolerance
broader in meaning; can refer to accepting different opinions or customs, not just overlooking faults
- strictness
insisting on rules being followed without exception
- severity
harsh or strict treatment of mistakes
文法句型
show indulgence toward [someone/something]
treat [someone] with indulgence
用法筆記
Often paired with the preposition 'toward' (indulgence toward someone) or 'with' (treat someone with indulgence). This sense is more formal than sense 1 and typically describes a superior's attitude toward a subordinate's fault.
常見錯誤
3. Within Catholic teaching, a Church-authorized reduction of the penalty still owe
大赦
天主教免除罪過暫罰的制度
Within Catholic teaching, a Church-authorized reduction of the penalty still owed for sins already confessed and absolved — earned through prayer, charitable deeds, or a papal decree.
In medieval times, many Christians bought indulgences hoping to reduce their time in purgatory.
中世紀時期，許多基督徒購買贖罪券，希望減少在煉獄的時間。
The priest said indulgences could be gained by praying or visiting a holy place.
神父說，透過祈禱或參訪聖地就能獲得大赦。
passive: indulgence could be gained by [action]
Pope Urban II promised a plenary indulgence to everyone who joined the First Crusade.
教宗烏爾班二世承諾，所有參加第一次十字軍東征的人都可以獲得全大赦。
Devout pilgrims journeyed to Rome during the Jubilee year to receive a special indulgence.
虔誠的朝聖者在禧年期間前往羅馬，以領取一項特殊的大赦。
- absolution
the forgiveness of sin itself through confession, not the remission of punishment
- remission
a more general term for cancellation of a debt or penalty; not specific to Catholic theology
文法句型
gain/receive an indulgence
grant an indulgence
plenary indulgence
用法筆記
Distinguish from 'absolution' (the forgiveness of guilt through confession). An indulgence concerns the temporal punishment that remains even after absolution has been granted. This sense is almost entirely confined to Catholic theology and church history.