about
about — 介系詞
1. used to show what a book, talk, idea, or feeling has as its subject — the thing
關於
說明書、談話、想法的主題
used to show what a book, talk, idea, or feeling has as its subject — the thing it deals with or is linked to.
Una wrote a long letter about her summer in Kyoto.
Una 寫了一封很長的信，關於她在京都的暑假。
about + noun naming the topic
Lior and his sister argued about who should wash the dishes.
Lior 和他妹妹為了誰該洗碗的事吵架。
about + wh-clause for the disputed point
The new book is about a young pilot who flies mail across the desert.
這本新書是關於一位年輕飛行員開飛機橫越沙漠送信的故事。
Dr. Noa gave a short talk about how bees find their way home.
田中博士簡短講了一段關於蜜蜂如何找路回家的內容。
Emma feels guilty about lying to her grandmother last weekend.
Emma 對於上週末對奶奶說謊感到內疚。
- regarding
more formal; common in business letters and reports.
- concerning
formal; preferred in legal or official writing.
- on
used with talks, books, articles; a book on history sounds more academic than a book about history.
文法句型
about + noun
about + wh-clause
about + -ing
用法筆記
Subject of this sense is usually a thing that carries content — a book, film, story, talk, question, complaint, joke — or a feeling that is directed at something. Distinguish from sense 2 (taking action) and sense 4 (physical position).
常見錯誤
2. used after verbs like do, see, or know to point to a problem that someone needs
處理；解決
針對某個問題採取行動
used after verbs like do, see, or know to point to a problem that someone needs to deal with or fix.
The mayor promised to do something about the broken streetlights on Fifth Avenue.
市長承諾會處理第五大道路燈壞掉的問題。
do something + about + problem
Hana has no idea what to do about the leak under the kitchen sink.
Hana 完全不知道該怎麼處理廚房水槽下的漏水。
what to do + about + noun
We need to see about the rats in the basement before they spread.
我們得在地下室的老鼠擴散之前想辦法解決。
Nobody seems to care about how loud the construction is at night.
好像沒人在乎晚上施工的聲音那麼吵。
What are you going to do about your missing passport, Ilya?
Ilya，你打算怎麼處理你那本不見的護照？
- regarding
more neutral; loses the 'fix the problem' nuance.
文法句型
do something + about + noun
what + to + do + about
用法筆記
Object after about is almost always a problem, complaint, or unwanted situation — never a neutral fact. Distinguish from sense 1: in sense 1 you can talk about anything; here you must act on something that has gone wrong.
常見錯誤
3. spread across various spots within one location with no fixed pattern — typical
散落各處
東西散落在地方各角落
spread across various spots within one location with no fixed pattern — typical when toys, papers, or clothes are left lying in different corners.
Toys were scattered about the living room after the twins finished playing.
雙胞胎玩完後，玩具散落在客廳的各個角落。
passive: be scattered about + place
Old letters lay about the attic in dusty piles.
舊信件成堆地散落在閣樓裡，沾滿灰塵。
Mira left her shoes about the hallway again, blocking the front door.
Mira 又把鞋子隨意丟在走廊各處，把大門都擋住了。
Books and magazines were spread about the table after the long meeting.
漫長的會議結束後，書本和雜誌散亂地擺在桌子各處。
- around
preferred in American English with the same meaning.
- throughout
more formal; suggests fuller coverage of every part.
文法句型
scatter/lie/leave + objects + about + place
用法筆記
More common in British English; American writers usually pick around in the same context. Subject is usually a plural noun (toys, papers, shoes) — single-object versions sound odd. Distinguish from sense 4 (one location, near a place) by the messy, multi-spot feel here.
常見錯誤
4. in a particular area or close to a person — for example, the streets near a town
在……附近
在某地或某人身邊一帶
in a particular area or close to a person — for example, the streets near a town centre or the things a traveller carries on their body.
