guarantee 的核心是「承担责任的承诺」——不只是说「可能会」,而是「一定会,否则我负责」。可以是商业保证(product guarantee)、法律担保(guarantee a loan)、或强调某事必然发生(nothing can guarantee success)。所有义项都带「责任背书」的感觉。
释义
1
v.保证,担保(承诺必然发生)
The company guarantees delivery within 48 hours.
公司保证在48小时内送达。
2
n.保证,担保;(产品)保修
The laptop comes with a one-year guarantee against manufacturing defects.
这台笔记本电脑附带一年的制造缺陷保修。
语感
guarantee = 我拿信誉押上去——不是「可能」,是「一定」
保证担保保修确保
guarantee 和 ensure 都能翻译「确保」,区别在于「谁承担责任」。guarantee 是「我承诺并负责」,第一人称承诺的语气;ensure 是「采取措施使某事发生」,强调操作过程,不一定有「我负责」的含义。I guarantee you'll love it(我承诺你会喜欢)vs. The government took steps to ensure public safety(政府采取措施确保公共安全,是操作描述)。另外:no guarantee(不能保证)比 can't ensure 更常用,是高频口语/书面表达。
陷阱
⚠️guarantee + that 从句,不是 guarantee + doing
✗
Hard work guarantees succeeding in life.
(误)努力保证在生活中成功。
guarantee 后接名词或 that 从句,不接动名词
✓
Hard work does not guarantee success in life.
努力并不保证人生的成功。
⚠️guarantee vs. ensure:承担责任 vs. 采取措施
The new policy is designed to ensure equal access to education.