profess
profess — 動詞
- professpresent simple I / you / we / they
- professeshe / she / it
- professedpast simple
- professing-ing form
1. To describe a feeling, opinion, or fact as true when other people suspect you ma
宣稱;假裝
口頭宣稱但未必真實
To describe a feeling, opinion, or fact as true when other people suspect you may not be being honest.
Felipe professed his loyalty to the group, but no one really believed him.
Felipe 宣稱他對團體忠誠,但沒有人真的相信他。
profess + noun phrase indicating a claimed attitude
The mayor professed to care about small businesses while cutting their funding.
市長宣稱關心小企業,卻同時削減對他們的補助。
profess + to-infinitive for claimed intention
Omar professed ignorance of the missing documents, though the evidence proved otherwise.
Omar 聲稱對文件遺失一事不知情,但證據顯示並非如此。
Marco professed deep admiration for the novelist, yet he returned her book to the library unfinished.
Marco 宣稱對那位小說家十分欽佩,卻把那本書沒看完就還給了圖書館。
Several executives professed surprise at the investigation, though emails showed they knew about it.
幾位高階主管對調查表示驚訝,但電子郵件顯示他們早就知情。
文法句型
profess + to-infinitive
profess + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often implies that the speaker may not mean what they say. The to-infinitive pattern (profess to be, profess to care) is common in formal writing and journalism.
常見錯誤
2. To state a belief, feeling, or opinion clearly and publicly, usually with sincer
公開表明
坦率地表達信念或感受
To state a belief, feeling, or opinion clearly and publicly, usually with sincerity.
Naoko professed her love for traditional music in a radio interview last year.
Naoko 去年在廣播專訪中公開表達了她對傳統音樂的熱愛。
profess + noun phrase expressing a feeling
Dr. Mensah professed that she would never accept a job that required her to move away from her family.
Mensah 醫生表明她絕不會接受需要離家遠行的工作。
profess + that-clause for a stated opinion
The artist professed great respect for the older painters who had taught him in his youth.
這位藝術家對年輕時教過他的老畫家們表達了極大的敬意。
Meera professed a deep interest in ancient Roman history and began studying Latin at the age of forty.
Meera 表明自己對古羅馬歷史有濃厚的興趣,並在四十歲那年開始學習拉丁文。
In her opening speech, the chairperson professed confidence that the committee would reach an agreement soon.
主席在開幕演講中表示,她有信心委員會很快就會達成協議。
文法句型
profess + that-clause
profess + noun phrase
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1 (CLAIM INSINCERELY), this sense carries no suggestion of falsehood. The distinction depends on context — look for clues about the speaker's sincerity in the surrounding text.
常見錯誤
3. To declare that you believe in and follow a particular religion or system of bel
信奉;歸信
公開宣示歸屬某宗教
To declare that you believe in and follow a particular religion or system of beliefs.
More than seventy percent of the population professes Buddhism.
超過百分之七十的人口信奉佛教。
profess + name of religion for formal affiliation
Aarav grew up in a Hindu family, and he still professes that faith today.
Aarav 在印度教家庭長大,至今仍信奉該宗教。
The new law required all public officials to profess a recognised religion before taking office.
新法要求所有公職人員在就職前必須宣示信仰某個公認的宗教。
Harper professed a firm belief in the principles of non-violence taught by the civil rights movement.
Harper 堅信民權運動所宣揚的非暴力原則。
The poet never openly professed any religion, but his work was full of spiritual ideas and images.
那位詩人從未公開宣示信仰任何宗教,但他的作品充滿了精神性的思想與意象。
文法句型
profess + religion/faith/belief
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this sense carries no implication of insincerity — it describes genuine membership or commitment. The object is typically a named religion (Christianity, Islam, Buddhism) or the word 'faith'.
常見錯誤
4. To practice a profession or to teach a subject at a university, especially as a
執業;教授
從事專業或在教書
To practice a profession or to teach a subject at a university, especially as a professor.
Sivan professed law for over thirty years before retiring to write legal textbooks.
Sivan 執業法律超過三十年,之後退休撰寫法學教科書。
profess + field of study as a career
The vicar had professed medicine at the university before deciding to join the church.
這位牧師在決定加入教會之前,曾在大學教授醫學。
Christopher professed ancient history at Oxford for two decades and trained hundreds of students.
Christopher 在牛津大學教授古代史長達二十年,培育了數百名學生。
Dr. Yael professed organic chemistry at the University of São Paulo for over fifteen years.
Yael 博士在聖保羅大學教授有機化學超過十五年。
The scholar professed philosophy at several European universities during her long career abroad.
這位學者在歐洲多所大學教授哲學,度過了漫長的海外職涯。
- teach
less formal, more common in everyday use
- practice
used for professions like law and medicine
- lecture in
specific to university teaching
文法句型
profess + field/profession
profess + at + institution
用法筆記
This sense is quite formal and somewhat old-fashioned. The meaning 'to teach as a professor' is the most common sub-sense in academic writing, while 'to practice a profession' appears mainly in historical contexts.
5. To join a group of people living a religious life by making a sacred promise, or
宣願;發願
正式發願加入宗教團體
To join a group of people living a religious life by making a sacred promise, or to accept someone into such a group after they make that promise.
Iris was professed as a nun at the age of twenty-two after completing her training.
Iris 在二十二歲完成訓練後正式發願成為修女。
passive: be professed as + role
The brothers were professed into the Franciscan order in a quiet hillside ceremony.
這些修士在寧靜的山丘教堂中宣願加入方濟各會。
passive: be professed into + order
After five years in the monastery, Minh professed final vows before the entire community.
Minh 在修道院待了五年之後,在全體會眾面前宣讀了最終誓願。
Élise professed as a Benedictine sister and spent the rest of her life at the abbey in the mountains.
Élise 宣願成為本篤會修女,餘生都在山中的修道院度過。
The congregation welcomed three new members who had recently professed their religious vows.
該修會歡迎三位新成員,他們不久前才宣讀了宗教誓願。
- take vows
more common, less formal
- enter a religious order
descriptive phrase
- become a monk or nun
general meaning, not specific to the ritual
- leave a religious order
to stop being a monk or nun
- be laicised
formal; to be released from religious vows
文法句型
be professed as + role
be professed into + order
profess + vows
用法筆記
A specialised term in Catholic and other Christian monastic traditions. The person is 'professed' (passive) by the community, or they actively 'profess' their vows. Distinguish from sense 3 (PROFESS FAITH): this sense refers to the ritual act of entering monastic life, not simply declaring a belief.