There are several good cafes about the old market square.
舊市集廣場附近有好幾家不錯的咖啡店。
about + named place for nearby area
Lior always keeps a small knife about his person when hiking alone.
Lior 一個人健行時總是隨身帶著一把小刀。
fixed phrase: about + one's person
Tall stone walls stood about the castle, hiding the gardens inside.
高聳的石牆環繞在城堡四周，把裡面的花園都遮住了。
Una lives somewhere about the train station, but I forget the exact street.
Una 住在火車站附近，可是我忘記是哪一條街了。
文法句型
verb of position/movement + about + place/person
用法筆記
Stronger in British English; Americans usually say around or near. The fixed phrase 'about one's person' is used in police and travel contexts to mean carried on someone's body. Distinguish from sense 3: this sense names ONE general area; sense 3 spreads things across many spots.
常見錯誤
about — 副詞
1. near to a number, time, or amount, but not exactly that figure — used when the s
大約；約莫
用於數量、時間的概略估計
near to a number, time, or amount, but not exactly that figure — used when the speaker is giving a fair guess.
The walk to the lighthouse takes about twenty minutes from the car park.
從停車場走到燈塔大約要二十分鐘。
about + duration
There were about fifty children at Ilya's birthday party last Saturday.
上週六 Ilya 的生日派對來了大約五十個小孩。
about + count + plural noun
The old farmhouse is about a hundred years old, maybe a bit more.
那座老農舍大約有一百年的歷史，可能還更久一點。
Hana arrives at the office about eight every morning.
Hana 每天大約八點到辦公室。
The recipe needs about two cups of flour and a pinch of salt.
這份食譜大約需要兩杯麵粉和一小撮鹽。
- around
almost interchangeable; slightly more common in American English.
- roughly
more formal; common in reports and presentations.
- approximately
formal; preferred in academic and technical writing.
- exactly
marks a precise figure, not an estimate.
文法句型
about + number/amount
about + time
用法筆記
Sits directly in front of the number, time, or amount. Common spoken alternatives are around (slightly more American) and roughly (more formal). Distinguish from sense 2 (almost) by the meaning: this sense allows the figure to be a little higher OR lower; sense 2 is only just short of the target.
常見錯誤
2. very nearly at a state or finishing point, but not quite there yet — for example
差不多；快要
幾乎達到某狀態，但還沒完全
very nearly at a state or finishing point, but not quite there yet — for example, when someone is one step away from being ready or done.
Dinner is about ready, so please call the children to the table.
晚餐差不多好了，請叫小孩們來餐桌。
about + ready/finished/done for nearly-completed states
Lior was about finished with his homework when the lights went out.
Lior 功課快寫完的時候，燈突然全部熄了。
The old radio is about as loud as it can go without breaking.
這台老收音機的音量差不多已經開到最大，再大會壞掉。
I've had about enough of your jokes for one evening, thank you.
你的玩笑我今晚差不多受夠了，謝了。
The kitchen floor is about dry now, so the children can come back inside.
廚房地板差不多乾了，小孩可以回到屋裡了。
文法句型
about + adjective
about + ready/finished/done
用法筆記
Often pairs with ready, finished, done, enough, right, time. More casual than almost; written texts usually pick almost or nearly. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense modifies an adjective or state of completion, not a number.
常見錯誤
3. moving toward many points without one fixed path — for example, glancing left an
四處；到處
朝多個方向移動或張望
moving toward many points without one fixed path — for example, glancing left and right, or wandering through different streets.
Ilya looked about nervously, hoping to spot a familiar face in the crowd.
Ilya 緊張地四處張望，希望能在人群中看到一張熟面孔。
look + about for scanning a place
The lost puppy ran about, sniffing every corner of the park.
走失的小狗在公園裡四處跑，每個角落都聞個不停。
Tourists wandered about, taking photos of the colourful market stalls.
