circumstantial
circumstantial — 形容詞
- circumstantialpositive
- more circumstantialcomparative
- most circumstantialsuperlative
1. describing facts or clues that suggest something is true by pointing to related
間接的
透過相關事實推論而非直接證明
describing facts or clues that suggest something is true by pointing to related events, without offering direct proof
Théo was seen near the bank after the robbery, but that is merely circumstantial.
Théo 在銀行搶案後被目擊在附近，但那只是間接推測。
pattern: be + merely + circumstantial
The detective knew that circumstantial proof alone would not lead to a conviction.
那名警探知道光靠間接證據並不足以定罪。
attributive: circumstantial + proof
Without a witness or a confession, the case was built entirely on circumstantial clues.
沒有目擊者或自白，這起案件完全建立在間接線索上。
Paloma argued that the phone records were purely circumstantial and proved nothing in court.
Paloma 主張那些通話紀錄純屬間接證據，在法庭上無法證明任何事。
A jury is sometimes asked to decide guilt based on circumstantial evidence alone.
陪審團有時必須僅憑間接證據來判定是否有罪。
- indirect
more general; any type of non-direct evidence, not only legal
- inferential
more formal; focuses on the reasoning step from facts to conclusion
- presumptive
legal term; evidence that creates a presumption of guilt
- direct
evidence that proves a fact without needing inference, such as an eyewitness account
文法句型
circumstantial + noun (evidence, case, proof)
be circumstantial
用法筆記
Frequently modifies nouns such as evidence, proof, case, or clue. This term is most common in legal contexts describing indirect evidence.
常見錯誤
2. depending on the particular conditions or facts of a situation, rather than bein
視情況的
取決於特定條件而非固定不變
depending on the particular conditions or facts of a situation, rather than being fixed or universal
Whether you need a visa is circumstantial and depends on your nationality.
是否需要簽證是視情況而定的，取決於你的國籍。
predicative: is circumstantial
Ayesha made her choice for purely circumstantial reasons — she went where the job was.
Ayesha 的選擇純粹是基於環境因素——哪裡有工作她就去哪裡。
attributive: circumstantial reasons
Their friendship was circumstantial; they lived in the same building and happened to meet.
他們的友誼是因緣際會的；他們住在同一棟樓，偶然相識。
The payment terms are circumstantial and change depending on the size of the order.
付款條件視情況而定，會根據訂單規模而改變。
- conditional
stronger implication that something depends on a specific requirement being met
- contingent
more formal; implies reliance on future events
- situational
more common in everyday language; tied to a specific set of circumstances
文法句型
be circumstantial
circumstantial to + noun
用法筆記
Often used in formal or analytical writing. The subject is typically a condition, reason, arrangement, or relationship that is not universal.
3. containing many specific facts, observations, or particulars about a subject, of
詳盡的
包含許多具體細節與事實的
containing many specific facts, observations, or particulars about a subject, often in a vivid or thorough way
Emre gave a circumstantial account of his travels, naming every village and guesthouse.
Emre 詳盡地描述了他的旅程，提到了每一個村莊和民宿。
attributive: circumstantial account
Liam wrote a report so circumstantial that it read like a personal diary.
Liam 寫了一份報告，內容詳盡到讀起來像是一本私人日記。
pattern: so + circumstantial + that-clause
The historian's circumstantial description helped readers picture life in medieval Kyoto.
那位歷史學家鉅細靡遺的描述讓讀者彷彿看見了中世紀的京都。
Zola wrote a circumstantial letter describing the market, the smells, and the crowds.
Zola 寫了一封詳盡的信，描述了市場、氣味和人群。
文法句型
circumstantial + noun (account, description, report)
be circumstantial in + noun
用法筆記
This older sense is less common in modern English but still found in literary or formal writing describing richly detailed narratives.