earnings、allowance、income、salary、wage、pay与fee 这些名词都可表示“工资、收入”之意。
earnings : 多指通过劳动或投资等手段所得到的收入。
- a rise in average earnings
平均收入的增加 - compensation for loss of earnings caused by the accident
由于事故造成收入损失的赔偿
allowance : 指收入中的补贴部分。
- an allowance of $20 a day
每天20元补贴 - a clothing/living/travel allowance
服装 / 生活 / 交通补贴 - Do you get an allowance for clothing?
你有服装补贴吗？
income 与 earnings 含义很相近，但前者强调总收入。
- Average incomes have risen by 4.5 percent over the past year.
人均收入比去年上涨了4.5%。 - More help is needed for people on low incomes.
低收入人群需要更多的帮助。 - I haven't had much income from my stocks and shares this year.
今年我在股票上没有多少收益。
salary : 指按年定下，按月或星期平均给予的报酬，指脑力劳动者的薪水。
- an annual salary of £40,000
40000英镑的年薪 - His net monthly salary is €2,500.
他的净月薪为2500欧元。 - She's on quite a good/decent salary in her present job.
她目前的工作薪水相当丰厚。 - He took a drop in (= accepted a lower) salary when he changed jobs.
换工作时，他接受了较低的薪水。 - a ten percent salary increase
加薪10％
wage : 多用复数形式，指按小时、日或星期的报酬，通常指体力劳动者的工资。
- a very low/high wage
非常低／高的工资 - an hourly/daily/weekly/annual wage
按小时／日／周／年支付的工资 - He gets/earns/is paid a good wage, because he works for a fair employer.
他的薪水很不错，因为他的老板奖惩公平。 - The job pays very low wages.
这份工作薪水很低。
pay : 是个通用词，可取代 salary 与 wage 。
- It's a nice job but the pay is appalling.
这份工作不错，但工资低得不像话。 - Her job is hard work, but the pay is good.
她工作虽辛苦，但薪水不低。 - a pay increase
加薪 - (BrE) a pay rise
加薪 - (NAmE) a pay raise
加薪 - a 3% pay offer
愿出3%的酬劳 - holiday pay
假日薪金
fee : 指提供某种服务收取的固定费用。
- legal fees
诉讼费 - university fees
大学学费 - an entrance/registration fee
门票／注册费 - We couldn't pay the lawyer's fee.
我们付不起律师费。
