voluntary

/ˈvɒləntri/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈvɑːlənteri/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈvä-lən-ˌter-ē/ (ame, mw) · /ˈvɒl.ən.tər.i/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈvɑː.lən.ter.i/ (ame, ipa)

voluntary — 形容詞

  • voluntarypositive
  • more voluntarycomparative
  • most voluntarysuperlative

1. Done because you choose to do it, not because someone forces you or pays you to

1.形容詞B1
釋義

自願的

出於個人意願而非被迫的

Done because you choose to do it, not because someone forces you or pays you to do it.

例句

The school relies on voluntary help from parents to keep the library open.

這所學校依靠家長自願幫忙,才能維持圖書館開放。

collocation: voluntary help / voluntary donation

Ziad made a voluntary choice to leave his job and travel for a year.

Ziad 自願選擇離職,用一年的時間出國旅行。

collocation: voluntary choice / voluntary decision

同義詞
  • optional

    suggests you can choose whether to do something, but does not carry the same sense of personal willingness

  • elective

    refers to choices made among options, especially courses or positions; more formal

  • unpaid

    focuses on receiving no money rather than on the freedom of choice

反義詞
  • compulsory

    required by rule or law; the opposite of voluntary in educational or workplace contexts

  • mandatory

    required by an authority; stronger in tone than compulsory

  • involuntary

    happening without choice, often due to circumstances beyond one's control

文法句型

voluntary + noun

be + voluntary

常見錯誤

The class is voluntary to attend.
Attendance at the class is voluntary.
💡'voluntary' describes the thing itself, not an action you take.

2. Relating to an organisation whose members work without pay and donate resources

2.形容詞B2
釋義

志願的

由不支薪的志願者經營、以助人為目的的

Relating to an organisation whose members work without pay and donate resources to support a social or charitable purpose.

例句

The community centre is a voluntary organisation run entirely by local residents.

這間社區中心是由當地居民完全以志願方式經營的組織。

collocation: voluntary organisation / voluntary group

Apinya donated her old winter clothes to a voluntary group that supports refugees.

Apinya 把她冬天的舊衣服捐給一個幫助難民的志願團體。

同義詞
  • charitable

    more specific — describes an organisation whose main purpose is to help people in need

  • non-profit

    focuses on the legal structure; does not necessarily imply volunteers run it

  • amateur

    emphasises that people are not paid, but can imply a lower skill level

反義詞
  • commercial

    run for profit rather than for social benefit

  • paid

    describes work for which people receive wages

文法句型

voluntary + noun

用法筆記

In British English, 'the voluntary sector' is a standard term for charities and non-profit organisations, used alongside 'the public sector' (government) and 'the private sector' (business).

常見錯誤

She works for a voluntary company.
She works for a voluntary organisation.
💡'voluntary' describes charities and non-profit groups, not commercial businesses.

voluntary — 名詞