1. in the recent past; not long ago
最近，不久前
I haven't seen him lately.
我最近都沒看到他。
Have you read any good books lately?
你最近讀過什麼好書嗎？
Lately Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
lately
adverb
快速理解
What does "Lately" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Lately"?
「lately」表示從不久前的過去持續到現在的一段時間，通常用於疑問句或否定句。
- 1
最近一段時間
EN: in the recent period of time leading up to the present
翻譯: 指從不久前的某個時間點開始，一直持續到現在的一段時期。
- 2
近期發生
EN: occurring or being the case in the recent past
翻譯: 描述在近期內發生或存在的情況或狀態。
- 3
直到最近
EN: until a short time ago
翻譯: 強調某種情況或狀態一直持續到不久前才發生改變。
小提醒：注意「lately」通常與現在完成式或現在完成進行式連用，而非簡單過去式。例如："Have you seen him lately?"（正確），而非 "Did you see him lately?"（較不自然）。
發音（How to Pronounce "Lately" in English）
How to pronounce "Lately" in English?"Lately" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Lately" from YouTube Videos
How to buy happiness | Michael Norton
TED
“We got data from the Gallup Organization, which you know from all the political polls happening lately.”
(1 out of 18)
Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Lately"?How does "Lately" change by context?
2. used to ask about or refer to a recent period of time
用於詢問或指涉最近一段時間
What have you been up to lately?
你最近都在忙些什麼？
She seems very busy lately.
她最近看起來非常忙碌。
3. until a short time ago
直到不久前
It was only lately that I realized the truth.
直到最近我才明白真相。
Until lately, this area was all farmland.
直到不久前，這片地區都還是農田。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Lately"?How to make natural sentences with "Lately"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| lately | 最近，近來 | I haven't seen him lately. (我最近沒見到他。) |
| have/has + been + V-ing + lately | 最近一直在… | She has been working very hard lately. (她最近一直非常努力地工作。) |
| have/has + past participle + lately | 最近已經… | Have you read any good books lately? (你最近讀了什麼好書嗎？) |
| lately + in questions/negatives | (用於疑問句或否定句) 最近 | Nothing interesting has happened lately. (最近沒發生什麼有趣的事。) |
用法說明
How is "Lately" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Lately"?
lately 與 recently 的用法區別
- lately 通常用於疑問句或否定句，強調「直到最近一段時間」的狀態，常帶有負面或擔憂的語氣。
- recently 則較中性，廣泛用於肯定句、否定句和疑問句，單純指「不久之前」發生的事件。
- 在肯定句中，lately 常與
only、just連用，或與完成式搭配，表示「最近才...」。 - 談論具體的、已發生的單一事件時，通常使用 recently 而非 lately。 EN: Have you seen her lately? She seems worried. 翻譯: 你最近有看到她嗎？她看起來很擔憂。
EN:Did you see her recently? I heard she visited last Tuesday.
翻譯:你最近有看到她嗎？我聽說她上週二來過。
EN:I haven't been sleeping well lately.
翻譯:我最近一直睡不好。
EN:I bought a new car recently.
翻譯:我最近買了一輛新車。
總結建議
在大多數肯定句中描述近期事件時，使用 recently 較為安全通用；若想強調近期持續的狀態（尤指疑問或否定），則可選用 lately。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Lately" and similar words?How to choose "Lately" vs alternatives?
lately vs recently
兩者皆可表示「最近」，但 'lately' 通常用於持續一段時間的狀態或習慣，常與完成式連用；'recently' 則較中性，可指單一事件或狀態，時間範圍可更近。
lately vs nowadays
'lately' 指從過去不久持續到現在的時段；'nowadays' 則指當前的時代或風氣，與過去形成對比，時間範圍更廣。
lately vs currently
'lately' 描述從過去某點持續到「現在」的時段；'currently' 則強調「此時此刻」正在進行的動作或狀態。
口語用法
How is "Lately" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Lately"?
引述
用於引述或轉述他人近期的觀察或評論，常與 I've been hearing...、People say... 等結構連用。
EN: Lately, I've been hearing a lot of good things about that new restaurant.
翻譯: 最近我聽到很多關於那家新餐廳的好評。
EN:People say he's been working really hard lately.
翻譯:大家都說他最近工作非常努力。
語氣強調
置於句首，用來強調時間的「最近性」，以引起聽者對時間框架的特別注意。 EN: Lately, I just can't seem to get enough sleep. 翻譯: 最近啊，我好像怎麼睡都睡不夠。
EN:Lately, everything feels a bit overwhelming.
翻譯:最近感覺所有事情都有點讓人喘不過氣。
停頓填充
在口語思考或轉換話題時，用作短暫的停頓填充詞，帶出即將談論的近期狀況。 EN: So, lately... I've been thinking about changing careers. 翻譯: 所以，最近呢…我一直在考慮轉行。
EN:You know, lately... the weather has been really unpredictable.
翻譯:你知道嗎，最近…天氣真的變化莫測。
正式寫作注意：在學術論文、正式報告或商業書信中，應避免使用 lately 作為口語填充詞，或將其置於句首的隨意用法。建議改用 recently、in recent times 或 of late 等更正式的詞彙，並將其置於句中更恰當的位置，例如：There has been a notable increase in demand recently.
常見短語
What common collocations use "Lately"?What fixed phrases with "Lately" should I remember?
lately
lately (sentence-final position)
最近，近來
until lately
until lately
直到最近
just lately
just lately
就在最近
more lately
more lately
較近來
as lately as
as lately as + [time expression]
近至...
not...lately
have/has not + past participle ... lately
最近沒有...
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Lately"?Which "Lately" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×I am busy lately.
✓I have been busy lately.
"Lately" 通常與現在完成式或現在完成進行式連用，表示從過去持續到現在的動作或狀態，不與簡單現在式連用。
×I didn't see him lately.
✓I haven't seen him lately.
當描述「最近一段時間內」的否定經驗時，應使用現在完成式的否定形式，而非簡單過去式。
×Lately, I go to the gym.
✓Lately, I have been going to the gym.
描述最近開始並持續進行的習慣或重複性動作，應使用現在完成進行式，而非簡單現在式。
×I will finish the project lately.
✓I will finish the project soon / later.
"Lately" 意為「最近、近來」，指過去到現在的一段時間。表示「不久之後」應用 "soon" 或 "later"。
×Do you watch any good movies lately?
✓Have you watched any good movies lately?
詢問對方「最近是否做過某事」時，疑問句也必須使用現在完成式，因為時間範圍是從過去持續到說話當下。
×I met her lately.
✓I met her recently. / I have seen her lately.
"Lately" 通常不用於描述單一的過去事件（即使發生在不久以前）。描述單一過去事件應用 "recently"。若用 "lately"，動詞需用完成式表示重複或持續的狀態。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Lately"?What are tense/participle forms of "Lately"?