private
/ˈpraɪvət/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈpraɪvət/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈprī-vət/ (ame, mw) · /ˈpraɪ.vət/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈpraɪ.vət/ (ame, ipa)
private — 形容詞
- privatepositive
- more privatecomparative
- most privatesuperlative
1. belonging to or meant for one specific person or a limited group, not open to ev
私人的
屬於個人或特定群體，不公開的
belonging to or meant for one specific person or a limited group, not open to everyone else
The hotel has a private beach that only guests can use.
這間飯店擁有私人海灘，僅供房客使用。
collocation: private beach / private room / private property
Liang keeps a private diary that no one else is allowed to read.
Liang 寫私人日記，不讓任何人看。
The company held a private meeting for board members only.
公司舉行了一場僅限董事參加的私人會議。
That field is private land — please stay on the public path.
那片田地是私人土地，請走公共步道。
- personal
emphasises belonging to a particular individual rather than a group; 'private' often implies exclusion of others
- exclusive
suggests high status or privilege; 'exclusive club' implies wealth or invitation, whereas 'private club' merely states restricted access
- restricted
sounds more formal and rule-based; 'restricted area' suggests official limits, while 'private area' suggests personal ownership
- public
open or accessible to everyone
用法筆記
Commonly used with nouns describing places, spaces, and possessions: private room, private garden, private collection, private file.
常見錯誤
2. connected with your personal relationships, home, or family matters rather than
私生活的
與個人生活、家庭有關而非工作
connected with your personal relationships, home, or family matters rather than with your job or official position
The manager asked about Hamza's private life, which made him uncomfortable.
經理問起了 Hamza 的私生活，讓他很不自在。
collocation: private life
Putri keeps her private and work emails in separate accounts.
Putri 將私人郵件和工作郵件分開存放。
The employment contract states that Lin's employer cannot ask about his medical history or private family matters.
雇用合約規定 Lin 的雇主不得詢問他的病史或家庭私事。
During the interview, Tendai politely refused to answer private questions.
面試時，Tendai 禮貌地拒絕回答私人問題。
Sivan tries not to discuss her private relationships with colleagues.
Sivan 盡量不跟同事談論自己的感情私事。
- professional
relating to work or career
- work-related
connected to one's job or official duties
用法筆記
Frequently paired with nouns like life, affairs, matters, business, and relationships. This sense contrasts with professional or official matters — not with 'public' as in sense 1.
常見錯誤
3. not shared, discussed, or revealed to other people because you want to keep the
隱密的
不外洩、不想讓他人知道的
not shared, discussed, or revealed to other people because you want to keep the information to yourself
Isabela shared a private thought with her closest friend.
Isabela 把一個藏在心裡的想法告訴了最好的朋友。
collocation: private thought / private opinion
The details of the negotiation will remain private between the two lawyers.
協商細節將僅限兩位律師知情，不會對外公開。
pattern: remain + private
Reuben held a private opinion about the plan but stayed silent during the meeting.
Reuben 對該計畫持有不便公開的看法，因此在會議上保持沉默。
The letter contained her private feelings about the end of the relationship.
那封信裡寫了她對這段感情結束後的私密感受。
- secret
stronger and more dramatic; 'secret' implies deliberate concealment, while 'private' suggests personal boundaries
- confidential
formal, often used in official or legal contexts; 'confidential information' is protected by rules, whereas 'private thoughts' are protected by personal choice
- intimate
suggests deep personal closeness; 'intimate feelings' imply emotional depth that 'private feelings' may not
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person or a piece of information. Common with verbs like keep, remain, stay, hold, share. Distinct from sense 1 (NOT PUBLIC) because this sense focuses on keeping information hidden rather than restricting physical access.
常見錯誤
4. describing a place that is quiet, peaceful, and free from the presence or attent
僻靜的
安靜、不受他人打擾的地方
describing a place that is quiet, peaceful, and free from the presence or attention of other people
The café has a private corner where Tamar can study without noise.
這間咖啡館有個僻靜的角落，Tamar 可以在那裡安靜唸書。
collocation: private corner / private spot
We found a private spot on the beach away from the crowds.
我們在海灘上找到一處遠離人群的僻靜地點。
The hospital offered a private room for the family to speak with the doctor.
醫院提供了一間安靜的獨立房間，讓家屬可以與醫生單獨交談。
Lauren looked for a private place to make the phone call.
Lauren 找了一個沒有人的地方打電話。
- secluded
suggests being physically hidden or far from others; 'a secluded cabin' implies isolation, while 'a private corner' could be within a busy room
- quiet
focuses on the absence of noise rather than the absence of people; 'a quiet room' may still have other occupants
- intimate
used for small, cozy settings; 'an intimate restaurant' suggests a small space with few tables
用法筆記
Modifier for location nouns: spot, corner, room, place, area, space. Unlike sense 1 (NOT PUBLIC), this sense describes the quality of the space itself — quiet and undisturbed — rather than who owns or controls it.
5. tending to keep your personal thoughts, emotions, and experiences to yourself ra
內斂的
不愛與人分享個人感受或想法的
tending to keep your personal thoughts, emotions, and experiences to yourself rather than sharing them with others
Vivek is a very private person who never talks about his family.
