irregular
/ɪˈreɡjələ(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈreɡjələr/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˈre-gyə-lər ˌi(r)-/ (ame, mw) · /ɪˈreɡ.jə.lər/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈreɡ.jə.lɚ/ (ame, ipa)
irregular — 形容詞
- irregularpositive
- more irregularcomparative
- most irregularsuperlative
1. An irregular word does not follow the standard patterns that most words of its t
不規則
文法變化不依標準規則的
An irregular word does not follow the standard patterns that most words of its type follow when changing form — for example, a verb that does not add '-ed' for the past tense, or a noun that does not add '-s' for the plural.
The verb 'go' is irregular because its past tense is 'went', not 'goed'.
動詞「go」是不規則變化，因為它的過去式是「went」而非「goed」。
irregular verb: past tense not formed with -ed
Children often struggle with irregular plurals like 'mice' and 'children'.
兒童經常在學習不規則複數（如「mice」和「children」）時遇到困難。
irregular plural: no -s ending
Tuan looked up the irregular forms of 'swim' in his grammar book.
Tuan 在他的文法書中查詢「swim」的不規則變化形式。
Spanish has fewer irregular verbs than English, but they are still very common in speech.
西班牙文的不規則動詞比英文少，但在日常對話中仍然非常常見。
The teacher asked the class to memorise a list of common irregular adjectives.
老師請全班記下一串常見的不規則形容詞。
- non-standard
broader; applies to any deviation from a norm, not just grammar
- exceptional
more positive; suggests rarity rather than rule-breaking
- abnormal
stronger; implies something is wrong, not just different in form
文法句型
irregular + noun (verb/noun/adjective)
用法筆記
Only applies to the grammatical behaviour of words. Do not use this sense to describe situations, objects, or people — those belong to the BEHAVIOUR or SHAPE senses.
常見錯誤
2. not following the accepted or expected way of doing things — used to describe ac
不合常規
行為或程序違反常規的
not following the accepted or expected way of doing things — used to describe actions, procedures, or conduct that go against normal rules or customs, often in a way that seems wrong or suspicious.
The company's hiring process was highly irregular — they interviewed nobody in person.
該公司的招聘流程極不合常規——他們完全沒有親自面試任何人。
highly irregular — common intensifier pattern
Adina found it irregular that the committee reached a decision without any discussion.
Adina 認為委員會未經討論就做出決定的做法不合常規。
find it irregular + that-clause
A large cash payment with no receipt is considered irregular by most accountants.
在多數會計師眼中，大筆現金付款卻沒有收據，是不合常規的。
Irregular procedures during the election raised concerns among international observers.
選舉期間出現不合常規的程序，引起國際觀察員的關切。
The judge warned the lawyer that her conduct in court was irregular and would not be allowed.
法官警告律師，她在法庭上的行為不合常規，而且不會被容忍。
- unconventional
less negative; suggests creativity or independence
- improper
stronger moral judgment; implies something is wrong
- unorthodox
suggests deviation from established tradition or doctrine
- proper
following accepted standards
- conventional
following usual customs or practices
- expected
what most people would consider normal
文法句型
irregular + noun (behaviour/practice/procedure)
it is irregular + to-infinitive
find something + irregular
用法筆記
Often carries a negative or suspicious connotation — stronger than 'unusual'. Commonly found in formal, legal, or professional contexts. Does NOT apply to physical appearance (use SHAPE sense adj/3) or to grammar (use GRAMMAR sense adj/1).
常見錯誤
3. not having a uniform, even, or symmetrical shape; with parts that differ noticea
不整齊
形狀不均勻或左右不對稱的
not having a uniform, even, or symmetrical shape; with parts that differ noticeably in size, form, or arrangement — for example, a surface that is not flat, a shape whose sides are not equal, or an object whose outline is uneven.
The garden wall was made of irregular stones of different sizes and colours.
花園的圍牆是用大小與顏色各異的不整齊石塊砌成的。
irregular + stones — natural, non-uniform physical objects
Ryo noticed an irregular dark spot on his left arm and decided to see a doctor.
Ryo 注意到左手臂上有一塊不整齊的深色斑點，於是決定去看醫生。
irregular spot — medical context for unusual marks on skin
The old table had an irregular surface that made writing difficult without a pad.
那張舊桌子的表面不整齊，沒有墊板就很難在上面寫字。
Small irregular pieces of broken glass lay scattered across the kitchen floor.
廚房地板上散落著細碎不整齊的玻璃碎片。
The diamond had an irregular cut, so it did not shine as brightly as the others.
那顆鑽石的切工不整齊，因此在店裡不像其他鑽石那麼閃亮。
- uneven
more common; focuses on lack of flatness or levelness
- asymmetrical
more precise; describes lack of mirror-image balance
- jagged
specific to sharp, rough edges or outlines
- even
flat and uniform in surface
- symmetrical
balanced in shape and form
- uniform
consistent in size, shape, or arrangement
文法句型
irregular + noun (shape/surface/pattern)
irregular in + noun phrase
用法筆記
Common when describing natural objects (rocks, coastlines, leaves), handmade items, blemishes on skin, or flawed manufactured goods. Also used in biology and geography.
常見錯誤
4. occurring at uneven intervals in time or with unequal distances between points —
不規律
時間間隔不均或發生頻率不定的
occurring at uneven intervals in time or with unequal distances between points — used for events, services, biological rhythms, or spatial arrangements that lack a steady, predictable pattern.
