说到“赌博”，英文对应的单字是 gamble，但你知道这个字除了作为动词，也有名词的用法吗？今天就一起来认识认识这个字吧！
gamble 作为动词
首先，gamble 有“赌、赌博、赌钱”的意思，英英字典定义为 to risk money on a card game, horse race, etc.（在纸牌游戏、赛马比赛等中冒着输钱的风险）。例如：
Most people have gambled at some point in their lives.
多数人都曾在一生中某个时刻赌过。
People sometimes gamble at cards or mahjong on Chinese New Year Eve.
人们除夕夜打牌或打麻将时有时候会赌钱。
词组 gamble...away 则是“把...赌光”的意思。例如：
I can't believe that he gambled away all his savings in just two months.
我不敢相信他短短两个月内就赌光了他的所有积蓄。
除了实际上的“赌钱、赌博”，gamble 也有“冒险”的意思，英英字典上的定义为 to risk losing something in the hope of being successful（冒着失去某事物的风险、希望能成功）。例如：
He gambled that no one would see him sneaking out.
他赌没人会看见他偷溜出去。
He gambled on being able to buy the train tickets on the morning of departure.
他赌他能在出发当天早上买到火车票。
Are you sure you want to gamble our company's future on this?
你确定要将公司的未来押在这上面吗？
gamble 作为名词
Gamble 也可以作为名词，表示“赌博、冒险、没把握的事”，英英字典的定义是 an action that you take when you know there is a risk but when you hope that the result will be a success（知道有风险但希望能成功时所采取的行动）。常见的表达法有像是 take a gamble（赌一把）、a gamble pays off（赌赢、赌成功）。例如：
I had no choice but to take a gamble on this.
我别无选择，只能冒险赌一把。
After much thinking, he decided to take a last gamble on his next film.
经过一番考虑，他决定为下部片做最后一搏。
Could you tell me the biggest gamble in your life that paid off?
你能告诉我你人生中赌赢的最大一次豪赌吗？
其他相关词汇
最后，我们来认识两个跟 gamble 相关的字词：gambler 跟 gambling。首先 gambler 是“赌徒”的意思。例如：
He was a real gambler in his youth.
他年少时是个不折不扣的赌徒。
The entrepreneur is more like a risk-taker than a gambler.
那名企业家更是位愿意承担风险的人，而不是赌徒。
至于 gambling 则是指“赌”这个活动，英英字典的定义是：the activity of playing games of chance for money and of betting on horses, etc.（玩碰运气的赌钱游戏、赌马游戏等的活动）。例如：
It is probably the sense of thrill, excitement, and anticipation that makes gambling so addictive and so difficult to quit.
可能是兴奋、刺激和期待的感觉让赌博如此令人上瘾、难以戒掉。