circumstance
circumstance — 名詞
- circumstancesingular
- circumstancesplural
1. the facts, conditions, or events that are present around a particular situation
情況；環境
影響局勢的條件或事實
the facts, conditions, or events that are present around a particular situation and influence how it develops or what happens
Aiko's flight was delayed, but given the circumstances, she stayed calm.
Aiko 的班機延誤了，但在這樣的情況下，她保持鎮定。
collocation: given the circumstances
The fire chief studied the circumstances that caused the old warehouse to burn.
消防隊長研究了導致舊倉庫燒毀的各種情況。
pattern: circumstances that + verb
Under the present circumstances, the hospital cannot admit more patients.
在目前的情況下，醫院無法接收更多病患。
collocation: under the present circumstances
A sudden change in circumstances forced the Wong family to sell their home and move away.
情況的突然轉變迫使 Wong 一家賣掉房子並搬到別處。
pattern: change in circumstances + forced + action
The team changed their plans when new circumstances came to light.
新的情況出現時，團隊改變了他們的計畫。
collocation: circumstances came to light
- given the circumstances
- under the circumstances
- circumstances surrounding
- due to circumstances beyond someone's control
- change in circumstances
- condition
emphasizes a necessary state or requirement rather than the full set of surrounding events
- situation
focuses on the specific combination of circumstances at a given time, often implying something urgent
- context
refers to the larger background that gives meaning to an event, rather than the immediate facts
- factor
points to one single element among many, not the whole configuration
文法句型
the circumstances surrounding/of something
in/under the circumstances
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural form (circumstances). Common in fixed expressions such as 'in/under the circumstances' and 'due to circumstances beyond someone's control'. Subject of verbs like change, arise, lead to.
常見錯誤
2. the power of events that are beyond your control and that shape your life in imp
際遇；命運
無法掌控的人生遭遇
the power of events that are beyond your control and that shape your life in important ways — for example, losing a job through no fault of your own, or meeting a life partner by chance
Leila was a victim of circumstance when the company closed without warning.
公司無預警倒閉時，Leila 成了命運的犧牲品。
common phrase: victim of circumstance
A twist of circumstance brought Yusuf and his neighbour together as business partners.
因緣際會讓 Yusuf 和他的鄰居成了生意夥伴。
collocation: twist of circumstance
Through a cruel twist of circumstance, Amara found herself alone in a country where she knew no one.
殘酷的命運轉折讓 Amara 孤身留在一個人都不認識的國家。
collocation: twist of circumstance (fate sense)
Theo never planned to become a teacher, but circumstance led him there.
Theo 從未計畫成為老師，是際遇引導他走上這條路。
The night the river flooded, circumstance forced Ines, a retired nurse, to save five neighbours.
河水氾濫的那一晚，際遇迫使退休護士 Ines 救了五個鄰居。
pattern: circumstance + forced + named person + infinitive
- victim of circumstance
- twist of circumstance
- by force of circumstance
- a product of circumstance
- fate
more personal and destiny-driven; suggests a predetermined outcome rather than random events
- destiny
implies a sense of purpose or ultimate outcome, stronger than circumstance
- fortune
can be good or bad luck; less neutral than circumstance
- lot
formal or literary; describes one's position in life as assigned by fate
文法句型
victim of circumstance
twist of circumstance
by force of circumstance
用法筆記
Uncountable — do not add plural -s. Distinguished from sense 1 (SURROUNDING CONDITIONS) by its focus on life-changing events that happen by chance or fate rather than the factual conditions around a situation. Often appears in fixed phrases: 'victim of circumstance', 'twist of circumstance', 'by force of circumstance'.
常見錯誤
3. the level of wealth or income that a person or family has, especially in relatio
經濟狀況
個人的財務條件
the level of wealth or income that a person or family has, especially in relation to what they can afford or how they live
The bank asked about Hana's financial circumstances before approving the loan.
銀行在核准貸款之前，詢問了 Hana 的經濟狀況。
collocation: financial circumstances
Priya's changed circumstances meant she could no longer afford private school.
Priya 變動後的經濟狀況意味著她再也負擔不起私立學校。
pattern: changed circumstances + financial impact
The charity supports families whose circumstances make it hard to buy food.
這個慈善機構幫助那些經濟狀況難以購買食物的家庭。
collocation: families in difficult circumstances
Nikolai's comfortable circumstances allowed him to retire at fifty.
Nikolai 寬裕的經濟狀況讓他在五十歲時就能退休。
collocation: comfortable circumstances
Dr. Okafor offered a payment plan based on the patient's financial circumstances.
Dr. Okafor 根據病患的經濟狀況提供了一個付款方案。
- financial circumstances
- economic circumstances
- comfortable circumstances
- reduced circumstances
- family circumstances
- changed circumstances
- means
more formal; often used in legal or official contexts (a person of means)
- finances
more specific to money management and budget rather than overall living conditions
- income
narrower, referring only to earnings rather than overall financial picture
- economic situation
broader, can refer to a country or region, not just an individual
文法句型
someone's circumstances
financial/economic circumstances
in comfortable/reduced circumstances
用法筆記
Always plural in form, but can refer to one person's financial condition. Frequently modified by adjectives: financial, economic, comfortable, reduced, straitened, difficult. Distinguished from sense 1 by its exclusive focus on money and wealth rather than general conditions.
常見錯誤
used to say that a particular action or decision is reasonable or understandable given the difficult conditions that exist
在這種情況下；既然如此
The train was two hours late, but under the circumstances, we were just glad it arrived safely.
Given that she had only three days to prepare, her presentation was excellent under the circumstances.
used to emphasize that something must never happen or be allowed, no matter what the situation is
絕不；無論如何都不
Under no circumstances should you leave the front door unlocked when you go out.
The doctor said that under no circumstances should the patient lift anything heavy.
formal and impressive ceremony, especially at official or royal events
盛大場面；隆重儀式
The graduation ceremony was full of pomp and circumstance, with students wearing caps and gowns.
Visitors to the palace were amazed by the pomp and circumstance of the state dinner.
a polite way of saying that someone has become much poorer than they were before
落魄；生活水準下降
After the business failed, the family was forced to live in reduced circumstances.
The novel tells the story of a wealthy woman who ends up in reduced circumstances.
同根字
- circumstantial形容詞C1
- circumstantially副詞C1
- circumstantiate動詞C2