相似英語詞彙辨析130：revenge, avenge
130 revenge, avenge
這兩個詞都表示“復仇”之意，但詞義和使用場合均有所不同。
Revenge大都指爲自己報仇，有時它還帶有報復的意味（to do harm or injury in return for any harm，injury or insult）。例：
The oppressed resolved to revenge themselves upon (on) the oppressors.
被壓迫者決定向壓迫者復仇。
He swore to revenge a wrong done to him.
他發誓要爲他所受到的冤屈而報復。
Avenge大都指替別人復仇；復仇的動機並不是爲了自己，而是爲了正義感（to punish for a wrong done and often for the sake of justice）。例：
Hamlet planned to avenge his father upon the murderer.
哈姆雷特打算懲處兇手以報父仇。
In order to avenge the murder of his father，Hamlet pretended to be insane.
爲了報殺父之仇，哈姆雷特假裝發瘋。
值得注意的是，我們除了要辨清revenge和avenge 的內涵外，還需注意這兩個詞的用法。請記住，我們總是說：
to revenge oneself upon (or on) one's enemy to avenge oneself upon (or on) one's enemy for something 或 to avenge something upon ( or on) one's enemy
請看下面的句子和譯文：
I will avenge my friend.
我要爲我的朋友報仇。（不是：我向我的朋友報仇。）
因此，I will avenge my enemy的句子是錯誤的。
Revenge的名詞與動詞同形； avenge的名詞是vengeance。例：
Blood feuds occur when people from two villages of clans take revenge on (upon) each other.
We bombed their village in revenge for their attack on us.
He swore vengeance on (upon) the invaders.
