wander
/ˈwɒndə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈwɑːndər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈwän-dər/ (ame, mw) · /ˈwɒn.dər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈwɑːn.dɚ/ (ame, ipa)
wander — 動詞
- wanderpresent simple I / you / we / they
- wandershe / she / it
- wanderedpast simple
- wandering-ing form
1. to move from place to place at a slow, relaxed pace, with no fixed plan, destina
漫步；閒逛
沒有目的或方向地慢慢走
to move from place to place at a slow, relaxed pace, with no fixed plan, destination, or urgent purpose.
Rodrigo spent the whole afternoon wandering through the narrow streets of the old town.
Rodrigo 整個下午都在老城區狹窄的街道間漫步。
wander + through + [place]
We wandered along the beach for an hour, collecting shells and watching the waves.
我們沿著海灘閒逛了一個小時，一邊撿貝殼一邊看海浪。
wander + along + [place]
A group of tourists wandered around the night market, stopping at every food stall.
一群遊客在夜市到處逛，每個小吃攤都停下來看一看。
After checking into the hotel, the Watanabe family wandered the streets near the station.
辦好入住手續後，渡邊一家在車站附近的街道上閒逛。
Tanvi wandered into the garden and found a small bird trapped under a chair.
Tanvi 漫步走進花園，發現一隻小鳥被困在椅子底下。
文法句型
wander + adverb/prepositional phrase (through, around, along)
wander + noun (place; chiefly American)
用法筆記
Most common with a prepositional phrase (through, around, along) that describes the area. In American English, 'wander' can take a place noun directly ('wander the halls'). Neither a that-clause nor a to-infinitive follows this sense.
常見錯誤
2. if a person's eyes or hands move across someone or something in a way that is to
游移；游走
目光或雙手不當移動（常含性暗示）
if a person's eyes or hands move across someone or something in a way that is too curious, unwanted, or sexually suggestive.
During the job interview, the manager's eyes kept wandering down to her hands.
面試時，那位經理的目光不斷游移到她的雙手。
eyes + keep wandering
The teacher noticed that Iker's hands were wandering toward a classmate's desk.
老師注意到 Iker 的手在往同學的書桌游移。
hands + wander toward + [person/object]
Élise felt uncomfortable when the stranger's eyes wandered over her body on the train.
Élise 在地鐵上感到很不自在，因為陌生人的目光在她身上游走。
His gaze wandered across the room, lingering a little too long on the bride.
他的視線在房間裡游移，在新娘身上停留得有點太久了。
文法句型
[body part] + wander + (prepositional phrase)
用法筆記
Subject is always a body part (eyes, hands, gaze, fingers), never the person themselves. The sentence describes unwanted or inappropriate attention; the context makes the disapproval clear. Distinguish from sense 1: the movement is small and focused, not whole-body travel.
3. to have a sexual or romantic relationship with someone other than your husband,
出軌
在婚姻或穩定關係外有性關係
to have a sexual or romantic relationship with someone other than your husband, wife, or regular partner.
After ten years of marriage, Christopher began to wander, and his wife soon found out.
結婚十年後，Christopher 開始出軌，他太太很快就發現了。
begin to wander (of a spouse)
The novel tells of a woman whose husband had wandered during their first year of marriage.
這本小說講述一位女性在結婚第一年丈夫就出軌的故事。
Mert's grandmother always warned him never to wander from the person he loved.
Mert 的祖母總是告誡他千萬不要對自己所愛的人不忠。
It was an open secret among the neighbours that Mr. Chen had wandered more than once.
陳先生不止一次出軌，這件事在鄰居之間早已是公開的秘密。
- stray
almost identical; slightly more common in idiomatic use ('stray from the marriage')
- cheat
more direct and common in everyday speech
- have an affair
neutral; describes the full relationship, not just the act
文法句型
wander
wander from [marriage/relationship]
用法筆記
Always describes infidelity within a committed relationship. The verb is used alone ('he wandered') or with 'from' ('wander from the marriage'). Distinguish from sense 2: sense 3 involves a full relationship, not just hands or eyes. This sense is informal; 'have an affair' is more neutral.
4. to begin speaking about subjects that are not connected to the main point of a c
離題
談話或文章偏離原本的主題
to begin speaking about subjects that are not connected to the main point of a conversation, speech, or piece of writing.
Professor Asher wandered off the topic of physics and started talking about ancient history.
Asher 教授離題了，從物理講到古代歷史。
wander off the topic
The panel discussion wandered from food policy into a debate about global warming.
座談會的討論從糧食政策偏離，變成了一場關於全球暖化的辯論。
wander from X into Y
Jisoo tried to keep her presentation focused but kept wandering back to an earlier point.
