An absent-minded person forgets little things — keys, a bag, why they walked into a room — not because they are foolish, but because their mind is somewhere else. The “absent” here is the mind: it has gone off to a thought, a worry, a plan, and the hands keep moving without it.

An absent-minded person forgets little things absent-minded 的人會忘記小事情 — keys鑰匙, a bag包包, why they walked into a room或是為什麼走進一個房間 — not because they are foolish不是因為他們笨, but because their mind is somewhere else而是因為他們的心思在別的地方. The "absent" here這裡的「absent」 is the mind指的是心思, it has gone off to a thought, a worry, a plan它飄去想某個念頭、某個煩惱、某個計畫了, and the hands keep moving without it而手還是繼續動，心思卻不在

It is a kind word, most of the time. We use it for the professor in a story who wears two different socks, or for a parent who puts the milk in the cupboard.

It is a kind word這是個帶著善意的字, most of the time大多時候是這樣. We use it for the professor in a story who wears two different socks我們會用它形容故事裡穿錯襪子的教授, or for a parent who puts the milk in the cupboard或是把牛奶放進櫃子裡的家長

Though actually, it is not the same as being careless on purpose, and it is not the same as a serious memory illness. Absent-minded is everyday and often fond. If someone cannot make new memories at all, that is a different problem, and we do not use this word for that.

Though actually不過, it is not the same as being careless on purpose這跟故意粗心不一樣, and it is not the same as a serious memory illness也跟嚴重的記憶疾病不一樣. Absent-minded is everyday and often fond absent-minded 是日常用語，而且常常帶著喜愛的語氣. If someone cannot make new memories at all如果一個人完全無法形成新的記憶, that is a different problem那是另一個問題, and we do not use this word for that我們不會用這個字來講那種情況

You can also do an absent-minded thing: an absent-minded smile, an absent-minded nod — you did it without really being in the moment.

You can also do an absent-minded thing你也可以做一件 absent-minded 的事: an absent-minded smile像心不在焉的微笑, an absent-minded nod心不在焉的點頭 — you did it without really being in the moment你做的時候心思並不真的在當下