unhappily

/ʌnˈhæpɪli/ (bre, ipa) · /ʌnˈhæpɪli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌən-ˈha-pə-lē/ (ame, mw)

unhappily — adverb

1. while experiencing sadness, low spirits, or disappointment — for example, sighin

1.副詞B1
釋義

while experiencing sadness, low spirits, or disappointment — for example, sighing unhappily after hearing bad news, or staring unhappily out of a window on a rainy day.

例句

Maeve shook her head unhappily when her favourite cafe was closed.

verb of gesture + unhappily

Constanza stared unhappily at the rain-streaked window during the long bus ride.

stare unhappily at [something]

同義詞
  • sadly

    more common and general; covers both mild and deep sadness

  • miserably

    stronger emotional weight; suggests suffering or great discomfort

  • dejectedly

    emphasises low spirits and loss of hope; slightly more formal

  • sorrowfully

    more literary; suggests grief or mourning rather than everyday disappointment

反義詞
  • happily

    direct opposite; shows joy or contentment

  • cheerfully

    emphasises a bright, positive mood during the action

文法句型

unhappily + verb (post-verbal position)

verb + unhappily

用法筆記

Frequently modifies verbs of gesture, expression, or movement (e.g. shake one's head, stare, sigh, walk) to describe the emotional state accompanying the action. In this sense, unhappily typically follows the verb rather than preceding it.

常見錯誤

❌Unhappily she left the party early.
✅She left the party early, looking unhappy.
💡Without a comma, 'unhappily' at the start of a sentence is read as the sentence adverb meaning 'unfortunately' (sense 2), not as a manner adverb describing how she left.

2. marking a statement as unwelcome or disappointing news that the speaker regrets

2.副詞B1
釋義

marking a statement as unwelcome or disappointing news that the speaker regrets having to share, typically placed at the start of the clause.

例句

Unhappily, the school trip was cancelled due to the heavy snowfall.

sentence adverb: Unhappily, [full clause]

The concert tickets were sold out within minutes, unhappily for those who had queued all morning.

pattern: unhappily for [person/group]

同義詞
  • unfortunately

    more common and neutral; the standard choice in most contexts

  • regrettably

    slightly more formal; often used in official or written statements

  • sadly

    works for both senses; less formal than 'regrettably', more emotional than 'unfortunately'

反義詞
  • fortunately

    direct opposite; introduces a positive or lucky situation

  • luckily

    more informal than 'fortunately'; suggests chance played a role

文法句型

Unhappily, [clause]

[clause], unhappily

Unhappily for [person], [clause]

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 by position: sense 2 appears at the start of a clause (set off by a comma), parenthetically mid-clause, or after the clause, and comments on the whole situation rather than describing the manner of an action. Sense 1 follows the verb it modifies.

常見錯誤

❌Unhappily, the boy walked home.' (intended to mean 'unfortunately')
✅Unhappily, the boy had to walk home because his bus never came.
💡Sense 2 requires a full situation that is regrettable, not merely a manner-of-movement description.
❌Unhappily she lost her job.' (missing comma)
✅Unhappily, she lost her job.
💡The comma after 'unhappily' signals to the reader that this is the sentence adverb sense, not a manner adverb.