unwittingly
/ʌnˈwɪtɪŋli/ (bre, ipa) · [ənwˈɪtɪŋli] /ʌnˈwɪtɪŋli/ (ame, ipa) · [ənwˈɪtɪŋli] /ˌən-ˈwi-tiŋ How to pronounce unwitting (audio)/ (ame, mw)
unwittingly — 副詞
1. used to describe an action done without the person intending it or realising wha
無意中
不知不覺地做了某事
used to describe an action done without the person intending it or realising what they are doing — for instance, saying something hurtful without knowing it would be upsetting.
Marco unwittingly offended his colleague by making a joke about her accent.
Marco 無意中開了個關於對方口音的玩笑，冒犯了同事。
adverb + past-tense verb — unintended social action
The Watanabe family unwittingly became involved in the argument when they tried to help.
渡邊一家試圖幫忙時，無意中捲入了那場爭論。
Diya unwittingly revealed her friend's home address when she shared a photo online.
Diya 在網上分享照片時，無意中洩露了朋友的住址。
Kian unwittingly left his notebook at the café, and a stranger found it.
Kian 無意中把筆記本忘在咖啡館，被一個陌生人撿到了。
The new traffic law unwittingly caused long delays for bus riders across the city.
新的交通法規無意中導致全市公車乘客面臨長時間延誤。
- inadvertently
more formal; stresses lack of attention rather than lack of knowledge
- unknowingly
focuses on not having the relevant information
- accidentally
broader; covers both unintended physical events and social mistakes
- knowingly
with full awareness of what one is doing
- deliberately
on purpose
文法句型
unwittingly + verb (describing unintended action)
用法筆記
The adverb stresses that the action was not deliberate, though the person who acted may be held responsible for the outcome. Avoid using it for purely mechanical accidents (use 'accidentally' instead) — unwittingly implies a lack of awareness rather than a loss of control.
常見錯誤
unwittingly — 形容詞
- unwittinglypositive
- more unwittinglycomparative
- most unwittinglysuperlative
1. not realising that you are connected with something that is happening; not knowi
不知情的
不知道自己與某件事有關
not realising that you are connected with something that is happening; not knowing a fact that affects you — for example, being an unwitting participant in a plan you know nothing about.
Antonia was an unwitting witness to the argument between her two friends.
Antonia 無意間成了兩個朋友爭吵的不知情目擊者。
unwitting + role noun (witness, participant, victim)
Jiwoo was an unwitting helper in the office prank, not knowing the plan.
Jiwoo 完全不知情，成了辦公室惡作劇的不知情幫手。
Many older adults are unwitting victims of phone scams that sound official.
許多老年人是詐騙電話的不知情受害者，那些電話聽起來就像真的銀行來電。
The driver was an unwitting cause of the jam when his tyre blew.
那名司機的車爆胎後，他成了塞車的不知情肇因。
Vikram realised he was an unwitting guest at a party meant for a different group.
Vikram 發現自己莫名其妙地參加了一場本該屬於另一群人的派對。
文法句型
unwitting + noun (person role)
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively before a noun that names a role (victim, witness, participant, cause, accomplice). Not commonly used predicatively ('he was unwitting' would sound unusual).
常見錯誤
2. happening or done without the person meaning it; not planned or intended — used
無意的
非刻意造成的言論或行為
happening or done without the person meaning it; not planned or intended — used especially of a remark, action, or effect that causes a problem without the person realising it would.
The comedian's unwitting insult upset several people in the front row.
那位喜劇演員無意的冒犯，惹惱了前排好幾位觀眾。
unwitting + noun describing unintended utterance
Dario's unwitting mention of the surprise party nearly ruined the celebration.
Dario 無意中提到驚喜派對的事，差點毀了慶祝活動。
The report contained an unwitting error that misled readers for months.
那份報告裡有一個無意的錯誤，誤導讀者長達數月之久。
Nala's unwitting joke about her boss's new hairstyle made everyone at the table freeze.
Nala 無意間拿老闆的新髮型開了個玩笑，全桌人都僵住了。
Gabriel's unwitting disclosure of the surprise visit drew angry stares from his sister.
Gabriel 無意中說溜了嘴透露了驚喜來訪的事，引來妹妹憤怒的目光。
- inadvertent
more precise; the closest synonym
- unintentional
common; can describe both actions and results
- accidental
broader; can describe events with no human intention at all
- intentional
done on purpose
- deliberate
planned and intended
文法句型
unwitting + noun (action, utterance, or outcome)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 describes a person's state (unawareness), while sense 2 describes the quality of an action or utterance (unintended). 'An unwitting remark' = a remark that was not meant to cause harm; 'an unwitting participant' = a person who did not know they were involved.