private

Definitions

From Latin privatus, the past participle of privare ('to set apart'), built on privus ('one's own'). A privatus was a citizen 'set apart' from public office — living as a private individual. That 'not-public, belonging to oneself' core runs through every sense, including the army rank: a 'private' holds no public command, the most ordinary soldier.

Why It Means This

The thread tying together private property, a private conversation, a private person, and an army private is the same Latin idea: set apart from the public. Property set apart from the state is private; a talk set apart from other ears is private; a person who keeps their inner life set apart is private; and a soldier set apart from any public office is a private.

Common Collocations

• 1.private property私有财产
• 2.private school私立学校
• 3.private sector私营部门
• 4.in private私下里
• 5.private life私生活

Example Sentences

• 1.

  This is a private matter, and I'd rather not discuss it here.

• 2.

  They sent their children to a private school in the city.

• 3.

  He's a very private person who rarely talks about his family.

• 4.

  The new recruit was still just a private when the war ended.

Easily Confused

private vs personal — Both translate as 私人的, but private contrasts with public (private property, private school), while personal contrasts with general/professional and means "about you as an individual" (personal opinion, personal belongings). A private email is one others can't access; a personal email is about your own life.