privately

/ˈpraɪvətli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈpraɪvətli/ (ame, ipa)

privately — 副詞

1. done so that others cannot see or hear what happens, often because the matter is

1.副詞B2
釋義

私下

不讓他人知曉或只有少數人在場

done so that others cannot see or hear what happens, often because the matter is meant only for a small trusted group

例句

Adina and her lawyer met privately before the trial began.

Adina 和她的律師在審判開始前私下見了面。

adverb after verb: met privately

The couple's financial troubles were discussed privately among close family members.

這對伴侶的財務困難只在親近的家人之間私下討論。

passive: were discussed privately

同義詞
  • confidentially

    emphasises that the information is secret and should not be shared

  • secretly

    stronger sense of hiding something from everyone, not just from the public

  • in confidence

    phrase suggesting the listener must not repeat what is said

反義詞
  • publicly

    done in view of or with the knowledge of everyone

用法筆記

Can be placed either before the main verb (privately admitted) or after it (met privately) with no change in meaning.

常見錯誤

❌I privately don't like spicy food.
✅I personally don't like spicy food.
💡'privately' describes secrecy from others, not a personal preference.

2. involving individual people or businesses acting on their own, without the gover

2.副詞
釋義

私人；非官方

由個人或公司而非政府進行

involving individual people or businesses acting on their own, without the government being responsible or in control

例句

The local clinic is run privately, so the government has no say in its fees.

這間當地診所是私人經營的，所以政府對其收費沒有發言權。

adverb with be + past participle: is run privately

The school that Zayd attends is funded privately by parents and donors.

Zayd 就讀的那所學校由家長和捐贈者私人出資。

passive with by-phrase: is funded privately by

同義詞
  • independently

    focuses on freedom from outside control rather than non-government ownership

  • in the private sector

    longer formal phrase referring specifically to businesses, not individuals

反義詞
  • publicly

    operated or funded by the government

  • state-owned

    adjective describing government ownership

用法筆記

Commonly paired with verbs of ownership, funding, or operation: owned privately, funded privately, run privately, sold privately.