liberally

IPA/ˈlɪbərəli/
KK[lˈɪbˌɚəlˌi]IPA/ˈlɪbərəli/

liberally — 副詞

1. Using or giving plentiful quantities of whatever is being referred to; with gene

1.副詞B2
釋義

大量地

以大量或慷慨的方式

Using or giving plentiful quantities of whatever is being referred to; with generosity rather than restraint.

例句

Xiu poured cream liberally over her bowl of fresh strawberries.

Xiu 在她那碗新鮮草莓上大量地倒了奶油。

verb + liberally: pour, spread, apply, give

The gardener spread compost liberally around the base of each rose bush.

園丁在每株玫瑰花的根部周圍大量地撒了堆肥。

同義詞
  • generously

    more common for describing a single act of giving; less emphasis on habitual abundance

  • abundantly

    more formal; often describes natural surplus rather than deliberate action

  • lavishly

    implies luxury or extravagance, not just large quantity

反義詞
  • sparingly

    using small amounts; the opposite of abundance

  • meagerly

    insufficiently; suggests the amount is inadequate

用法筆記

Common with verbs of distributing or covering such as pour, spread, apply, sprinkle, and give. The sense emphasises abundance rather than exact measurement.

常見錯誤

❌She poured cream liberally but only a small amount came out.
✅She poured cream generously but only a small amount came out.
💡'Liberally' implies a large amount, not just an action done freely.
❌He donated liberally to the charity' (when the donation was small).
✅He donated generously to the charity
💡use 'generously' for a single large donation; 'liberally' works better for ongoing or habitual abundance.

2. Without being exact or strictly accurate; loosely, and often with room for inter

2.副詞B2
釋義

不精確地

不嚴格地，寬鬆地

Without being exact or strictly accurate; loosely, and often with room for interpretation.

例句

The translator rendered the poem liberally, keeping the spirit rather than the exact words.

翻譯者不精確地翻譯了那首詩，保留的是精神而非逐字的意思。

verb + liberally: render, interpret, translate

Ziad used the term "vegetarian" liberally to describe his mostly plant-based diet.

Ziad 寬鬆地使用「素食者」這個詞來描述他主要以植物為主的飲食。

同義詞
  • loosely

    more informal; emphasises lack of precision rather than principled breadth

  • broadly

    implies covering many cases; less about imprecision and more about wide scope

  • freely

    suggests creative or personal choice in interpretation

反義詞
  • literally

    following the exact words or rules; the direct opposite of loose interpretation

  • strictly

    adhering precisely to rules or definitions

用法筆記

Often appears in legal, academic, and translation contexts. Contrasts with 'literally' or 'strictly'. The subject is typically a person or institution, and the object of the interpretation is a text, rule, or label.

常見錯誤

❌He liberally copied the text word for word.
✅He loosely copied the text word for word.
💡'Liberally' in this sense means not word-for-word, so it contradicts the statement.
❌The judge applied the law liberally and gave the maximum sentence.
✅The judge applied the law strictly and gave the maximum sentence.
💡'Liberally' suggests leniency or broad interpretation, not harshness.

3. Showing tolerance and respect toward different beliefs, lifestyles, or behaviour

3.副詞B2
釋義

寬容地

以包容不同觀點的態度

Showing tolerance and respect toward different beliefs, lifestyles, or behaviours; with an open mind and without imposing restrictions.

例句

The Watanabe family raised their children liberally, encouraging them to explore different faiths and hobbies.

渡邊家寬容地養育孩子，鼓勵他們探索不同的信仰和嗜好。

verb + liberally: raise, treat, bring up

The school applied its dress code liberally, allowing students to express their cultural traditions.

學校寬容地執行服裝規定，允許學生表達自己的文化傳統。

同義詞
  • tolerantly

    more neutral; implies putting up with differences rather than actively welcoming them

  • openly

    broader meaning; can describe honesty rather than acceptance of others

  • broad-mindedly

    less common; emphasises intellectual breadth rather than social acceptance

反義詞
  • narrow-mindedly

    refusing to accept views or behaviours different from one's own

  • intolerantly

    actively rejecting or opposing differences in belief or lifestyle

用法筆記

Describes attitudes or policies in education, parenting, and community life. The focus is on acceptance and non-restriction rather than political ideology — that is covered by sense 4.

常見錯誤

❌The teacher graded liberally by giving everyone an A.
✅The teacher graded generously by giving everyone an A.
💡Grading leniently is about generosity, not open-mindedness.
❌He spent his money liberally on gifts for everyone.
✅He spent his money generously on gifts for everyone.
💡Spending describes quantity (sense 1), not tolerance toward others.

4. According to the principles of political liberalism; favouring individual rights

4.副詞C1
釋義

以自由派立場

以支持自由主義政治理念的方式

According to the principles of political liberalism; favouring individual rights, social equality, and gradual reform over conservative policies.

例句

The newspaper's editorial board leans liberally on most social and economic issues.

該報的編輯委員會在多數社會和經濟議題上傾向自由派立場。

verb + liberally: lean, vote, think, speak

Tamás votes liberally in every election, supporting candidates who advocate for public healthcare.

Tamás 每次選舉都傾向自由派，支持提倡公共醫療的候選人。

同義詞
  • progressively

    focuses on reform and forward-looking policies; more common in US political discourse

  • left-leaning

    more informal; directly names position on the political spectrum

反義詞
  • conservatively

    favouring traditional values and cautious change; the opposite of politically liberal

  • right-leaning

    inclining toward conservative or right-wing political positions

用法筆記

Restricted to political contexts, typically describing voting patterns, editorial positions, or academic leanings. Distinguish from sense 3, which describes personal tolerance rather than political affiliation.

常見錯誤

❌My grandmother treats everyone liberally' (when meaning she is kind).
✅My grandmother treats everyone kindly
💡Use sense 1 or 3 depending on whether the emphasis is on quantity or open-mindedness; sense 4 is specifically political.

❌ 'The chef seasoned the dish liberally with a politically liberal attitude.' — Mixing sense 1 with sense 4 creates a confusing sentence. Keep political and quantity meanings separate.