遊客四處走動，拍下色彩繽紛的市集攤位。
Hana turned about and walked back the way he had come.
Hana 轉過身，沿著原路往回走。
- around
preferred in American English with the same direction-shifting meaning.
文法句型
verb of motion + about
look + about
用法筆記
More common in British English; American speakers use around in the same slot. Distinguish from sense 4 (no order): this sense focuses on the act of moving in many directions; sense 4 focuses on objects placed at scattered spots.
常見錯誤
4. in many spots across a single area, usually after things have been dropped, left
散亂；凌亂
東西凌亂地散落在一處
in many spots across a single area, usually after things have been dropped, left, or arranged in no clear pattern.
Toys lay about, and the twins refused to put any of them away.
玩具散亂在地上，雙胞胎卻不肯收拾。
lie about with no following place noun
Lior left his books about and could not find them the next morning.
Lior 把書本亂丟，隔天早上根本找不到。
leave + objects + about for messy spreading
Pieces of broken glass were scattered about after the small earthquake.
小地震過後，碎玻璃散落了一地。
Old photographs lay about on the kitchen table and chairs.
舊照片散亂地擺在廚房桌子和椅子上。
- around
more common in American English for scattered objects.
- all over the place
informal; stronger emphasis on disorder.
文法句型
scatter/lie/leave + about (no object)
用法筆記
Almost always paired with verbs like lie, leave, scatter, strew, kick. Differs from sense 3 in that the subject is usually still (the toys are not moving) — the scattering shows the result of past movement. Used with no object after about: 'toys lay about', not 'toys lay about the toys'.
常見錯誤
5. in the area where the speaker is, or close enough to be reached easily — typical
在附近
人就在說話者附近的範圍內
in the area where the speaker is, or close enough to be reached easily — typical when checking who is around right now.
Is the manager about? I need to ask her a quick question before lunch.
經理在嗎？我午餐前想快速問她一個問題。
be + about for asking if someone is nearby
There were not many tourists about that early in the morning.
那天一大早，附近的觀光客並不多。
Lior waited about for almost an hour, hoping his friend would arrive.
Lior 在附近等了將近一個小時，希望朋友會出現。
Police officers were about in every corner of the train station last night.
昨晚火車站每個角落都有警察在巡邏。
- away
marks the opposite — not in the area.
文法句型
be + about (no object)
wait/hang + about
用法筆記
Common in British English in questions and short statements like 'Is anyone about?'. Distinguish from sense 4: this sense locates a person in the speaker's nearby area; sense 4 describes scattered objects with no movement.
常見錯誤
about — 形容詞
1. ready to start an action in the next few seconds or minutes — for example, when
即將；正要
下一刻就要做某事
ready to start an action in the next few seconds or minutes — for example, when a train is one moment away from leaving, or a person has the door half-open before going out.
The train was about to leave when Una jumped through the closing doors.
火車正要開走時，Una 從正在關上的門跳了進去。
be + about + to-infinitive for an imminent action
Hana was just about to call you when your message arrived.
Hana 正要打電話給你，你的訊息就到了。
just + about + to + verb intensifies the closeness
The tired baby is about to fall asleep on her father's shoulder.
疲憊的小寶寶就快在爸爸的肩膀上睡著了。
Lior was about to sign the contract when his lawyer phoned with a warning.
Lior 正要簽合約時，他的律師打電話來警告他。
I'm not about to share my secret recipe with anyone, even my own sister.
我才不打算把祕密食譜分享給任何人，連我親妹妹也不行。
- on the verge of
more formal; followed by a noun or -ing form, not a to-infinitive.
- ready to
broader; can mean willing, not just imminent.
文法句型
be + about + to-infinitive
be + (just) + about + to + verb
用法筆記
Always followed by to + base verb, never by an -ing form. The negative 'not about to + verb' has a special meaning: a firm refusal, not just timing. Common time markers nearby: just, almost, finally.