revenge, avenge

这两个词都表示“复仇”之意，但词义和使用场合均有所不同。

Revenge大都指为自己报仇，有时它还带有报复的意味（to do harm or injury in return for any harm，injury or insult）。例：

The oppressed resolved to revenge themselves upon (on) the oppressors.

被压迫者决定向压迫者复仇。

He swore to revenge a wrong done to him.

他发誓要为他所受到的冤屈而报复。

Avenge大都指替别人复仇；复仇的动机并不是为了自己，而是为了正义感（to punish for a wrong done and often for the sake of justice）。例：

Hamlet planned to avenge his father upon the murderer.

哈姆雷特打算惩处凶手以报父仇。

In order to avenge the murder of his father，Hamlet pretended to

be insane.

为了报杀父之仇，哈姆雷特假装发疯。

值得注意的是，我们除了要辨清revenge和avenge 的内涵外，还需注意这两个词的用法。请记住，我们总是说：

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

请看下面的句子和译文：

I will avenge my friend.

我要为我的朋友报仇。（不是：我向我的朋友报仇。）

因此，I will avenge my enemy的句子是错误的。

Revenge的名词与动词同形； avenge的名词是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.