If a system is adversarial, two sides stand against each other and try to win.

If a system is adversarial如果一個制度是adversarial（對抗式）的 two sides stand against each other and try to win雙方會站在對立面，都想贏。

Law courts in some countries work this way: one side says you did it, the other side says you did not, and a judge or a jury decides. Politics can be adversarial too — parties attack each other instead of building something together.

Law courts in some countries work this way有些國家的法院就是這樣運作 one side says you did it, the other side says you did not一方說你做了，另一方說你沒做 and a judge or a jury decides由法官或陪審團來裁決。 Politics can be adversarial too政治也可以是adversarial的 parties attack each other instead of building something together各政黨互相攻擊，而不是一起建設。

The word is fairly formal. You meet it in news, law, and serious talk more than at the dinner table.

The word is fairly formal這個字算是滿正式的。 You meet it in news, law, and serious talk你會在新聞、法律、嚴肅的討論裡看到它 more than at the dinner table而不是在餐桌上的閒聊。

Though actually people stretch it: any meeting that feels like a fight — a boss and a union, two companies, even two friends who always argue — can be called adversarial. It describes the setup (two sides opposed), not just one angry person.

Though actually people stretch it不過其實大家也會把這個字用得更廣 any meeting that feels like a fight任何感覺像在吵架的場面 a boss and a union, two companies, even two friends who always argue像老闆跟工會、兩間公司，甚至老是吵架的兩個朋友 can be called adversarial都可以說是adversarial。 It describes the setup (two sides opposed)這個字形容的是整個局面（兩方對立） not just one angry person不只是一個人在生氣。

It is not the same as adverse, which means unfavourable or harmful: adverse weather is bad weather, not a courtroom.

It is not the same as adverse這跟adverse不一樣 which means unfavourable or harmfuladverse的意思是不利的、有害的 adverse weather is bad weather, not a courtroomadverse weather是指惡劣天氣，跟法庭沒關係。