1. the state of being unsure about something or not knowing what will happen
不確定、無法確知的狀態
There is a lot of uncertainty about the future of the company.
關於這家公司的未來，存在著許多不確定性。
The economic uncertainty made investors cautious.
經濟的不確定性讓投資者變得謹慎。
Uncertainty Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
uncertainty
noun
快速理解
What does "Uncertainty" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Uncertainty"?
Uncertainty refers to a state of being unsure, indefinite, or unpredictable.
- 1
Lack of Certainty
EN: A state of not being completely sure about something.
翻譯: 對某事不完全確定的狀態。
- 2
Unpredictability
EN: Something that is not known or cannot be predicted.
翻譯: 未知或無法預測的事物。
- 3
Doubt
EN: A feeling of doubt or hesitation.
翻譯: 懷疑或猶豫的感覺。
- 4
Instability
EN: A situation that is not fixed and may change.
翻譯: 不固定且可能改變的情況。
小提醒：Remember that 'uncertainty' is an uncountable noun. You don't say 'an uncertainty' when referring to the general feeling of being unsure, but you can use it in the plural ('uncertainties') to talk about specific unknown factors.
發音（How to Pronounce "Uncertainty" in English）
How to pronounce "Uncertainty" in English?"Uncertainty" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Uncertainty" from YouTube Videos
How teachers can help kids find their political voices | Sydney Chaffee
TED
“Imagine schools where we let students be humans, with all of the messiness and the uncertainty that is bound to come with that.”
(1 out of 14)
Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Uncertainty"?How does "Uncertainty" change by context?
2. something that is not known or definite
不確定的事物；未知的情況
The new policy is full of uncertainties that need to be addressed.
這項新政策充滿了需要解決的不確定因素。
We must prepare for all possible uncertainties in the project.
我們必須為專案中所有可能的不確定情況做好準備。
3. the feeling of being doubtful or not confident
懷疑、沒有把握的感覺
She spoke with uncertainty in her voice.
她說話時帶著不確定的語氣。
His uncertainty about the decision was clear from his expression.
從他的表情可以明顯看出他對這個決定沒有把握。
4. a situation where the exact outcome or measurement cannot be precisely determined
（結果或測量）無法精確確定的情況
In quantum mechanics, the Heisenberg uncertainty principle is fundamental.
在量子力學中，海森堡測不準原理是基礎理論。
There is always some degree of uncertainty in scientific measurements.
科學測量中總是存在某種程度的不確定性。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Uncertainty"?How to make natural sentences with "Uncertainty"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| uncertainty + about + noun | 對…的不確定性 | There is considerable uncertainty about the future of the project. (對於這個專案的未來，存在著相當大的不確定性。) |
| uncertainty + over + noun | 關於…的不確定性 | The uncertainty over the election results caused market volatility. (關於選舉結果的不確定性導致了市場波動。) |
| uncertainty + regarding + noun | 有關…的不確定性 | We need to clarify the uncertainty regarding the delivery schedule. (我們需要澄清有關交貨時間表的不確定性。) |
| a period of uncertainty | 一段不確定的時期 | The company is going through a period of uncertainty. (這家公司正在經歷一段不確定的時期。) |
| face uncertainty | 面臨不確定性 | Many industries face uncertainty due to technological change. (許多產業因技術變革而面臨不確定性。) |
| reduce/eliminate uncertainty | 減少/消除不確定性 | The new data helped to reduce uncertainty in our forecasts. (新數據有助於減少我們預測中的不確定性。) |
| be fraught with uncertainty | 充滿不確定性 | The economic outlook is fraught with uncertainty. (經濟前景充滿不確定性。) |
| uncertainty + surrounds + noun | …被不確定性籠罩 | Uncertainty surrounds the outcome of the negotiations. (談判的結果被不確定性所籠罩。) |
用法說明
How is "Uncertainty" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Uncertainty"?
uncertainty about doing vs uncertainty to do
- uncertainty about doing 是最常見且正確的用法，表示「對於做某事感到不確定」，強調對某個行動或決定的猶豫狀態。
- uncertainty to do 在標準英語中並不正確，應避免使用。
- 表達「不確定是否要做某事」時，應使用 uncertainty about whether to do 或 uncertainty over doing。
- 在正式或學術寫作中，uncertainty regarding 或 uncertainty concerning 後面接名詞或動名詞，也是常見且正確的用法。 EN: There is considerable uncertainty about investing in the current market. 翻譯: 對於在當前市場投資，存在相當大的不確定性。
EN:He expressed uncertainty about whether to accept the job offer.
