兩個單詞均有身體或精神上的“折磨”的含義。相比之下， torment主要是指長期和反復的精神上的痛苦或煩惱（Torment suggests mental suffering. It hints at repeated or continuous instances of attacks[1])，如 the torments of an alcoholic husband (酗酒丈夫造成的長期的精神折磨）。而torture則指為懲罰、逼供或獲得施虐快感而對他人身體或精神造成的痛苦（the infliction of intense pain to the body or mind to punish，to extract a confession or information, or to obtain sadistic pleasure[2])，且主要強調的是實施或導致折磨或痛苦的人或事(Torture puts great stress upon the agent which causes or inflicts it[3])，如 The Madman indulged in the torture of his victims before he killed them (該精神變態(tài)者喜歡在殺害受害人之前對他們進行折磨).

[1] Cf. The Editors of the Reader's Digest, Use the Right Word, at p. 373，The Reader's Digest (1971 ).

[2] Cf. Bryan A. Gamer, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition, at p. 1498, West Group (1999).

[3] Cf. The Editors of the Reader's Digest, Use the Right Word, at p. 373，The Reader's Digest (1971).

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