charge一词直接源自古法语的chargier,意为“装载”,“负担”,于13世纪初期进入英语;该词最初源自拉丁语的carrus,意为“马车”。charge在语言演化过程中承载着丰富多彩的意义和用法。正因如此,如果未能全面了解它的含义和用法,我们有时会觉得困惑不已。比如,战场上将军发号施令:“Charge!”这里的charge意为“冲锋”,与课本中charge的意思迥异。不过,charge的各种意思间还是有着一定的内在关联。下面本文将一一道来。
一、与“钱”有关的含义
作为名词,charge表示“费用”;作为动词,则表示“收费,索价”。通过以下例句,同学们就可以归纳出它的基本搭配。
1. How much does the barber charge fora hair cut?这个理发师理一次发要多少钱?
2. The local museum doesnt charge for admission.当地博物馆不需要门票。
3. Theres an admission charge of£5.入场费5磅。
4. They fixed my watch free of charge.他们为我免费修了手表。
二、與“责任”有关的含义
中国有句老话,“得人钱财,与人消灾。”收了钱就得替人办事。所以,charge除表示“费用”外,还表示“责任”“管理”“照看”等意。请看例句:
1. Who will be in charge of the department when Sophie leaves?
苏菲走了谁负责这个部门?
2. His boss asked him to take charge of the office for a few days while she was away.
他的老板要他在她不在的几天里替她看管公司。
此处的in charge of和take charge of均表示“管理、照看”。但请注意in/under the charge of的特殊含义:
Mr. Green is in charge of this factory.=This factory is in the charge of Mr. Green.
格林先生负责这家工厂。
3. He was charged with taking care of the monkeys at the zoo.
他负责照顾动物园里的猴子。
三、与“指控”有关的含义
《论语·季氏将伐臾》里说, “陈力就列,不能者止。”意思是说,一个职位,有能力者居之;能力不行,就下来。所以,身负责任而不能尽职,则将受指责、控告。请看例句:
1. The 19-year-old will be appearing incourt on Thursday where she will face criminalcharges.19岁的她周四将出现在法庭上,面临刑事指控。
2. He has been arrested on a charge of murder.他因谋杀罪而被逮捕。
3. The president responded angrily to the charge that she had lost touch with her countrys people.总统对于说她与她的人民失去联系的指控很生气。
4. They charged him with theft and robbery.他们控告他偷窃、抢劫。
四、与“充电”有关的含义
进入电器时代,charge又多了“充电”这一含义。具体请看:
1. It takes several hours for my laptops batteries to charge.
我的笔记本充满电需要几个小时。
2. Alex had forgotten to charge (up) the battery.亚力克斯忘记充电了。
3. Rub the leather and the rubber will produce the charge.
磨擦皮革,磨擦的东西就会产生电荷。
下图向大家呈现了charge各种意思使用频率的分布情况:
五、与“移动”有关的含义
如前文所言,charge的古法语词源chargier来自拉丁语carrus,意为“马车”,charge因此也有向前快速移动的含义,通常译为“向……冲去,冲锋”。
1. The rest of the attack party charged, all shouting loudly.其他进攻队员大叫着冲上去。
2. He charged through the door to the managers office.他破门而入,冲进经理的办公室。
六、charge与price、cost、bill、expense的区别
我们可以从以下例句考查这些词之间的差异:
1. In 1989 the price of coffee fell so low that in many countries it did not even cover the cost of production.1 989年;咖啡的价格跌得非常低,以致于在很多国家,甚至低于成本价。(price意为“价格”,cost则为“成本,费用”)
2. The firm is planning to cut operating expenses by 25% by the end of 2011. 2011年底,公司计划将经营成本降低25%( expense表示“开支、开销”,常用搭配有at the expenseof,意为“以……为代价”,与at the cost of同义)
3. He paid his electricity bill promptly.他立即付了电费单(bill表示水、电、房租、餐饮等的费用或账单)