1. an event or set of related events, often one that is significant or public
事件，事情（常指重要或公開的）
The whole affair was reported in the national news.
整個事件都在全國新聞中報導了。
Organizing the conference was a complex affair.
籌辦這場會議是件複雜的事情。
Affair Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
affair
noun
快速理解
What does "Affair" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Affair"?
「affair」主要指事件、事務或關係，涵蓋公共到私人層面。
- 1
事件/事務
EN: a matter or situation that needs to be dealt with
翻譯: 一件需要處理的事情或狀況
- 2
公共/政治事務
EN: matters of public or political concern
翻譯: 涉及公眾或政治關注的事務
- 3
私人關係
EN: a romantic or sexual relationship, especially a secret one
翻譯: 一段浪漫或性關係，尤指秘密的
- 4
社交活動
EN: a social event or gathering
翻譯: 社交活動或聚會
小提醒：注意「affair」在指「事務」時為可數名詞（an affair, affairs），但「current affairs」（時事）常用複數形。指「婚外情」時通常為單數（have an affair）。
發音（How to Pronounce "Affair" in English）
How to pronounce "Affair" in English?"Affair" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Affair" from YouTube Videos
Paola Antonelli: Design and the elastic mind
TED
“It's a brand-new love affair that we're trying to cultivate at MOMA.”
(1 out of 3)
Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Affair"?How does "Affair" change by context?
2. a secret romantic or sexual relationship between two people, especially when one or both are married to someone else
（尤指婚外的）戀情，風流韻事
Rumors about his affair with a colleague began to spread.
關於他與一位同事有染的謠言開始流傳。
The novel explores the consequences of a secret affair.
這本小說探討了一段秘密戀情帶來的後果。
3. a matter or concern that is the responsibility of a particular person or organization
事務，職責（特定個人或組織的責任）
Foreign affairs are handled by the State Department.
外交事務由國務院處理。
Managing the family's financial affairs was her responsibility.
管理家庭的財務事務是她的責任。
4. an object or item, often used in a slightly old-fashioned or formal way
物件，東西（略顯過時或正式的用法）
He packed his few personal affairs into a small suitcase.
他將自己為數不多的私人物品裝進一個小手提箱。
The room was cluttered with all sorts of strange affairs.
房間裡堆滿了各種奇怪的東西。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Affair"?How to make natural sentences with "Affair"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| affair + of + noun | 與…有關的事務 | The budget is an affair of the state. (預算是國家的事務。) |
| have an affair (with someone) | (與某人)有婚外情 | It was revealed that he had an affair with his colleague. (他被揭露與同事有婚外情。) |
| a private affair | 私事 | What I do in my own time is a private affair. (我在自己時間裡做什麼是私事。) |
| a public affair | 公眾事務；公開活動 | The wedding was a grand public affair. (那場婚禮是一場盛大的公開活動。) |
| state of affairs | 事態；情況 | The current state of affairs is quite concerning. (目前的事態相當令人擔憂。) |
| mind one's own affairs | 管好自己的事 | He should learn to mind his own affairs. (他應該學會管好自己的事。) |
| settle one's affairs | 處理好個人事務（尤指身後事） | Before the trip, he made a will to settle his affairs. (在旅行前，他立了遺囑以處理好身後事。) |
用法說明
How is "Affair" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Affair"?
affair 與 event 的用法區別
- affair 通常指涉及特定人群、帶有私人或特定目的的事件，常與情感、秘密或複雜性相關。
- event 則泛指任何發生的事情，尤其指公開、有組織的活動或重大事件，範圍更廣、更中性。
- 談論國家或組織的「事務」時，常用複數 affairs（如 foreign affairs 外交事務）。
- 在正式或文學語境中，affair 也可指「東西」或「物件」，帶有模糊或輕蔑的語氣。 EN: The whole affair was kept secret to avoid a scandal. 翻譯: 整件事被保密以避免醜聞。
EN:The company's annual gala is the biggest social event of the year.
翻譯:公司的年度晚宴是一年中最盛大的社交活動。
EN:She tried to forget the unhappy affair of her past relationship.