翻譯:他對於是否接受那份工作邀約表達了不確定。
總結建議
表達「對做某事不確定」時，應統一使用 uncertainty about doing 或 uncertainty about whether to do 的結構，避免使用不正確的 "uncertainty to do"。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Uncertainty" and similar words?How to choose "Uncertainty" vs alternatives?
uncertainty vs doubt
「uncertainty」強調對情況或結果缺乏確切知識的客觀狀態；「doubt」則更偏向主觀上的懷疑或不信任。
uncertainty vs ambiguity
「uncertainty」指因資訊不足而無法預測結果；「ambiguity」則指因資訊模糊、有多重解釋而難以理解。
uncertainty vs risk
「uncertainty」指完全無法預測或量化可能性的狀態；「risk」則指可以估算發生機率及後果的潛在負面事件。
口語用法
How is "Uncertainty" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Uncertainty"?
引述
在口語中，常用來引述或轉述他人對某事的疑慮或未知狀態。 EN: She expressed some uncertainty about the travel dates. 翻譯: 她對旅行日期表達了一些不確定。
EN:There's a lot of uncertainty surrounding the new policy.
翻譯:關於新政策，存在著很多不確定性。
語氣強調
與程度副詞或短語連用，以強調不確定的強度或普遍性。 EN: I'm in a state of complete uncertainty about my future. 翻譯: 我對自己的未來處於一種完全沒把握的狀態。
EN:The whole project is shrouded in uncertainty.
翻譯:整個專案都籠罩在不確定性之中。
停頓填充
在思考或組織想法時，作為短暫的停頓填充詞，表示說話者正在斟酌。 EN: Well... there's still some uncertainty, but I think we should proceed. 翻譯: 嗯...還是有一些不確定因素，但我認為我們應該繼續。
EN:It depends—there's too much uncertainty to give a definite answer now.
翻譯:這要看情況—現在有太多變數，無法給出明確答案。
正式寫作注意：在學術或正式商業文件中，應避免將 "uncertainty" 用作純粹的停頓填充詞。建議使用更精確的術語（如 "ambiguity"、"volatility"、"indeterminacy"）來描述特定類型的不確定性，並確保上下文邏輯嚴謹。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Uncertainty"?What fixed phrases with "Uncertainty" should I remember?
uncertainty about
uncertainty about [noun/noun phrase]
對某事的疑慮或不確定
uncertainty over
uncertainty over [noun/noun phrase]
因某事而產生的不確定性
period of uncertainty
a period of uncertainty
一段不確定的時期
cloud of uncertainty
a cloud of uncertainty
籠罩的不確定性（比喻）
economic uncertainty
economic uncertainty
經濟上的不確定性
face uncertainty
face (an) uncertainty / face [possessive] uncertainty
面對不確定性
uncertainty principle
the uncertainty principle
測不準原理（物理學）
reduce uncertainty
reduce (the) uncertainty
降低不確定性
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Uncertainty"?Which "Uncertainty" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×There is an uncertainty about the result.
✓There is uncertainty about the result.
Uncertainty is usually used as an uncountable noun when referring to the general state of not being sure. Using 'an' implies a single, specific instance, which is less common.
×I feel many uncertainties about the future.
✓I feel a lot of uncertainty about the future.
While 'uncertainties' (plural) can be used to refer to specific unknown factors, the feeling or general state is typically expressed with the uncountable form 'uncertainty'.
×He expressed his uncertain about the decision.
✓He expressed his uncertainty about the decision.
'Uncertain' is an adjective. The noun form required here is 'uncertainty'.
×The uncertainty of the weather makes planning difficult.
✓The uncertainty about the weather makes planning difficult.
When uncertainty refers to doubt concerning a particular subject, 'about' or 'regarding' is more natural than 'of'. 'Of' is more common in formal or scientific contexts (e.g., 'the uncertainty of the measurement').
×We live in a time full of uncertainty.
✓We live in a time of great uncertainty.
While 'full of uncertainty' is not grammatically wrong, 'a time of great uncertainty' is a much more common and natural collocation in English.
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Uncertainty"?What are tense/participle forms of "Uncertainty"?