辨别：personal, private 和 individual

这一组词都可译作“个人的”。

1. personal 意为“个人的，私人的，亲自的”，着重强调属于或涉及本人，而非他人所能代表或代替的

   事物。例如：

   According to etiquette in western countries, it's good manners to avoid making personal

   remarks. 按照西方礼仪，避免发表涉及个人的评论是礼貌的。

   I have something personal to discuss with you because it's related to either my own or

   your intimate interests. 我有点私事和你商量，因为它有关你我的切身利益。

   What is special about the meeting is that the prime minister will make a personal

   appearance. 此次会议与众不同之处在于首相亲自出席。

   Susan wondered if she could ask Anna a personal question such as the marital status.

   苏珊在想她能否问安娜一个诸如婚姻状况一类的私人问题。

2. private 意为“个人的，私有的”，表示与公共的或公有的相反，也含有明确的隐私，不愿或不应公

   之于众的意思。例如：

   He has asked the secretary of the state to apply to the president for a private interview.

   他已要国务卿向总统提出申请，要求秘密会见。

   In the United States, the rich tend to send their children to private schools regardless

   of their expensive tuition. 在美国富人们愿意让孩子上私立学校，不论其费用有多昂贵。

   This file is highly confidential because it contains all the private information

   concerning the election. 这份文件高度机密，因为它包含了与选举有关的所有个人材料。

3. individual 意为“个体的，个人的”，区别于集体，整体或普通，明确指某类单一的，个别的人物，

   常用作定语。例如：

   She was determined to do good, not to any individual person but to a country.

   他决心为国家而不是为任何个人做好事。

   Some people claim that the individual rights are more important than the public interests

   as a whole. 有些人声称个人利益比公众利益更重要。

   What I admire most is that my sister has an individual style of arranging her hair.

   我最羡慕姐姐的是她梳的发型很有个性。