A concoction is something you make by mixing different things together — most often a drink, sometimes food. People reach for this word when the mix is unusual: the parts are not a famous recipe, and they might not normally belong in the same cup or pan.

A concoction特調 is something you make by mixing different things together是你把不同東西混在一起做出來的東西 — most often a drink最常見的是飲料, sometimes food有時候是食物。People reach for this word人們會用這個字 when the mix is unusual當這個組合很不尋常的時候: the parts are not a famous recipe這些材料不是什麼有名的食譜, and they might not normally belong in the same cup or pan而且它們平常也不見得會出現在同一個杯子或鍋子裡。

An aunt who stirs ginger, lemon, honey, and one odd extra into a mug has made a concoction. A cook who tips leftover sauces into one pot might laugh and call that a concoction too — a little proud, a little unsure.

An aunt一位阿姨 who stirs ginger, lemon, honey, and one odd extra into a mug把薑、檸檬、蜂蜜，還有一樣奇怪的額外材料攪進馬克杯裡, has made a concoction就做出了一杯特調。A cook一位廚師 who tips leftover sauces into one pot把剩下的醬料倒進同一個鍋裡, might laugh and call that a concoction too可能會笑著也把那叫做一道特調 — a little proud, a little unsure有點得意，又有點沒把握。

The word often carries a small smile: homemade, experimental, maybe strange. A set restaurant dish with a proper name is not usually a concoction; a chemist’s labelled compound is not either, unless someone is teasing.

The word often carries a small smile這個字常常帶著一點微笑的味道: homemade, experimental, maybe strange自己做的、實驗性的，也許還有點怪。A set restaurant dish with a proper name一道有正式名稱的餐廳菜 is not usually a concoction通常不會被叫做特調; a chemist's labelled compound化學家貼了標籤的化合物 is not either也不會, unless someone is teasing除非有人在開玩笑。

Though actually, English stretches it. A concoction can also be a story or a plan that feels mixed together, or even made up — “a wild concoction” may mean a tale that does not quite add up.

Though actually不過其實, English stretches it英文把這個字延伸使用。A concoction can also be a story or a plan that feels mixed together特調也可以指一個感覺是東拼西湊出來的故事或計畫, or even made up甚至是編出來的 — "a wild concoction" may mean a tale that does not quite add up「a wild concoction」可能是指一個兜不太起來的說法。

In everyday talk it is not a grand or official word. You use it when the mixing itself is what you want the listener to notice.

In everyday talk在日常對話裡, it is not a grand or official word這不是一個很正式或很了不起的字。You use it你會用這個字 when the mixing itself is what you want the listener to notice當你想讓聽的人注意到的就是「混合」這件事本身的時候。