actually
actually — 副詞
1. used to stress that what you are saying is the truth, especially when giving rea
事實上；其實
強調所說內容是真實情況
used to stress that what you are saying is the truth, especially when giving real information about a situation.
Vesna looks young, but she is actually thirty-five years old.
Vesna 看起來很年輕，但她其實已經三十五歲了。
actually + adjective phrase to assert the real fact
The recipe sounds difficult, but it is actually quite simple to follow.
這道食譜聽起來很難，但事實上做起來相當簡單。
actually + adverb phrase to correct an impression
Do you actually know Ravi, or have you only heard about him?
你真的認識 Ravi，還是只是聽過他的名字？
question form: do/did + subject + actually + verb
Linnea said she could fix the bike, and she actually did it in ten minutes.
Linnea 說她可以修好那台腳踏車，她真的十分鐘就修好了。
Nobody believed Yara at first, but her story actually turned out to be true.
一開始沒人相信 Yara，但她說的事後來證明真的是真的。
- actually true
- actually mean
- actually know
- actually happen
- actually work
- supposedly
marks a claim that may not be true
- apparently
marks something that only seems true
文法句型
actually + verb phrase
subject + actually + verb
用法筆記
Often pairs with adjectives (true, simple, easy, hard) and verbs of speech or knowledge (know, mean, say). Distinguish from sense 2: this sense simply asserts truth, while sense 2 signals the truth is unexpected.
常見錯誤
2. used when adding a fact that goes against what the listener probably thinks, to
竟然；居然
標示事實出乎聽者預料
used when adding a fact that goes against what the listener probably thinks, to mark it as unexpected.
I thought the test would be hard, but I actually finished it in twenty minutes.
我以為考試會很難，沒想到我居然二十分鐘就寫完了。
contrastive: expectation clause + but + actually + outcome
The new café looks tiny, but it actually seats forty people inside.
這家新咖啡廳看起來很小，但裡面竟然能坐四十個人。
marks an unexpected positive fact
Most people hate Mondays, but Hiro actually enjoys the start of the week.
大多數人討厭星期一，但 Hiro 居然喜歡一週的開始。
Yara seems quiet, but in team meetings she is actually very direct with her colleagues.
Yara 看起來很安靜，但團隊開會時她對同事其實非常直接。
in front-loaded position to flag the surprise
The film got bad reviews, but Aunt Rosa actually loved every minute of it.
這部電影評價很差，但 Rosa 阿姨居然每分鐘都看得很開心。
- but actually
- actually enjoy
- actually like
- actually quite
- actually pretty
- surprisingly
more direct; openly labels the fact as a surprise
- in reality
formal; stresses contrast with appearance
- as it happens
informal spoken phrase with similar contrast meaning
- predictably
marks an expected outcome instead
文法句型
actually + clause
clause + , actually
用法筆記
Subject of the surprise is often a person whose reaction or behaviour breaks the expected pattern. Frequently follows the connector 'but' or 'though'. Distinguish from sense 1: here the speaker signals contrast with the listener's belief, not just truth.
常見錯誤
3. used at the start or end of a sentence to soften a disagreement, a correction, o
其實；說真的
委婉表達不同意或更正
used at the start or end of a sentence to soften a disagreement, a correction, or a refusal so that it sounds friendlier.
Actually, I would rather stay home tonight, if you don't mind.
其實，如果你不介意的話，我今晚比較想待在家裡。
sentence-initial 'Actually,' softening a refusal
My name is Daniel, actually, not David — please call me Daniel.
我的名字其實是 Daniel，不是 David——請叫我 Daniel。
tag position: clause + , actually for gentle correction
Actually, I think we left the keys on the kitchen table, not in the car.
其實，我覺得我們是把鑰匙留在廚房桌上，不是在車裡。
softens disagreement with another speaker
Thanks for the coffee, but I prefer tea, actually.
謝謝你泡的咖啡，不過說真的，我比較喜歡喝茶。
Actually, the meeting is on Thursday, not Wednesday — sorry for the confusion.
其實，會議是星期四，不是星期三——抱歉造成混淆。
- actually, I think
- actually, I'd rather
- actually, no
- no, actually
- yeah, actually
- in fact
slightly more formal; less of a softener
- to be honest
informal; signals a personal, frank opinion
- well
very informal opener; weaker correction
文法句型
Actually, + clause
clause + , actually
用法筆記
Common in informal speech and emails to take the edge off a contradiction. Often appears with hedging language ('I think', 'I'd rather', 'sorry'). Distinguish from sense 2: this sense softens what the speaker is about to say, while sense 2 flags the listener's belief as wrong.
常見錯誤
同根字
常見搭配
副詞搭配
- actually quite
- actually pretty
- actually very
- actually really
常用片語
- but actually
- actually, I think
- no, actually
- yeah, actually
- actually speaking