Expediency is choosing what works fastest or most usefully right now, instead of what is right. The word carries a quiet criticism.

Expediency這個字 is是 choosing what works fastest or most usefully right now選現在做起來最快、最有用的做法, instead of what is right.而不是選對的做法。 The word carries這個字帶有 a quiet criticism.一種隱含的批評。

When someone says 'the decision was made out of expediency' or 'political expediency', they are saying: it got the job done, it solved their problem, and it was not honest. That gap between useful and right is the whole meaning of the word — if there were no gap, you would just say 'a practical decision'.

When someone says有人說 'the decision was made out of expediency'「這個決定是出於expediency」 or或 'political expediency',「政治上的expediency」 they are saying:他們的意思是： it got the job done,這樣做能把事情辦成， it solved their problem,能解決他們的問題， and it was not honest.但不誠實。 That gap between useful and right有用跟對之間的這個落差 is the whole meaning of the word就是這個字的全部意思 — if there were no gap,如果沒有這個落差， you would just say你就只會說 'a practical decision'.「務實的決定」就好。

It is an uncountable, formal word, at home in newspapers, politics and business writing. You will see 'political expediency' more often than any other pairing.

It is an uncountable, formal word,它是不可數的正式用詞, at home in常出現在 newspapers, politics and business writing.報紙、政治和商業文章裡。 You will see你會看到 'political expediency'「政治權宜」這個搭配 more often than any other pairing.比其他搭配都常見。

The related word 'expedient' works as an adjective ('it was expedient to say nothing') and as a noun ('a temporary expedient' — a quick fix that will do for now).

The related word相關的字 'expedient''expedient' works as an adjective可以當形容詞用 ('it was expedient to say nothing')「it was expedient to say nothing」意思是「什麼都不說才是識時務的做法」 and as a noun也可以當名詞用 ('a temporary expedient')「a temporary expedient」 — a quick fix that will do for now.指先湊合著用、能撐一下的應急辦法。

There is an older, cleaner sense in which expediency simply means suitability or advantage, with no blame attached, and you may meet it in older books; but in today's writing, when you read 'expediency', look for the blame. Note also that expediency and expedience are the same word with two spellings, and both are correct.

There is an older, cleaner sense還有一個比較舊、比較乾淨的意思 in which expediency simply means是expediency單純指 suitability or advantage,合不合適、有沒有好處, with no blame attached,不帶責備的意味, and you may meet it in older books;你可能會在比較舊的書裡遇到； but in today's writing,但在今天的文章裡, when you read 'expediency',當你看到「expediency」, look for the blame.要留意那個責備的意味。 Note also that也要注意 expediency and expedience expediency跟expedience are the same word with two spellings,是同一個字的兩種拼法, and both are correct.兩種都是對的。