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.