Venture無論寫法或意思和adventure都很相近,兩詞都有danger(危險)和risk(冒險)的含意,此外也有going somewhere和progressing(前進)的意思,所以很多詞典把這兩詞都解作[冒險],然而venture和adventure無論解釋和用法都有分別.
Adventure應解作[歷險],就像參加原始森林的旅程,是完全沒有想象過,或不能想象會遇到的事情；例：
We had quite an adventure when we were on holiday in Europe.We got lost on the Alps（我們在歐洲旅行時遭遇了壹次歷險.我們在阿爾卑斯山上迷途）!
Adventure的意思如上例所述的,壹定是exciting(刺激)和unusual(不尋常)的,有時甚至會是[明知山有虎,偏向虎山行]式的冒險.相反,venture是經過深思熟慮才進行的,雖然未必能預測每壹步,可是絕不像adventure般單憑膽色和熱誠去盲闖.Venture這詞常用於商業活動,如business venture指開拓新的業務範圍；例：
"I heard you were involved in some sort of business venture in the Philippines."
"Yes,we opened a small recording studio in Manila.It turned out to be a winner-- far better than we expected."
([聽說妳在菲律賓開展了新的生意.][是的,我們在馬尼拉開了壹間小型錄音室,生意極佳,遠遠超出我們的預期.]
Business venture指的可以是新的市場或行業,只要是從未接觸過的都算是新的業務,而在新業務裏所需要的正是a spirit of adventure (冒險精神).