“奴役”常见的英文表达是 enslave,它既可以作动词,表示“使成为奴隶;奴役;束缚”,也可以有比喻义,指在精神、思想等方面对某人进行控制或束缚。例如:
They were enslaved by the cruel ruler.(他们被残暴的统治者奴役。)
Don't let the fear of failure enslave your mind.(不要让对失败的恐惧束缚你的思想。)
此外,还有一些短语或词汇也能表达类似含义:
reduce sb. to slavery:把某人变为奴隶;使某人沦为奴隶 。例如:The war reduced many innocent people to slavery.(这场战争使许多无辜的人沦为奴隶。)
bondage:名词,意为“束缚;奴役;羁绊” ,侧重于指被束缚、限制的状态。例如:They longed to break free from the bondage of poverty.(他们渴望摆脱贫困的束缚。)
servitude:名词,意思是“奴役;苦役;服役” ,常强调因某种义务或情况而处于类似奴隶的状态。例如:He spent years in servitude to pay off his debts.(他为了偿还债务,做了多年苦役。)