Most students meet this word in one set phrase: extenuating circumstances. Those are the extra facts that make a mistake or a broken rule seem less bad — not gone, but thinner, easier to understand, easier to feel sorry about.

Most students meet this word in one set phrase大多數學生會在一個固定片語裡遇到這個字：extenuating circumstancesextenuating circumstances情有可原的情況。Those are the extra facts那是一些額外的事實 that make a mistake or a broken rule seem less bad讓一個錯誤或違規顯得沒那麼糟——not gone, but thinner, easier to understand, easier to feel sorry about不是消失，而是變薄了，比較好理解，也比較容易讓人同情。

A judge may give a lighter sentence because of them; a teacher may be less angry; a friend may still mind, but less.

A judge may give a lighter sentence because of them法官可能會因為這些情況判得比較輕；a teacher may be less angry老師可能會比較不生氣；a friend may still mind, but less朋友可能還是會介意，但比較沒那麼介意。

The older verb behind it, extenuate, means to make a fault seem smaller by explaining. The picture in the Latin is “make thin.” Though actually, extenuating does not mean the person did nothing wrong, and it does not wipe the act away. It only asks us to weigh the story around it.

The older verb behind it, extenuate背後比較古老的動詞extenuate，means to make a fault seem smaller by explaining意思是用解釋讓一個過錯顯得比較小。The picture in the Latin is "make thin."拉丁文裡的畫面是「使變薄」。Though actually不過事實上，extenuating does not mean the person did nothing wrongextenuating並不是說這個人沒有做錯事，and it does not wipe the act away也不會把這件事一筆勾銷。It only asks us to weigh the story around it它只是要我們把周圍的故事一併考慮進去。

You will hear it in law, in schools, and in careful apology. Outside that phrase, the adjective is uncommon.

You will hear it in law, in schools, and in careful apology你會在法律、學校，還有講究的道歉裡聽到這個字。Outside that phrase, the adjective is uncommon離開那個固定片語，這個形容詞就不常見了。