secret
/ˈsiː.krət/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsiː.krət/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsē-krət/ (ame, mw) · /ˈsiːkrət/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsiːkrət/ (ame, ipa)
secret — 名詞
1. information that you know but do not want other people to find out, because it i
秘密
不願讓他人知道的訊息
information that you know but do not want other people to find out, because it is private or sharing it could cause problems
Shirin told Nikhil a secret and made him promise not to share it with anyone.
Shirin 告訴 Nikhil 一個秘密，並要他保證不告訴任何人。
tell + secret + promise not to share
The hospital keeps all patient medical records a strictly guarded secret.
那家醫院將所有病人的就診記錄列為嚴格保密的資訊。
collocation: strictly guarded secret
Noa accidentally let the secret about the surprise party slip at dinner.
Noa 不小心在晚餐時說溜了關於驚喜派對的秘密。
If I tell you about the gift for Sade, can you keep a secret?
如果我告訴你 Sade 的禮物是什麼，你能保密嗎？
- confidence
more formal; usually in the phrase 'in confidence' or 'in strict confidence'
- classified information
specifically about government/military secrets with legal protection
- private matter
broader; something personal but not necessarily intentionally hidden
- public knowledge
information that anyone can know
文法句型
tell someone a secret
keep something a secret
in secret
用法筆記
Frequently used in fixed collocations: tell a secret, keep a secret, let a secret slip, share a secret. The uncountable form appears in the phrase in secret, meaning 'in a hidden or private way' — for example, They met in secret.
常見錯誤
2. a truth about something that most people do not know or understand, often someth
奧秘
尚未被了解的事實
a truth about something that most people do not know or understand, often something mysterious or not yet discovered
The secrets of the ancient temple have fascinated historians for over a century.
這座古老神廟的奧秘已經讓歷史學家著迷超過一個世紀。
collocation: secrets of [mysterious subject]
No one knows the secret of how the huge stone blocks crossed the desert.
沒有人知道這些巨大石塊是如何越過沙漠的。
Élise wondered about the secret behind the strange glow in the abandoned lighthouse.
Élise 很想知道那座廢棄燈塔怪異光芒背後的秘密。
Deep beneath the ice, the frozen lake holds secrets that scientists are eager to explore.
在冰層深處，那座冰凍的湖泊藏有科學家急於探索的奧秘。
- known fact
something established and understood
文法句型
the secrets of + noun
holds secrets
unlock the secrets of
用法筆記
This sense emphasises the mystery aspect — something that is not yet understood. Often used in the plural (the secrets of the universe). Distinguished from sense 1 by scope: sense 2 is about unknown truths that belong to a field or place, not personal private information.
常見錯誤
3. the special knowledge, method, or skill that makes someone very good at a partic
訣竅；秘方
做好某事的關鍵方法
the special knowledge, method, or skill that makes someone very good at a particular activity — for example, the secret ingredient in a chef's sauce or the reason a teacher can keep a class calm
Lucas says the secret to good bread is letting dough rest for a full day.
Lucas 說做出好麵包的訣竅是讓麵團靜置一整天。
pattern: the secret to + [noun]
The company protects its drink recipe as a trade secret known only to two employees.
這家公司將其飲料配方列為商業機密，只有兩名員工知道。
collocation: trade secret
Good teachers know that patience is the real secret to managing a noisy classroom.
好的老師都知道，耐心才是管好吵鬧班級的真正訣竅。
Renata's secret for learning new languages is to practise for fifteen minutes every day.
Renata 學習新語言的秘方是每天練習十五分鐘。
文法句型
the secret to + noun/gerund
the secret for + noun/gerund
用法筆記
Typically follows the pattern the secret to + noun or gerund (the secret to good coffee, the secret to losing weight). When referring to a company's protected formula or process, trade secret is the standard collocation and is a legal term.
常見錯誤
secret — 形容詞
1. not revealed or shown to anyone beyond a small group, or put where others cannot
秘密的；隱密
不讓他人知道或看見的
not revealed or shown to anyone beyond a small group, or put where others cannot see or find it
The two friends had a secret meeting spot behind the old oak tree.
那兩個朋友在老橡樹後面有個秘密的會面地點。
collocation: secret meeting place
Shirin sent Pim a secret message written in invisible ink inside a library book.
Shirin 用隱形墨水寫了一封秘密訊息，夾在一本圖書館的書裡交給 Pim。
collocation: secret message
The team built a secret underground room where they could store their equipment.
團隊在地下建造了一個隱密的房間，用來存放他們的裝備。
Jessica and her brother planned a secret party for their mother's sixtieth birthday.
Jessica 和她的哥哥計劃為媽媽的六十歲生日舉辦一場驚喜派對。
- hidden
emphasises physical concealment; less formal
- confidential
formal; about information shared in trust, often in professional settings
- covert
describes actions done secretly, especially military or intelligence operations
文法句型
a secret + noun
keep something secret
remain secret
用法筆記
Can be used both before a noun (a secret plan, a secret document) and after linking verbs (keep it secret, remain secret). When applied to a person in this sense, it means the person keeps things hidden — see sense 2 for a different usage with people.
常見錯誤
2. referring to an activity, interest, or emotion that someone keeps to themselves
不為人知
不願讓他人知道的習慣或感情
referring to an activity, interest, or emotion that someone keeps to themselves without letting others know, often out of shyness or a wish for privacy
Nikhil is a secret chocolate lover who only eats sweets when nobody is watching.
Nikhil 私下是個巧克力愛好者，只有在沒人看到時才會吃甜食。
pattern: a secret + [noun describing a person's habit]
Sayaka is a secret fan of that singer and hides it from her friends.
Sayaka 是那位歌手的秘密粉絲，而且瞞著她的朋友。
Élise's grandmother was a secret painter who never showed her work to anyone.
Élise 的外婆是個不為人知的畫家，從不把作品拿給別人看。
Despite his tough image, Chidi is a secret romantic who writes poems at home.
Chidi 雖然外表看起來很強悍，私底下卻是個在家寫詩的浪漫主義者。
- unacknowledged
more formal; something a person does not admit to having
- covert
stronger connotation of deliberate concealment, often with a negative slant
- private
broader; describes something simply not shared, not necessarily hidden
文法句型
a secret + noun describing a person (habit, identity, or feeling)
用法筆記
Always used directly before a noun that describes a person's identity, habit, or characteristic: a secret drinker, a secret admirer, a secret passion, a secret talent. Not used predicatively ('He is secret' does not carry this meaning). Distinguish from sense 1: in this sense, the person themselves is hiding an aspect of their life.