1. to not know or be aware of something
不知道，不瞭解
I'm sorry, I don't know the answer to that question.
抱歉，我不知道那個問題的答案。
She didn't know what time the meeting started.
她不知道會議幾點開始。
Unknown Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
unknown
verb
快速理解
What does "Unknown" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Unknown"?
「unknown」作為動詞較為罕見，主要用於特定領域或文學性表達，意指使某事物變得未知或不為人知。
- 1
使不為人知
EN: to make something unknown or obscure
翻譯: 使某事物變得未知或不為人知。
- 2
從記錄中移除
EN: to remove from knowledge or record
翻譯: 從知識或記錄中移除，使其消失於公眾認知。
- 3
隱藏身份
EN: to conceal the identity or nature of something
翻譯: 隱藏某事物的身份或本質，使其無法被辨識。
小提醒：注意：「unknown」作動詞非常少見，在日常對話中幾乎不會使用。多數情況下，你會遇到的是其形容詞（an unknown person）或名詞（the unknown）的用法。使用時需注意上下文是否適合這種文學或技術性的表達。
發音（How to Pronounce "Unknown" in English）
How to pronounce "Unknown" in English?"Unknown" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Unknown" from YouTube Videos
Hadyn Parry: Re-engineering mosquitos to fight disease
TED
“If it was the case, we wouldn't have between 200 and 300 million cases of malaria every year and we wouldn't have a million and a half deaths from malaria, and we wouldn't have a disease that was relatively unknown 50 years ago now suddenly turned into the largest mosquito-borne virus threat that we have, and that's called dengue fever.”
(1 out of 30)
Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Unknown"?How does "Unknown" change by context?
2. to not be familiar with or recognize someone or something
不認識，不熟悉
I'm afraid I don't know that person.
恐怕我不認識那個人。
He didn't know the city well, so he got lost.
他對這座城市不熟悉，所以迷路了。
3. to not have experienced or encountered something
未曾經歷，未曾遭遇
The country has not known war for over fifty years.
這個國家已經五十多年未曾經歷戰爭。
He has never known true poverty.
他從未經歷過真正的貧窮。
4. to not be able to distinguish or tell apart
無法分辨，無法區別
The twins were so alike that you couldn't know one from the other.
這對雙胞胎長得太像了，你無法分辨誰是誰。
He didn't know right from wrong in that situation.
在那種情況下，他無法分辨對錯。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Unknown"?How to make natural sentences with "Unknown"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| unknown + noun | 未知的（事物） | The cause of the fire is still **unknown**. (火災的原因仍然未知。) |
| unknown + to + person | 不為（某人）所知 | The details were **unknown** to the public. (這些細節不為公眾所知。) |
| It is unknown + wh-clause (e.g., what, why, how) | 尚不清楚... | It is **unknown** when he will arrive. (他何時會抵達尚不清楚。) |
| remain/stay unknown | 保持未知；仍是個謎 | The artist's true identity remains **unknown**. (這位藝術家的真實身份仍是個謎。) |
| largely/virtually unknown | 幾乎不為人知 | The species was largely **unknown** outside its native habitat. (這個物種在其原生棲息地之外幾乎不為人知。) |
用法說明
How is "Unknown" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Unknown"?
unknown doing vs unknown to do
- unknown doing 通常用來描述一個一般性、習慣性或持續性的活動或狀態，強調的是這個行為本身或過程。
- unknown to do 則常指特定、一次性或未來可能發生的行為，有時帶有「選擇去做」或「認為應該做」的意味。
- 在 would unknown 的結構後，固定接 to do，用來表達禮貌的請求或願望。 EN: She enjoys unknown the details of ancient history. 翻譯: 她喜歡探究古代歷史的細節。
EN:She would like to unknown the truth behind the rumor.
