說到「賭博」，英文對應的單字是 gamble，但你知道這個字除了作為動詞，也有名詞的用法嗎？今天就一起來認識認識這個字吧！
gamble 作為動詞
首先，gamble 有「賭、賭博、賭錢」的意思，英英字典定義為 to risk money on a card game, horse race, etc.（在紙牌遊戲、賽馬比賽等中冒著輸錢的風險）。例如：
Most people have gambled at some point in their lives.
多數人都曾在一生中某個時刻賭過。
People sometimes gamble at cards or mahjong on Chinese New Year Eve.
人們除夕夜打牌或打麻將時有時候會賭錢。
詞組 gamble...away 則是「把...賭光」的意思。例如：
I can't believe that he gambled away all his savings in just two months.
我不敢相信他短短兩個月內就賭光了他的所有積蓄。
除了實際上的「賭錢、賭博」，gamble 也有「冒險」的意思，英英字典上的定義為 to risk losing something in the hope of being successful（冒著失去某事物的風險、希望能成功）。例如：
He gambled that no one would see him sneaking out.
他賭沒人會看見他偷溜出去。
He gambled on being able to buy the train tickets on the morning of departure.
他賭他能在出發當天早上買到火車票。
Are you sure you want to gamble our company's future on this?
你確定要將公司的未來押在這上面嗎？
gamble 作為名詞
Gamble 也可以作為名詞，表示「賭博、冒險、沒把握的事」，英英字典的定義是 an action that you take when you know there is a risk but when you hope that the result will be a success（知道有風險但希望能成功時所採取的行動）。常見的表達法有像是 take a gamble（賭一把）、a gamble pays off（賭贏、賭成功）。例如：
I had no choice but to take a gamble on this.
我別無選擇，只能冒險賭一把。
After much thinking, he decided to take a last gamble on his next film.
經過一番考慮，他決定為下部片做最後一搏。
Could you tell me the biggest gamble in your life that paid off?
你能告訴我你人生中賭贏的最大一次豪賭嗎？
其他相關詞彙
最後，我們來認識兩個跟 gamble 相關的字詞：gambler 跟 gambling。首先 gambler 是「賭徒」的意思。例如：
He was a real gambler in his youth.
他年少時是個不折不扣的賭徒。
The entrepreneur is more like a risk-taker than a gambler.
那名企業家更是位願意承擔風險的人，而不是賭徒。
至於 gambling 則是指「賭」這個活動，英英字典的定義是：the activity of playing games of chance for money and of betting on horses, etc.（玩碰運氣的賭錢遊戲、賭馬遊戲等的活動）。例如：
It is probably the sense of thrill, excitement, and anticipation that makes gambling so addictive and so difficult to quit.
可能是興奮、刺激和期待的感覺讓賭博如此令人上癮、難以戒掉。