1. chance: a situation in which it is possible for you to do something enjoyable, useful, or exciting, or something that you want to do

例：

chance to do something

I never got the chance to thank him for all his help.（他帮了我这么多，我始终找不到机会谢谢他。）

It's a beautiful building - you should go and see it if you have a chance.（那建筑物很漂亮，有机会你一定要去看看。）

give somebody a/the chance to do something

I wish he'd just give me the chance to explain.（我只希望他给我个解释的机会。）

take the chance to do something (=use a chance when you have it)

You should take the chance to travel while you are still young.（你该趁着年轻抓紧时间去旅行。）

chance for somebody to do something

"Back to School Night" will be a chance for parents to meet their child's teacher.（家长可以在“返校夜”见到孩子们的任课老师。）

somebody's last chance (=when you will not have another chance)

It was her last chance to see him before she left town.（这是她离开前，最后一次见他的机会了。）

2. opportunity: a chance to do something, especially something that is important or useful to you, or something that you want to do very much

例：

opportunity to do something

All he needs is an opportunity to show his ability.（他需要的是展示自己的机会。）

opportunity of doing something

After they had refused him the opportunity of improving his position, he resigned.（他没得到提升，就辞职了。）

opportunity for somebody to do something

We see this as an exciting opportunity for our companies to work together.（我们几个公司有机会合作，真叫人兴奋。）

have an/the opportunity (to do something)

She was delighted to have an opportunity to talk with someone who shared her interest in classical music.（有机会和古典乐的同道聊天，她非常高兴。）

equal opportunities (=the same opportunities as other people)

All over the world women are demanding equal opportunities.（全世界的女性都迫切需要公平的竞争机会。）

3. break: a sudden or unexpected chance to do something, especially to be successful in your job

备注：''break''常用于口语中。

例：

Gary wants to work in television. He's just waiting for a break.（盖瑞想当明星，他在等待时机。）

big break

Nimoy's big break in television came in the mid-'60s, when he won the role of Spock on "Star Trek".（60年代中期，伦纳德·尼莫伊的天赐良机来了，他得到了《星际迷航》里斯波克这个角色。）

She's still hoping to get her big break in show business.（她还在苦苦等待成名的良机。）

4. golden opportunity:

例：

I got a grant from my university to study in the USA for a year. It's a golden opportunity!（大学派我公费去美国学习一年，这个机会真是太棒了！）

a golden opportunity (for somebody) to do something

The management course is being paid for by the company and it's a golden opportunity to improve your skills.（公司出钱让你去学管理学课程，这可是你提高能力的大好时机。）

5. chance of a lifetime: the chance to do something very exciting or important that you might never be able to do again

例：

This job is the chance of a lifetime. You'd be a fool not to take it.（这个工作机会千载难逢，傻子才不干！）

If you don't hurry up and make a decision, you could miss the chance of a lifetime.（你要是不速速决定，就要错过这个千载难逢的好时机啦！）