虽然英文不像我们伟大的中文一般博大精深，但却也有其微妙之处。有时候看似相同的词，就因为多一个或少一个字母而意义相差万里。下面就是一个例子：“Sanction” 是英语中一个常用的字，既可用作动词，也可用作名词，名词中又分可数 (countable)和不可数的 (uncountable)。 “Sanction”一字的单数名词和动词，都意为“批准，认可，准许”。 比如，作为单数不可数的名词： “Official sanction has not yet been given.”（尚未获得正式批准。） “The book was translated without the sanction of the author.”（这本书未经作者许可就给翻译了。） “These measures have the sanction of tradition. i.e, seem justified because they have often been taken before.”（这些措施已约定俗成。） 作为动词：“I cannot sanction your methods.”（我不能同意你的做法。） “Who sanctioned the bombing of the town?”（是谁批准轰炸那座城市的？） r> “Sanction”用作名词多数时，意思正相反，即“制裁”。 比如：“Apply, impose or lift sanctions against a country.”（实施或解除对一国的“制裁”。） “Sanctions” are measures taken by countries to restrict or prohibit trade and official contact with a country that has broken international law. “The UN would try to impose very serious economic sanctions against the offending nation.”（联合国将设法对违法的国家实施严历的制裁。） “批准，认可”与“制裁，禁止”完全是两个相反的涵义和概念。“Sanction”作为可数名词和不可数名词时，涵义即发生变化。可数的“sanction”=reason that stops people disobeying laws, rules, etc.（使人们不违背法律、规定等的因素或约束力。）如： “Is prison the best sanction against a crime like this?”（为遏止这类罪行，监禁手段是否是上策？） 又如，“The fear of ridicule is a very effective sanction.”（人们不做违法乱纪的事，其中一个重要因素就是怕人耻笑。） 从以上的含义，sanction 用作名词多数时，就演变成“制裁”或“惩罚”的意思： “sanctions against a country.”（对一个国家的制裁。） 因此，在使用“sanction”一词时，必须十分谨慎，以避免错误的理解和翻译。切记切记！
制裁 [词典] sanction; punish;短语：经济制裁 economic sanctions; 实行制裁 apply sanctions;impose sanctions; 受到法律制裁 be punishedaccording to law; 给以严厉制裁 mete out severepunishment to sb. 例句：International sanctions were beginning to take effect.国际制裁开始起作用了。We must bring a criminal to justice, tryhim and punish him. 我们必须使犯人受审并受法律制裁。
约丶书丶亚
