mercenary
/ˈmɜː.sən.ri/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmɝː.sən.ri/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmər-sə-ˌner-ē -ne-rē/ (ame, mw) · /ˈmɜːsənəri/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmɜːrsəneri/ (ame, ipa)
mercenary — 形容詞
- mercenarypositive
- more mercenarycomparative
- most mercenarysuperlative
1. caring mainly about money or what you can personally gain, rather than about hon
唯利是圖的
只看重金錢或個人利益的
caring mainly about money or what you can personally gain, rather than about honest work, friendship, or doing what is right
Dario's mercenary attitude toward his elderly aunt shocked the rest of the family.
Dario 對年邁姑姑那種唯利是圖的態度，讓全家人都感到震驚。
mercenary + attitude (toward someone)
Critics accused the new manager of mercenary motives after she sold the company's beloved bookshop.
新任經理賣掉公司心愛的書店後，被批評者指責動機唯利是圖。
mercenary + motives in business contexts
The lawyer chose to defend wealthy clients only, a decision many colleagues called purely mercenary.
那位律師只願意替有錢的客戶辯護，許多同事都認為這個決定純粹是唯利是圖。
Nkechi refused to take the higher-paying job, saying it would feel too mercenary.
Nkechi 拒絕了那份薪水更高的工作，她說那樣會讓人覺得太過唯利是圖。
There was nothing mercenary about Reuben's gift; he simply wanted his neighbour to feel welcome.
Reuben 送禮一點也不是唯利是圖，他只是想讓鄰居感到受歡迎。
- greedy
more general; covers food, attention, and money — not only the money-for-action framing
- venal
very formal; suggests willingness to be bribed in an official role
- money-grubbing
informal and harsher; emphasises the chasing behaviour
- self-seeking
broader; covers any selfish goal, not only money
- altruistic
motivated by the welfare of others
- selfless
putting others' needs first
- idealistic
guided by principles rather than personal gain
文法句型
mercenary + noun
be + mercenary
用法筆記
Almost always carries a disapproving tone. Typically used by an outside observer judging another person's motives — speakers rarely describe themselves as mercenary.
常見錯誤
2. describing soldiers, troops, or armies that are paid to fight on behalf of a cou
僱傭兵的
受雇為他國作戰的軍隊或士兵
describing soldiers, troops, or armies that are paid to fight on behalf of a country or group that is not their own
The king relied on mercenary troops from across the mountains to defend his weakening throne.
國王仰賴山脈另一側的僱傭兵部隊，來守衛他逐漸動搖的王座。
mercenary + troops (military context)
A small mercenary force was reportedly guarding the diamond mines in the disputed region.
據報導，一支小型僱傭兵部隊正在爭議地區看守鑽石礦。
mercenary + force (guarding role)
Daichi's history teacher explained how mercenary soldiers shaped many wars in medieval Europe.
Daichi 的歷史老師講解了僱傭兵在中世紀歐洲許多戰爭中扮演的角色。
The reporter interviewed a former mercenary commander who once led units in three different conflicts.
記者採訪了一位前僱傭兵指揮官，他曾在三場不同的衝突中帶過部隊。
- national
fighting for one's own country
- volunteer
serving without pay
- conscripted
forced into service by law, not hired for money
文法句型
mercenary + soldier/army/force
用法筆記
Almost always attributive — placed before nouns like 'soldier', 'army', 'force', 'commander'. Distinguish from sense 1 (which is about anyone driven by money): this sense specifically describes military personnel hired by a foreign side.
常見錯誤
mercenary — 名詞
- mercenarysingular
- mercenariesplural
1. a soldier who takes payment to fight for whichever country, company, or group is
僱傭兵
受雇為任何出錢一方作戰的士兵
a soldier who takes payment to fight for whichever country, company, or group is willing to hire them, regardless of personal loyalty
Vinícius wrote a novel about a young mercenary who started questioning his paid missions.
Vinícius 寫了一本小說，主角是一名年輕僱傭兵，他開始質疑自己受雇執行的那些任務。
a mercenary (countable, indefinite article)
Several mercenaries were reportedly hired to protect the foreign embassy during the riots.
據報導，有數名僱傭兵被雇來在暴動期間保護外國大使館。
mercenaries + hired to + infinitive
After leaving the army, Talia briefly worked as a mercenary in West Africa.
離開軍隊後，Talia 曾短暫在西非擔任僱傭兵。
The documentary followed a group of mercenaries guarding oil fields in the desert.
這部紀錄片跟拍了一群在沙漠中守衛油田的僱傭兵。
Throughout the 1500s, Swiss mercenaries fought in nearly every major European conflict.
整個十六世紀，瑞士僱傭兵幾乎參與了歐洲每一場主要的戰爭。
- soldier of fortune
literary; emphasises adventure-seeking as well as money
- hired gun
informal; often used metaphorically of any paid professional doing dirty work
- freelancer
general modern term; only military when context makes it clear
文法句型
a mercenary
mercenaries (plural)
用法筆記
Sometimes extended metaphorically to professionals (lawyers, athletes, consultants) who switch sides for money. The military sense remains the core meaning; the figurative use almost always carries criticism.