翻譯:她試圖忘掉過去那段不愉快的戀情。
EN:The launch of the new product was a well-organized marketing event.
翻譯:新產品的發布是一場組織嚴密的行銷活動。
總結建議
當強調事件的私人性、複雜性或特定關聯時用 affair，而指一般性、公開性或計畫性的活動時則用 event。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Affair" and similar words?How to choose "Affair" vs alternatives?
affair vs event
「affair」通常指特定、複雜或引人注目的事件，常帶有情感或爭議色彩；「event」則泛指任何發生的事情，較為中性且正式。
affair vs matter
「affair」強調具體、完整的事件或事務；「matter」則較抽象，指需要考慮或處理的議題、問題或情況。
affair vs incident
「affair」通常指持續一段時間、較複雜或有深遠影響的事件；「incident」則指單一、突發的（通常是不好的）小事件或插曲。
口語用法
How is "Affair" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Affair"?
引述
在口語中，常用來引述或提及一個已知或正在討論的事件、情況或關係。 EN: So, how's that whole office affair going? 翻譯: 所以，辦公室那檔事進展得怎麼樣了？
EN:I heard about the affair at the party last night.
翻譯:我聽說了昨晚派對上的那件事。
語氣強調
常與指示代詞（this, that, whole）連用，以強調事件的特定性或戲劇性，帶有主觀評價色彩。 EN: This whole affair has been a complete mess from the start. 翻譯: 這整件事從一開始就是一團糟。
EN:What a strange affair that turned out to be.
翻譯:結果那件事還真是奇怪。
停頓填充
在思考或組織語言時，可作為填充詞，用於指代一個模糊或不想明說的情況。 EN: After the... affair... we decided to keep our distance. 翻譯: 在那個...事情...之後，我們決定保持距離。
EN:The whole, you know, affair was just awkward for everyone.
翻譯:整個，你知道的，那件事對大家來說都很尷尬。
注意：以上口語用法帶有非正式、主觀或模糊的語氣。在正式寫作（如報告、學術論文）中，應使用更精確、中性的詞彙，例如 "incident"、"event"、"situation" 或 "matter" 來替代。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Affair"?What fixed phrases with "Affair" should I remember?
love affair
noun
戀情，風流韻事
state of affairs
noun phrase
事態，情況，局面
private affair
noun
私事
family affair
noun
家務事，家庭內部事務
settle one's affairs
verb phrase
處理好個人事務（尤指為離開或去世做準備）
foreign affairs
noun
外交事務
a messy affair
noun phrase
一團糟的事情，棘手的事
have an affair
verb phrase
有婚外情，發生不正當關係
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Affair"?Which "Affair" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×I have an affair to finish.
✓I have a matter to finish.
在中文裡，「affair」常被翻譯為「事情」，但英文的 "affair" 通常指較重大、正式或公開的事件，或指戀情。日常小事應用 "matter", "thing", 或 "task"。
×The wedding was a beautiful affair.
✓The wedding was a beautiful event.
雖然 "affair" 可以指事件，但描述婚禮、派對等社交活動時，用 "event", "celebration", 或 "occasion" 更為自然。"Affair" 在此語境下略顯正式或老式。
×He is having an affair with his colleague.
✓He is having an affair with a colleague.
當 "affair" 指婚外情時，通常是不具體指明對象的（因為是秘密的），或用 "a" 來泛指。使用 "his/her" 等所有格會讓語意矛盾（暗示公開的關係）。
×Let's talk about the Taiwan affair.
✓Let's talk about the Taiwan issue/matter.
在談論政治或國際 "事務" 時，中文常說「台灣事務」，但英文對國家、地區的正式事務通常用 "issue", "matter", 或 "situation"。"Affair" 在此語境可能帶有負面或煽動性意涵，不夠中立。
×My personal affair is none of your business.
✓My personal business is none of your business.
雖然 "personal affair" 文法正確，但在表達「私事」這個概念時，固定且更常見的說法是 "personal business" 或 "private matter"。"Personal affair" 聽起來不自然且可能被誤解為戀情。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Affair"?What are tense/participle forms of "Affair"?