Esoteric describes knowledge, talk, or hobbies that only a small inner group really understands. The word comes from old Greek teaching: some lessons were for the public, and some were for the people already inside the school. The public kind is exoteric; the inner kind is esoteric.

Esoteric describes knowledge, talk, or hobbiesEsoteric用來形容知識、談話，或興趣 that only a small inner group really understands只有一小群內行人才真正懂的。The word comes from old Greek teaching這個字來自古希臘的教學方式 : some lessons were for the public：有些課是給一般大眾的 and some were for the people already inside the school有些課是給已經在學校裡面的人的。The public kind is exoteric給大眾的那種叫exoteric（外傳的） the inner kind is esoteric給內部人的那種叫esoteric（內傳的）。

Today we stretch it. A research paper can be esoteric. A tiny music style can be esoteric. Though actually, people also use it a bit loosely just to mean “weird and hard,” even when there is no real inner circle — that use is common, but a little sloppy.

Today we stretch it現在我們把這個字延伸使用。A research paper can be esoteric一篇研究論文可以是esoteric的。A tiny music style can be esoteric一種小眾的音樂風格可以是esoteric的。Though actually不過其實 people also use it a bit loosely just to mean "weird and hard,"人們也會比較鬆散地用它來表示『又怪又難』 even when there is no real inner circle就算根本沒有什麼真正的內部圈子 — that use is common, but a little sloppy——這種用法很常見，但有點不夠精確。

The word feels educated. If you call someone’s interest esoteric, you may sound admiring, or you may sound as if you are shutting them out; tone does the work.

The word feels educated這個字給人一種有學問的感覺。If you call someone's interest esoteric如果你說某人的興趣是esoteric you may sound admiring聽起來可能是佩服 or you may sound as if you are shutting them out也可能是把對方排除在外 ; tone does the work；語氣才是關鍵。