Hypothetical describes a situation that is not real, but that you can imagine. You use it when you want to think about what would happen if something were true: a hypothetical question, a hypothetical case, a hypothetical risk. Teachers and scientists like this word because it keeps the “not real yet” part in view.

Hypothetical hypothetical(假設的) describes a situation that is not real, but that you can imagine描述的是一個不是真的、但你可以想像的情況。You use it你會用這個詞 when you want to think about what would happen if something were true當你想去想「如果某件事是真的，會發生什麼」：a hypothetical question一個假設性的問題、a hypothetical case一個假設性的案例、a hypothetical risk一個假設性的風險。Teachers and scientists老師和科學家 like this word喜歡這個詞 because it keeps the “not real yet” part in view因為它讓「還不是真的」這一點保持清楚可見。

It can also be a noun: a hypothetical is an imagined case.

It它 can also be a noun也可以當名詞：a hypothetical一個hypothetical is an imagined case就是一個假想的情況。

It does not mean someone is lying to you. A lie is offered as true; a hypothetical is offered as “what if.” Though actually, people sometimes hide a real hope inside a hypothetical (“This is just hypothetical, but if we dated…”), so listeners learn to hear the tone, not only the word.

It它 does not mean someone is lying to you不代表有人在對你說謊。A lie一個謊言 is offered as true是當成真的講出來的；a hypothetical一個假設 is offered as “what if.”則是以「如果…」的方式提出的。Though actually不過事實上，people sometimes hide a real hope inside a hypothetical人們有時候會把真實的期望藏在一個假設裡（“This is just hypothetical, but if we dated…”）（「這只是假設，不過如果我們在一起的話…」），so而 listeners learn to hear the tone, not only the word聽的人要學會聽語氣，不只是聽字面。

In casual chat, “what if” or “just imagine” is more common; hypothetical sounds a bit like school or careful discussion.

In casual chat在輕鬆聊天時，“what if” or “just imagine”「what if」或「just imagine」 is more common比較常用；hypothetical hypothetical這個詞 sounds a bit like school or careful discussion聽起來比較像上課或正式討論的用語。