Élise made irregular visits to her hometown, sometimes twice a month and sometimes not for a whole year.
Élise 回鄉的次數很不規律，有時一個月去兩次，有時一整年都不回去。
irregular visits — varying intervals between events
The bus service was irregular, with long waits between arrivals during the evening rush hour.
公車服務很不規律，晚間尖峰時段班次之間的間隔很長。
Rachid's breathing became irregular after he ran up the stairs too quickly.
Rachid 跑上樓梯後呼吸變得不規律。
Irregular rainfall has made it very difficult for local farmers to plan their planting season.
降雨很不規律，當地農民很難規劃播種時節。
The doctor listened to Hari's chest and said his heartbeat sounded slightly irregular.
醫生聽了 Hari 的胸腔後說他的心跳聽起來稍微不規律。
- sporadic
implies long gaps with rare, scattered occurrences
- intermittent
suggests alternating between happening and stopping
- uneven
broader; can describe quantity or distribution, not just timing
- regular
happening at steady, predictable intervals
- consistent
unchanging in pattern or frequency
- steady
continuous and even in rhythm or rate
文法句型
irregular + noun (intervals/visits/heartbeat)
at irregular + noun (intervals/times)
become + irregular
用法筆記
Very common in medical descriptions (heartbeat, breathing, pulse) and in discussions of services, weather, attendance, or any repeated event. Distinguish from the BOWEL sense (adj/5), which is specific to digestion.
常見錯誤
5. relating to a condition where bowel movements happen less often than is normal f
便祕的
排便次數比正常少的
relating to a condition where bowel movements happen less often than is normal for a person — used as a polite or clinical way to describe constipation or irregular digestive patterns.
The patient told the nurse she had been irregular for several weeks and felt uncomfortable.
病人告訴護理師，她已經便祕好幾週了，身體很不舒服。
be + irregular — describing a health condition politely
Eating more fibre and drinking enough water can help if you become irregular.
如果便祕，多攝取纖維質和充足的水分會有幫助。
Elderly people often become irregular and may need to adjust their diet or medication.
年長者經常出現便祕的情況，可能需要調整飲食或藥物。
The doctor asked whether Felipe had felt irregular or had stomach pain in the past two weeks.
醫生詢問 Felipe 過去兩週是否有便祕或胃痛的現象。
- constipated
more direct and common in everyday language
- blocked up
informal; used in casual conversation
- regular
having normal bowel movement frequency
文法句型
be + irregular
become + irregular
feel + irregular
用法筆記
A polite, slightly formal way to describe constipation. Used mainly in medical consultations or when speaking about digestive health with some delicacy. 'Constipated' is more direct and common in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
6. belonging to a fighting group that operates outside a country's formal military
非正規
不屬於國家正式軍隊的
belonging to a fighting group that operates outside a country's formal military structure — used to describe soldiers, troops, or armed units that are not part of the regular national army.
Irregular troops controlled large areas of the countryside after the government lost control.
政府失勢後，非正規部隊控制了廣大的鄉村地區。
irregular troops — standard military collocation
The regular army struggled against irregular fighters who knew the terrain well.
正規軍在與熟悉地形的非正規戰鬥人員交戰時陷入苦戰。
contrast: regular army vs irregular fighters
Bilal's grandfather served as an irregular soldier during the war before the national army was formed.
Bilal 的祖父在國家軍隊成立之前，曾以非正規士兵的身份參加戰爭。
International law sets rules for how irregular forces must be treated when captured during conflict.
國際法對衝突期間被捕的非正規部隊有明確的待遇規定。
- guerrilla
more specific; refers to fighters using small, surprise attacks
- paramilitary
organised like a military unit but not part of the official armed forces
- unofficial
broader; not specific to military contexts
文法句型
irregular + noun (forces/troops/soldiers/fighters)
用法筆記
Often used before a noun ('irregular forces', 'irregular troops'). The standalone noun form 'irregulars' refers to these fighters but is less common. 'Guerrilla' is a related but narrower term referring to a specific type of irregular fighter using hit-and-run tactics.
常見錯誤
irregular — 名詞
- irregularsingular
- irregularsplural
1. a fighter who belongs to an unofficial military group rather than a country's fo
非正規軍
不屬於正規軍隊的戰鬥人員
a fighter who belongs to an unofficial military group rather than a country's formal armed forces — often used in the plural form 'irregulars' to refer to such fighters as a group.
The irregulars launched a surprise attack on the government convoy at dawn.
非正規軍在黎明時分對政府車隊發動了突襲。
plural form 'the irregulars' — referring to the group
An estimated two thousand irregulars joined the resistance during the first month of the war.
戰爭第一個月內，約有兩千名非正規軍加入了反抗運動。
The village was caught between the regular army and the irregulars in the surrounding hills.
那個村莊夾在正規軍與周邊山區的非正規軍之間。
Sana interviewed several former irregulars who had returned to civilian life after the peace agreement.
Sana 訪問了幾位在和平協議簽訂後重返平民生活的非正規軍人。
- guerrilla
more specific; implies hit-and-run tactics and small-unit operations
- freedom fighter
positive connotation; used when the speaker supports the cause
- partisan
historical; refers to resistance fighters in occupied territory
- regular soldier
a member of the official armed forces
- regular
shortened form referring to a regular-army soldier
文法句型
the + irregulars
a group of + irregulars
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural ('irregulars') when referring to a group of such fighters. The singular ('an irregular') is possible but considerably rarer. In modern usage, 'irregulars' often carries a neutral or factual tone in military reporting.