protest
protest — 名詞
1. a spoken or written statement that shows you strongly disagree with or oppose a
抗議
表達強烈反對的言論或聲明
a spoken or written statement that shows you strongly disagree with or oppose a rule, a decision, or a situation.
Rachel filed a formal protest with the city council after her parking permit was denied.
Rachel 的停車許可證被拒絕後，她向市議會提出正式抗議。
file a formal protest + with [authority]
The union leader read a protest outside the factory gates, demanding fair pay for all workers.
工會領袖在工廠大門前宣讀抗議聲明，要求所有勞工獲得公平薪資。
Iker wrote a letter of protest to the editor about the way the story had been reported.
Iker 寫了一封抗議信給編輯，批評那篇報導的處理方式。
The teachers raised a protest against the new grading system before the term started.
老師們在學期開始前，對新的評分制度提出抗議。
文法句型
protest + against/about + [issue]
用法筆記
This sense is countable — you can make, file, lodge, raise, or voice a protest. It is often followed by against (the thing you oppose) or about (the issue that bothers you).
常見錯誤
2. a public gathering of people who come together to express opposition to a policy
示威
公開集會表達反對的活動
a public gathering of people who come together to express opposition to a policy, law, or situation, often by shouting, carrying signs, or blocking streets.
Over ten thousand students joined the protest against the rise in university fees.
超過一萬名學生加入示威，反對大學調漲學費。
join a protest against [issue]
Romi carried a hand-painted sign at the climate protest outside the government building.
Romi 在政府大樓外的氣候示威中舉著手繪標語牌。
The protest marched peacefully through the main square while police watched from the side.
示威隊伍和平地穿過主要廣場，警察在一旁監控。
A large protest broke out in the capital after the new tax law was announced on Friday.
上週五新稅法公布後，首都爆發了一場大型示威。
- demonstration
almost identical in meaning; slightly more formal and neutral
- rally
can suggest a more energetic, speech-based event, not always oppositional
- march
specifically a moving protest, not a stationary gathering
- sit-in
a protest where people sit and refuse to leave a place
文法句型
a protest + against + [issue]
a protest + over + [issue]
用法筆記
Frequently combined with descriptive verbs: stage a protest, hold a protest, organize a protest, join a protest. The preposition against introduces the target, while over introduces the cause.
常見錯誤
3. used in the fixed phrase 'under protest' to describe doing something unwillingly
心有不甘
非自願地做某事並表達異議
used in the fixed phrase 'under protest' to describe doing something unwillingly while making it clear you disagree with it.
The factory workers signed the new contract under protest, afraid they would lose their jobs if they refused.
工廠工人心有不甘地簽下新的合約，擔心拒絕會丟掉工作。
under protest: doing something unwillingly while disagreeing
Bilal paid the traffic fine under protest and immediately told the court he planned to appeal.
Bilal 心有不甘地繳了交通罰款，隨後立刻告訴法院他打算上訴。
The lawyer accepted the judge's ruling under protest but made clear her client would challenge it.
那名律師心有不甘地接受法官的裁決，但表明她的委託人將會提出異議。
The tenants paid the rent increase under protest and wrote a formal letter of objection to the landlord.
房客們心有不甘地繳了漲價後的房租，並寫了一封正式的抗議信給房東。
- willingly
doing something gladly and without objection
- voluntarily
acting by choice, without external pressure
文法句型
under protest
用法筆記
This sense is only used in the phrase 'under protest.' The phrase always comes after the verb: 'He agreed under protest.' It cannot be used as a standalone noun (❌ 'He made a protest' in this sense).
protest — 動詞
1. to join a public march, rally, or other group action as a way of expressing oppo
集體抗議
以集會遊行方式表達反對
to join a public march, rally, or other group action as a way of expressing opposition to a law, policy, or situation.
Thousands of people gathered in the square to protest against the planned airport expansion.
數千人聚集在廣場上，抗議機場擴建計畫。
protest against [plan/policy]
The students protested peacefully outside the university gates, holding banners in the rain.
學生們在大學門口和平抗議，雨中舉著布條。
protest + peacefully + adverb
Amira joined the march because she wanted to protest the new law affecting her neighborhood.
Amira 加入遊行，因為她想抗議影響她社區的新法規。
When the factory announced the layoffs, workers protested by blocking the main road for three hours.
工廠宣布裁員時，工人們堵住主要道路抗議了三個小時。
- demonstrate
nearly identical in meaning; slightly more neutral in tone
- march
specifies moving through the streets rather than standing still
- rally
focuses on gathering together, often with speeches
文法句型
protest + against + [issue/policy]
protest + about + [issue]
protest + by + [action]
用法筆記
When the object of the protest is named directly (protest the decision), no preposition is needed. When the target is introduced by against, it is slightly more emphatic: 'protest against the war.'
常見錯誤
2. to say something firmly and with force when someone does not believe you or disa
堅稱
強烈地聲明或為自己辯解
to say something firmly and with force when someone does not believe you or disagrees with you, especially to defend yourself or express strong disagreement.
"I never touched the money," Hiro protested, but nobody believed a word he said.
「我沒碰過那筆錢，」Hiro 堅稱，但沒有人相信他說的話。
protest used as a dialogue tag
The defendant protested his innocence throughout the entire trial, even when the evidence looked bad.
被告在整個審判過程中堅稱自己無罪，即使證據對他不利。
protest one's innocence
Jabari protested that he had already finished his part of the project, but his boss gave him more work anyway.
Jabari 堅稱他已經完成了他那部分工作，但主管還是給他加派了任務。
"That is not fair at all!" the little girl protested when her older brother took the last piece of cake.
「這樣一點都不公平！」小女孩在哥哥拿走最後一塊蛋糕時抗議道。
文法句型
protest + that-clause
protest + noun (one's innocence)
protest + direct speech
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (TAKE TO THE STREETS): this sense involves only speech, not public group action. It commonly takes a that-clause (She protested that…) or a direct object phrase like 'protest one's innocence.' The verb can also introduce quoted speech as a dialogue tag.