“relinquish”的含义是“放弃**”，但它和中文同样译成”放弃“的另一个单词”forsake“有何不同？今天我就帮您分析一下这两个单词。
先看一下字典中对“relinquish“的解释：
Collins：
1. If you relinquish something such as power or control, you give it up.
Cambridge：
1. to give up something such as a responsibility or claim:
2. to unwillingly stop holding or keeping something
relinquish—“放弃（权力）”的正式说法
例句：
1. He does not intend to relinquish power. 他不打算放弃权力。
2. Eteocles refused to relinquish his throne. 厄忒俄克勒斯拒绝放弃王位。
“relinquish”作“放弃”讲时，主要意思为“（正式地）放弃权力或对某些事物的控制权”，这种“放弃”往往会带着淡淡不情愿的感觉（试想谁会轻易放弃权力呢）。
下面看一看“forsake”：
Collins：
1. If you forsake someone, you leave them when you should have stayed, or you stop helping them or looking after them.
2. If you forsake something, you stop doing it, using it, or having it.
Cambridge：
1. to leave someone for ever, especially when they need you
2. to stop doing or having something
forsake—“放弃（抛弃）爱人”
例句：
1. I still love him and I would never forsake him. 我仍然爱他，我永远不会离弃他。
2. He doubted their claim to have forsaken military solutions to the civil war. 他对他们声称已经放弃以军事手段解决内战的说法有怀疑。
“forsake”最主要的用法就是“放弃某人”，特别是在他/她需要你的时候，所以这个词有淡淡的“抛弃”含义。次要意思是“停止做某事，放弃某物”。
relinquish—give up的高级说法
下次在说到“放弃”的英文时，您又有了两个可以替代“give up”的新单词可以选择。但在使用这两个新词时，请注意它们在意思上的细微差别。
您学会了吗？