Jisoo 盡力讓簡報保持聚焦，但總是不自覺地繞回前面講過的觀點。
When my grandfather tells that story, he wanders and nobody can follow the plot.
我爺爺每次講那個故事時就會越講越偏，沒有人能聽懂情節了。
- stick to
to stay on the main subject without leaving it
- stay on track
idiom for keeping a discussion focused
文法句型
wander + from/off + topic/subject
wander + into + area/subject
用法筆記
Usually followed by 'from', 'off', or 'into' to indicate the movement away from or toward a topic. 'Wander' here does not take a direct object. Distinguish from sense 5: sense 4 is about speech or writing, sense 5 is about internal thoughts.
常見錯誤
5. of your mind or attention, to drift away from what you ought to be concentrating
走神；分心
注意力從該想的事上移開
of your mind or attention, to drift away from what you ought to be concentrating on, turning instead to unrelated subjects or memories.
Trang's mind wandered during the long lecture, and she started planning her weekend.
Trang 在那場漫長的課堂上走神了，開始計畫週末要做什麼。
[person]'s mind wandered
When Justin tried to meditate, his thoughts kept wandering to the argument he had earlier.
Justin 試著冥想時，思緒一直飄到稍早的那場爭吵。
thoughts + wander to + [specific thing]
As the meeting dragged on, several people's attention wandered to the clock on the wall.
會議拖了很久，好幾個人的注意力都飄到了牆上的時鐘。
I was reading, but my mind wandered, and I realised I had read the same page twice.
我在看書，但腦袋走神了，才發現同一頁已經讀了兩遍。
Tendai let his thoughts wander back to the summer he spent in Japan.
Tendai 讓思緒回到他在日本度過的那個夏天。
- focus
to direct your thoughts toward one subject
- concentrate
to give full attention to a specific task or idea
文法句型
[mind/thoughts] + wander + (to/back to + [person/thing])
用法筆記
Subject is usually 'mind', 'thoughts', or 'attention'. The object of the preposition ('to', 'back to') names where the attention moves. Frequently appears with verbs like 'let' or 'allow' in positive contexts (daydreaming) or 'keep' in negative ones (inability to concentrate).
常見錯誤
6. of an elderly person, to become confused or unclear in thinking as a result of o
恍惚；糊塗
因年老而思緒混亂不清
of an elderly person, to become confused or unclear in thinking as a result of old age, often shown by talking about things that do not make sense or forgetting recent events.
After her fall, the doctors said Grandma's mind was beginning to wander.
奶奶摔倒之後，醫生說她的思緒開始恍惚了。
mind + be beginning to wander (medical context)
Ezra visits his uncle weekly and sees how much his mind has wandered over the past two years.
Ezra 每週都去看他叔叔，看得出過去兩年他的頭腦變得有多糊塗。
present perfect: mind has wandered
The night-shift nurse noticed that Mr. Okafor's mind wandered most often after sunset.
夜班護士注意到 Okafor 先生的思緒在日落之後最常變得恍惚。
Your gran's mind is not wandering; she just gets sleepy late in the evening.
你奶奶的腦袋沒有糊塗；她只是跟同齡的人一樣到了晚上容易睏而已。
- lose one's marbles
very informal, can be disrespectful; use with care
- become confused
neutral and factual; appropriate in medical settings downplays the permanence
- sharp
mentally clear and alert
文法句型
[old person]'s mind is wandering
begin + to wander (of mind)
用法筆記
Applied almost exclusively to elderly people. The phrase 'his/her mind is wandering' implies a medical or age-related decline, not a temporary distraction. Distinguish from sense 5: sense 5 is about momentary lapses in attention that happen to anyone; sense 6 signals a chronic, progressive condition.
wander — 名詞
- wandersingular
- wandersplural
1. a short, relaxed walk, usually without a fixed route or destination, taken for p
散步
悠閒無目的地的漫步
a short, relaxed walk, usually without a fixed route or destination, taken for pleasure.
After dinner, the couple went for a wander through the park.
晚餐後，那對夫妻去公園散步。
go for a wander
Take a wander around the old district; you will find lovely cafés hidden in the alleys.
去老城區走走吧；你會在小巷裡發現一些可愛的咖啡館。
take a wander around
Rodrigo had a quick wander through the museum before it closed for the afternoon.
Rodrigo 趁博物館下午關門前匆匆逛了一圈。
Let's have a wander along the riverbank and see if the blossoms are out.
我們沿著河岸走一走，看看櫻花開了沒。
- march
energetic, purposeful walking
文法句型
(go for / have / take) + a wander + (around/through + [place])
用法筆記
Usually singular and often follows 'go for', 'have', or 'take'. The preposition (through, around, along) names the area walked. Distinguish from verb sense 1: the noun is an event or activity, while the verb is the action itself.