翻譯:她想要查明謠言背後的真相。
總結建議
一般情況下，描述愛好或習慣時用 "unknown doing"，表達具體意圖或禮貌請求時則用 "unknown to do"。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Unknown" and similar words?How to choose "Unknown" vs alternatives?
unknown vs unidentified
「unknown」強調完全缺乏資訊或認知，而「unidentified」則指有具體對象但身份尚未被確認。
unknown vs obscure
「unknown」指完全不為人知，而「obscure」則表示鮮為人知、難以理解或被忽視。
unknown vs uncharted
「unknown」是通用詞，指任何未知事物；「uncharted」特指地理或比喻上未經探索、沒有地圖的領域。
口語用法
How is "Unknown" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Unknown"?
引述
當轉述他人不確定的話語或想法時，常用 "unknown" 來表示資訊來源不明或內容未經證實。 EN: He said the cause of the delay was unknown. 翻譯: 他說延誤的原因不明。
EN:The exact time of arrival is still unknown.
翻譯:確切的抵達時間仍然未知。
語氣強調
在口語中，有時會用 "unknown" 來強調某事的極度不確定性或神秘感，帶有戲劇化效果。 EN: The outcome is completely unknown to us. 翻譯: 結果對我們來說完全是個未知數。
EN:She ventured into the unknown territory.
翻譯:她冒險進入了未知的領域。
停頓填充
在思考或組織語句時，有時會用 "unknown" 作為填充詞，表示暫時無法給出確切答案。 EN: The total cost... well, that's still unknown at this point. 翻譯: 總成本...嗯，目前這還是未知的。
EN:Whether he'll agree or not is, you know, unknown.
翻譯:他會不會同意，你知道的，還不知道。
正式寫作注意：在學術或正式文件中，應避免將 "unknown" 用作口語填充詞。建議使用更精確的表述，如 "has not yet been determined"、"remains unclear" 或 "is not yet known"，以維持文章的嚴謹性。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Unknown"?What fixed phrases with "Unknown" should I remember?
remain unknown
verb + adjective
保持未知；仍然不為人知
leave something unknown
verb + object + adjective
讓某事處於未知狀態；未查明某事
make oneself unknown
verb + pronoun + adjective
使自己不為人知；隱姓埋名
render something unknown
verb + object + adjective
使某事變得未知或無法辨識
venture into the unknown
verb + prepositional phrase
冒險進入未知領域
fear the unknown
verb + determiner + adjective (as noun)
害怕未知的事物
keep someone unknown
verb + object + adjective
使某人保持匿名或不為人知
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Unknown"?Which "Unknown" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×The reason is still unknown for us.
✓The reason is still unknown to us.
「unknown」作形容詞時，表示「未知的」，後面接「to」來引出對誰而言是未知的，而不是用「for」。
×We unknown his whereabouts.
✓His whereabouts are unknown (to us).
「unknown」主要用作形容詞或名詞，不能直接當作動詞使用。要表達「我們不知道...」應使用「do not know」或將「unknown」用作形容詞（如「is unknown」）。
×It's an unknown information.
✓It's unknown information. / It's an unknown fact.
「information」是不可數名詞，前面不能加不定冠詞「an」。可以去掉冠詞，或將「information」換成可數名詞如「fact」、「detail」。
×The result unknown.
✓The result is unknown.
當「unknown」作為形容詞描述主詞狀態時，必須與 be 動詞（is, are, was, were 等）連用，構成「主詞 + be + unknown」的結構。
×He is an unknown for me.
✓He is unknown to me. / He is a stranger to me.
表示「對某人來說是陌生的/不認識的」，正確的片語是「unknown to someone」。使用「for me」是錯誤的。如果想用名詞，可以用「a stranger」。
×We need to unknown more about this.
✓We need to know more about this. / This needs to be better known.
「unknown」沒有動詞「知道」的意思。想表達「需要知道更多」應使用動詞「know」。如果想用「unknown」，可以換成被動描述「需要被更了解」。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Unknown"?What are tense/participle forms of "Unknown"?
unknowns(3rd_singular)unknowning(present_participle)unknowned(past)unknowned(past_participle)