摘要：“Pawn”一词源自中古英语“poun”，意为“以物作抵押”，这个词又来自古法语“pan”，意为“抵押品”。在国际象棋中，pawn代表最底层的棋子，其移动和捕获规则与其他棋子不同，常被比喻为被操纵的小角色。
pawn
英 [pɔːn] 美 [pɔːn]
n. 典当；抵押物；人质；(国际象棋中)卒 vt. 典当；以 ... 为担保
“Pawn”一词源自中古英语“poun”，意为“以物作抵押”，这个词又来自古法语“pan”，意为“抵押品”。在国际象棋中，pawn代表最底层的棋子，其移动和捕获规则与其他棋子不同，常被比喻为被操纵的小角色。
◉外刊例句
① 《金融时报》, 2023-11-10
The city became a pawn in the political negotiations between the two COUNTries.
这座城市成为了两国政治谈判中的棋子。
② 《国家地理》, 2024-01-15
In the game of politics, many feel they are just pawns being moved by powerful interests.
在政治游戏中，许多人觉得自己只是被强大的利益集团操纵的棋子。
◉经典名著
① 《悲惨世界》（Les Misérables）, 维克多·雨果, 1862
The poor villagers were pawns in the larger game of poverty and oppression.
贫困的村民是贫困和压迫这盘大棋中的棋子。
② 《傲慢与偏见》（Pride and Prejudice）, 简·奥斯汀, 1813
In the marriage market, women were often treated as pawns by their families.
在婚姻市场上，女性经常被家人当作棋子对待。
◉Usage Examples
(1) He tried by every means to redeem the pawn.
(2) He had nothing left that he could pawn.
(3) To make matters worse, Tien is used as a pawn in the battle.
(4) This was sacrificing a pawn to save a rook.
(5) When promoting a pawn, the player must announce which piece is chosen.
(6) He tried by every means to redeem the pawn.
(1) 他千方百计要赎回典当物。
(2) 他再也没有什么可以典当的东西了。
(3) 更糟糕的是，天津饭也被抓来当作了人质。
(4) 这是丢卒保车。
(5) 当卒走到对方阵营，棋手必须宣告下一步走哪个棋。
(6) 他千方百计要赎回典当物。
1. [VERB]典当；抵押 If you pawn something that you own, you leave it with a pawnbroker, who gives you money for it and who can sell it if you do not pay back the money before a certain time. [V n]
He is contemplating pawning his watch.
他正在考虑抵押他的手表。
2. [N-COUNT 可数名词]（国际象棋中的）兵，卒 In chess, a pawn is the smallest and least valuable playing piece. Each player has eight pawns at the start of the game
3. [N-COUNT 可数名词]马前卒；走卒；爪牙 If you say that someone is using you as a pawn, you mean that they are using you for their own advantage. [usu with supp]
It looks as though he is being used as a political pawn by the President...
看起来他似乎被总统当作了政治卒子。
They are the pawns in the power game played by their unseen captors.
他们是那些看不见的俘获者手中的权力斗争工具。
来源：学无用的英语