Vivek 非常內斂，從不談論自己的家人。
collocation: private person
Even after years of friendship, Théo remained private about his childhood.
即使認識多年，Théo 依然不願多談自己的童年。
pattern: remain private about [topic]
Igor is a very private person and never told his colleagues that he won the award.
Igor 為人非常內斂，從未告訴同事他得了獎。
Private by nature, Putri declined to answer questions about her past.
Putri 生性內斂，婉拒回答關於自己過去的問題。
- reserved
the closest synonym; 'reserved' slightly emphasises behaviour (holding back), while 'private' emphasises the wish not to share
- withdrawn
has a more negative tone, suggesting shyness or avoidance of social contact; 'private' is more neutral
- reticent
more formal; specifically describes reluctance to speak about personal matters
- open
willing to share personal information freely
- outgoing
sociable and comfortable interacting with others
- communicative
ready to talk and share thoughts
用法筆記
Describes a personality trait, not a temporary state. Use with be, remain, stay. The pattern 'private about + topic' specifies what the person keeps to themselves. Collocates strongly with person, man, woman, individual.
常見錯誤
6. describing an action that happens without others watching, listening, or joining
私下地
沒有其他人在場的情況下
describing an action that happens without others watching, listening, or joining in — used in the adverbial phrase 'in private' to describe how something is done, not where it takes place
After the presentation, Akiko asked to speak with her manager in private about the project delays.
簡報結束後，Akiko 要求與經理私下討論專案延誤的問題。
phrase: in private — used adverbially
The couple discussed their disagreement in private rather than arguing in front of guests.
這對夫妻私下討論了分歧，而不是在客人面前爭吵。
Teachers should meet with students in private when talking about their marks.
老師在討論成績時應該私下與學生會談。
Ziad asked to see the manager in private to report the problem.
Ziad 要求私下與經理見面回報問題。
- privately
the single-word adverb equivalent; 'speak privately' and 'speak in private' are interchangeable
- confidentially
implies that what is said is secret or sensitive, not just that others are absent
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed phrase 'in private', which functions adverbially (like 'in public' but with the opposite meaning). Does NOT appear as a standalone adjective before a noun — you would never say 'a private conversation occurred' for this sense; instead say 'the conversation occurred in private'.
常見錯誤
7. describing businesses, schools, hospitals, and other services that are run by no
私立；民營
由個人或企業擁有，非政府管轄
describing businesses, schools, hospitals, and other services that are run by non-government bodies or individuals, not as part of the public system
The city has both public and private schools for families to choose from.
這個城市同時設有公立和私立學校供家庭選擇。
collocation: private school / public vs private
After waiting six months at the public clinic, Meera chose a private hospital for her knee surgery.
在公立診所等了六個月之後，Meera 選擇了一家私人醫院來做膝蓋手術。
collocation: private hospital
Hamza works for a private company that builds earthquake-resistant houses.
Hamza 在一家民營公司工作，專門蓋耐震房屋。
Putri's children attend a private university in Jakarta.
Putri 的孩子在雅加達的一所私立大學就讀。
The government sold the state railway to a private investor last year.
政府去年把國有鐵路賣給了一名民營投資者。
- non-government
descriptive but less common; 'non-government organisation' (NGO) is the standard collocation for charities, not businesses
- independent
often used for schools that are not state-funded; 'independent school' is common in British English
- privatised
describes a service or company that was previously owned by the state and later sold to private owners
- public
owned, funded, or operated by the government
- state-owned
specifically describes industries or enterprises owned by the government
用法筆記
Used as the standard antonym of public in discussions of industry, services, and institutions. Common in economics and politics: private sector, private enterprise, private ownership. Does NOT describe personal matters (see sense 2) — the word 'private' in this sense refers to ownership status.
常見錯誤
private — 名詞
- privatesingular
- privatesplural
1. a member of the armed forces at the most junior grade who serves without command
列兵
陸軍或海軍陸戰隊中最低階的士兵
a member of the armed forces at the most junior grade who serves without command responsibilities over other soldiers
The private was ordered to clean the barracks before the inspection.
那名列兵奉命在視察前打掃營房。
Private Tendai received a medal for bravery during the rescue mission.
列兵 Tendai 因在救援任務中表現英勇而獲頒勳章。
usage note: when used before a name, it is a title and is capitalised
Both privates and officers attended the ceremony on the parade ground.
列兵與軍官都參加了在閱兵場上舉行的典禮。
Reuben served as a private in the army for two years before becoming a corporal.
Reuben 在晉升為下士之前在陸軍服役了兩年。
The general stopped to shake hands with each private after the long march.
將軍在長途行軍後停下來與每一名列兵握手。
- recruit
a new soldier who has just joined; not a rank but a stage — all privates may be recruits early in their service
- enlisted soldier
a broader term that includes privates and all non-officer ranks together
用法筆記
When used as a title before a surname — e.g. 'Private Smith' — it is capitalised. As a common noun ('a private', 'the privates') it is not. The equivalent in the US Air Force is 'airman basic' and in the US Navy 'seaman recruit'.