confidential
confidential — 形容詞
1. kept hidden from people who are not officially allowed to see or hear it, especi
機密的
僅限特定人士知道的秘密資訊
kept hidden from people who are not officially allowed to see or hear it, especially in a work or official setting.
Chidi signed a contract agreeing to keep all client information confidential.
Chidi 簽署了一份合約，同意對所有客戶資訊保密。
collocation: keep + noun + confidential
The lawyer sent the documents in a confidential envelope marked "Private."
律師將文件放進一個標示「私人」的機密信封裡寄出。
attributive use: confidential envelope
Wei was told that the conversation was strictly confidential and must not be repeated.
Wei 被告知該談話內容是嚴格保密的，絕不能對外提起。
All medical records are confidential and cannot be shared without the patient's written permission.
所有病歷資料都是機密的，未經病人書面同意不得對外提供。
The committee held a confidential meeting to discuss the staff complaints about the new policy.
委員會召開了一場機密會議，討論員工對新政策的投訴。
- private
broader term — private information need not involve a formal agreement of secrecy
- classified
more specific — used for official government secrets
- restricted
emphasises limited access rather than secrecy
文法句型
confidential + noun
be + confidential
用法筆記
Often used in formal contexts such as legal, medical, or corporate settings. Frequently paired with intensifiers like 'strictly' or 'highly' to emphasise the need for secrecy.
常見錯誤
2. trusted to handle sensitive information that must not be shared with others, usu
經手機密的
擔任需接觸機密資訊之角色的
trusted to handle sensitive information that must not be shared with others, usually because of one's job or role.
As a confidential assistant to the CEO, Isabela knew about the merger before anyone else.
身為執行長的機密助理，Isabela 早在其他人之前就知道併購案的消息。
attributive use: confidential assistant
The ambassador's confidential secretary handled all the classified cables from the foreign ministry.
大使的機密祕書負責處理外交部所有機密電報。
A confidential informant tipped off the police about the planned robbery three days in advance.
一名機密線人提前三天向警方通報了那起搶劫計劃。
Emre served as the prime minister's confidential advisor on nuclear policy for six years.
Emre 擔任了總理的核子政策機密顧問長達六年。
The judge appointed a confidential clerk to review the sealed evidence before the trial began.
法官任命了一名機密書記官審閱開庭前的密封證據。
文法句型
confidential + noun (person role)
用法筆記
Typically used in job titles or role descriptions (e.g. 'confidential secretary', 'confidential agent'). The noun following 'confidential' refers to a person, not a document.
3. behaving or speaking in a quiet, private way that suggests you are sharing somet
親密的
顯得私下而親近的語氣或態度
behaving or speaking in a quiet, private way that suggests you are sharing something personal or secret with the listener.
Her voice dropped to a confidential whisper when the teacher told Yael about the scholarship.
她的聲音壓低成機密的耳語，老師告訴 Yael 獎學金的事。
collocation: confidential whisper
Arjun spoke in a confidential tone, as though the entire cafe might overhear their plans.
Arjun 用一種祕密般的語氣說話，好像整間咖啡館都可能聽到他們的計劃似的。
collocation: confidential tone
Lukas gave Otis a confidential look that said "We'll talk about this later."
Lukas 給 Otis 一個意味深長的眼神，像是在說「我們晚點再談」。
Mauricio leaned in and said in a confidential voice, "I think someone is following us."
Mauricio 靠過來，低聲說：「我覺得有人在跟蹤我們。」
The two diplomats exchanged confidential glances across the crowded reception room.
兩位外交官在擁擠的接待廳裡交換了一個祕密的眼神。
文法句型
confidential + noun (voice, tone, manner)
用法筆記
This sense describes a manner or atmosphere, not the content itself. The information may or may not actually be secret — what matters is the feeling of intimacy or secrecy created.
4. officially ranked as requiring protection because unauthorised access could dama
機密級
政府安全分級中介於限制級與秘密之間
officially ranked as requiring protection because unauthorised access could damage national security, falling between restricted and secret in the classification system.
The report was marked "Confidential" and stored in a locked cabinet in the embassy basement.
該報告被標示為「機密」，存放在大使館地下室的上鎖櫃子裡。
Only staff with proper clearance may view confidential files from the defence department.
只有擁有適當安全許可的員工才能查閱國防部的機密檔案。
collocation: confidential files
The leak of a confidential memo forced the intelligence committee to tighten its security procedures.
一份機密備忘錄的外洩，迫使情報委員會加強其安全程序。
The officer stored the confidential brief in a safe that required two keys to open.
那名軍官將機密簡報文件存放在需要兩把鑰匙才能打開的保險箱裡。
A confidential dossier on the foreign agent was kept under lock and key at the ministry.
一份關於該外國情報員的機密檔案被鎖在部會裡的檔案櫃中。
- classified
broader term covering all security levels from confidential upwards
- restricted
the level below confidential in the classification system
- unclassified
information that has no security restrictions
- declassified
formerly classified but now released to the public
文法句型
confidential + noun (document, report, file)
用法筆記
Part of a fixed classification ladder used by governments: 'restricted' (lowest), 'confidential', 'secret', 'top secret' (highest). Not used as a general synonym for 'secret' in casual speech.