When a change or a problem is insidious, it does not hit you all at once. It grows little by little, and people often do not notice it until the harm is already serious.

When a change or a problem is insidious當一個變化或問題是 insidious的 it does not hit you all at once它不會一下子全部打過來。It grows little by little它一點一點地擴大 and people often do not notice it而人們往往沒發現 until the harm is already serious直到傷害已經很嚴重了。

Doctors use this word for illness that hides for a long time. Writers use it for habits, and for unfair rules, that quietly make life worse.

Doctors use this word醫生會用這個字 for illness that hides for a long time來形容潛伏很久的疾病。Writers use it作家會用它 for habits來形容習慣 and for unfair rules或不公平的規定 that quietly make life worse那些悄悄讓生活變糟的東西。

The word feels formal, and a bit dark. You would not call a loud crash insidious.

The word feels formal, and a bit dark這個字給人的感覺是正式、有點陰沉。You would not call a loud crash insidious你不會把一聲巨響叫做 insidious。

Though actually, some people also use it about a person who is clever in a bad way, like someone laying a trap — that is closer to the old Latin picture of an ambush. In talk about problems and illness, the slow-and-unnoticed meaning is the one you will hear most.

Though actually不過其實 some people also use it about a person有些人也會用它形容一個人 who is clever in a bad way耍陰險小聰明 like someone laying a trap像是在設陷阱的人 that is closer to the old Latin picture of an ambush這比較接近拉丁文裡「埋伏」的舊有畫面。In talk about problems and illness在講問題和疾病的時候 the slow-and-unnoticed meaning「悄悄擴大、不易察覺」的意思 is the one you will hear most是你最常聽到的用法。