Old English leof "dear, valued, beloved, pleasant;" also as a noun, "a beloved person, friend," from Proto-Germanic *leubo- (cognates: Old Norse ljutr, Old Frisian liaf, Dutch lief, Old High German liob, German lieb, Gothic liufs "dear, beloved"), from PIE root *leubh- "love" (see love (n.)). As an adverb, "dearly, willingly" from c. 1250. I want and I'd love to are overworked and misused to fill the hole left in the language when I would lief faded in 17c.
实用例句
1. I would as lief kill myself as betray my master.
我宁愿自杀也不会出卖我的主人。来自《权威词典》
2. Frankly, I'd just as lief stay.
坦白地说, 我愿意留下来.来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
3. Level 45 Woodcutting and an axe to help Lumberjack Lief.
