casually
/ˈkæʒuəli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkæʒuəli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkazh-wə-lē, ˈka-zhə-wə-lē, ˈka-zhə-lē/ (ame, mw)
casually — 副詞
1. done without following strict rules about dress, behaviour, or social convention
隨意地
非正式、不拘禮節
done without following strict rules about dress, behaviour, or social convention — for instance, greeting a professor by first name or wearing sandals to a dinner party.
Ravi dressed casually for the company picnic, wearing shorts and a T-shirt.
Ravi 穿著短褲和 T 恤去參加公司野餐，穿得很隨意。
collocation: dress casually
The meeting was held casually in a coffee shop rather than a boardroom.
會議在咖啡廳而非會議室舉行，氣氛相當隨意。
Leila greeted her boss casually by his nickname, which surprised the new staff.
Leila 隨意地用綽號稱呼老闆，讓新同事感到很驚訝。
Even though the invitation said formal, most guests arrived casually dressed.
雖然請柬上寫著正式服裝，但大多數賓客還是穿得很隨意。
The teacher spoke casually with students during break, avoiding strict classroom tone.
那位老師在休息時間和學生隨意交談，沒有用嚴肅的上課語氣。
- informally
Very close synonym; informally is slightly more formal in tone than casually itself.
- nonchalantly
Describes a relaxed attitude, closer to sense 2 (WITHOUT INTEREST) than to dress code.
- formally
Direct opposite — implies strict adherence to rules, dress codes, or social conventions.
用法筆記
Frequently used with verbs of clothing (dress, wear) and communication (speak, greet, talk). Contrasts with formally in both register and appearance.
常見錯誤
2. showing little care or concern about something, treating it as if it does not ma
不在乎地
表現出缺乏興趣或關心
showing little care or concern about something, treating it as if it does not matter much — for example, shrugging when you hear bad news or mentioning a major success as though it were trivial.
Priya mentioned her award casually, as if winning it meant nothing to her.
Priya 不在乎地提到她的獎項，好像得獎對她來說根本不算什麼。
adverb modifies verb of speaking
The doctor casually dismissed the patient's symptoms, which upset the family greatly.
那位醫生不在乎地打發了病人的症狀，讓家屬非常不滿。
negative connotation: dismissing something important
Yusuf glanced casually at the price tag and decided the jacket was too expensive.
Yusuf 不在乎地瞥了一眼價格標籤，然後決定這件外套太貴了。
Beatriz casually dropped the news that she was moving to Tokyo next month.
Beatriz 不在乎地透露了她下個月要搬到東京的消息。
The manager waved his hand casually and said the problem was not worth discussing.
經理不在乎地揮了揮手，說這個問題不值得討論。
- nonchalantly
Emphasises a relaxed, easy manner that hides effort or emotion.
- indifferently
Stronger negative connotation of not caring at all.
- offhandedly
Focuses on doing something without thinking or preparing.
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (INFORMALLY): this sense is about emotional detachment or lack of concern, not about dress codes or social informality. A person can be formally dressed yet speak casually about a loss. Common with verbs of communication (mention, say, drop, dismiss) and perception (glance, look, wave).
常見錯誤
❌ 'She casually jogged around the park.' (Ambiguous — could mean she dressed informally or didn't try hard.) Specify: 'She jogged casually, not really trying to improve her time.'
3. happening without previous planning, serious thought, or deliberate purpose — fo
無意地
未經計劃或出於偶然
happening without previous planning, serious thought, or deliberate purpose — for example, making a remark without considering the consequences, or finding something when you are not looking for it.
Hana casually mentioned she might quit, not realising her boss was listening nearby.
Hana 無意間提到她可能會辭職，沒注意到老闆就在附近聽到了。
lack of intention or forethought
The two old friends met casually at the airport and spent the layover together.
兩位老朋友在機場偶遇，一起度過了轉機等待的時間。
happening by chance, not arranged
Kaito casually booked a flight to Seoul without checking the visa requirements first.
Kaito 隨手訂了一張飛往首爾的機票，根本沒先確認簽證要求。
Ines casually pulled a book off the shelf and found her grandfather's signature inside.
Ines 無意間從書架上抽出一本書，發現裡面有祖父的簽名。
Tariq casually remarked that the old bridge might collapse, and everyone laughed — until it did.
Tariq 隨口說那座老橋可能會垮，大家都笑了——直到橋真的垮了。
- unintentionally
Stronger emphasis on lack of purpose; less common in everyday speech.
- haphazardly
Suggests disorganisation or randomness, often negative.
- deliberately
Implies intention and forethought.
- on purpose
Everyday opposite — doing something intentionally.
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (WITHOUT INTEREST): sense 2 focuses on emotional detachment (the person does not care), while sense 3 focuses on lack of planning or chance (the person did not mean to or did not think). A remark can be made casually-without-interest (I don't care what you think) or casually-by-chance (I didn't intend to say it). Test: if 'without caring' fits, use sense 2; if 'without meaning to / unexpectedly' fits, use sense 3.
常見錯誤
4. done without a regular schedule or permanent arrangement, such as working a few
臨時
工作不固定、非長期
done without a regular schedule or permanent arrangement, such as working a few days each week without a formal contract or picking up available shifts.
Theo worked casually as a tour guide during the summer, with no fixed schedule.
Theo 夏天臨時當導遊，沒有固定的工作時間表。
collocation: work casually
The restaurant employs several people casually, calling them in only when busy.
那家餐廳臨時僱用了幾個人，只在忙碌時才叫他們來上班。
passive: employed casually
Aiko is paid by the hour because she works casually for three different companies.
Aiko 按小時領薪水，因為她同時為三家不同的公司臨時工作。
Students often work casually in cafes while studying, earning money without long-term commitment.
學生們常常一邊唸書一邊在咖啡廳打零工，賺點錢又不必長期綁約。
The warehouse hired extra hands casually during the holiday season each year.
那間倉庫每年假期季都會臨時加派人手。
- temporarily
Focuses on short duration rather than irregularity of schedule.
- part-time
Often overlaps but part-time implies fixed hours fewer than full-time; casually implies no fixed commitment.
- permanently
Direct opposite — a permanent position with a regular contract.
- full-time
Implies regular, fixed hours each week.
用法筆記
Usually modifies employment-related verbs (work, employ, hire). In this sense, casually contrasts with permanently or full-time. Common in contexts describing part-time, temporary, or freelance arrangements. British English uses casual work more frequently than American English.