kidnap
- v. 绑架, 诱拐
- Definition
- v. to illegally take a person away by force, often for ransom
- Example
- The movie is about criminals who kidnap a wealthy businessman.
- 这部电影讲的是一群罪犯绑架一位富商的故事。
Synonyms & Differences 近义词辨析
Compared meaning: to take someone away illegally by force (verb).
比较义项：非法强行带走某人（绑架）（动词）。
- kidnap 本词
Kidnap is the everyday word for seizing someone by force, and it strongly suggests holding the victim captive to demand a ransom or some other payoff.
kidnap 是最常用的日常说法，指用暴力强行带走某人，并强烈暗示扣押人质是为了勒索赎金或其他好处。
The gang planned to kidnap the businessman's daughter and demand a huge ransom.
这伙人计划绑架商人的女儿，勒索巨额赎金。
- abduct
Abduct is a more formal, often legal or journalistic term for taking someone away illegally, and it also covers using trickery, not only force.
abduct 是较为正式的说法，常见于法律或新闻语境，指非法带走某人，除了暴力之外还包括使用哄骗手段。
A man was arrested for trying to abduct a child using a fake police badge.
一名男子因试图用假警徽拐走一名儿童而被捕。
Kidnap and abduct both mean to seize someone illegally, close in meaning. Kidnap is the everyday word, strongly suggesting holding the victim to demand a ransom. Abduct is more formal, common in news or legal language, and also covers using trickery, not only force.
这两个词都表示绑架、非法强行带走某人，含义相近，但 kidnap 更强调为了勒索赎金而扣押人质，是日常最常用的说法；abduct 语气更正式，常见于新闻或法律语境，且强调可能使用哄骗手段，不一定涉及赎金。