喜樂美語

核心畫面

Picture a pattern you can predict — even edges, equal gaps, the same rule each time — and then something that breaks it. This word is always the breaking, and what gets broken changes: a shape, a schedule, a rule of conduct, a grammar pattern, an official structure. English even borrows it as a polite way of saying the body's own routine has been broken.

可以想成：一個你可以預測的規律——邊緣整齊、間隔一致、每次照同一條規則來——然後有東西打破了它。這個字說的永遠是那個…更多收起可以想成：一個你可以預測的規律——邊緣整齊、間隔一致、每次照同一條規則來——然後有東西打破了它。這個字說的永遠是那個「打破」，至於被打破的是什麼會變：形狀、時間表、行為準則、文法規律、正式編制。英文甚至借它來委婉地說身體的規律被打亂了。

From the picture

時間上沒有規律

把「間隔不一致」從空間搬到時間：事情還是發生，只是抓不出節奏。

irregular (uneven timing) · adjective · B1

Happening with gaps of different lengths in between, not at a steady rhythm.

不規律的

不照規矩、不屬正規

被打破的規律換成制度：行為不合規範，或身分不在正式編制之內。

irregular (against rules) · adjective · B1

not following the usual accepted rules of law, honesty, or fair behavior.

不合常規的

文法上的不規則

被打破的規律換成文法：多數的字照公式變化，這些不照。

irregular (grammar) · adjective · B1

a verb or word form that does not follow the usual pattern of grammar.

不規則變化的

委婉說法：便秘

把「身體的規律被打亂」拿來當委婉語，避開直接的說法。

irregular (constipated) · adjective · B1

a polite American English word meaning constipated: unable to pass body waste easily.

便秘的

Also in this word

irregular (uneven shape) · adjective · B1

Not smooth, straight, or even in shape, edge, or surface.

不規則的

原始詞典資料9 筆記錄

以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，原文照列，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。

irregularadj/ɪˈɹɛɡ.jʊ.lə/

  • 1

    Nonstandard; not conforming to rules or expectations.

    • ‘ “It would be most irregular Grandpa!” says Miss Cecily frowning and tapping her foot. “Well, we’re a pretty irregular family so that’s neither here nor there,” says the old man, impish like. [...] ’
  • 2

    Of a surface, rough.

  • 3

    Without symmetry, regularity, or uniformity.

    • The hovel stood in the centre of what had once been a vegetable garden, but was now a patch of rank weeds. Surrounding this, almost like a zareba, was an irregular ring of gorse and brambles, an unclaimed vestige of the original common.
    • Near by, where the crystal clear River Llugwy is crossed by a bridge, stands a small and ancient church built of massive, irregular boulders.
  • 4

    geometrymathematicssciencesOf a polygon, not regular; having sides that are not equal or angles that are not equal.

  • 5

    geometrymathematicssciencesOf a polyhedron, whose faces are not all regular polygons (or are not equally inclined to each other).

  • 6

    grammarhuman-scienceslinguisticsOf a word, not following the regular or expected patterns of inflection in a given language.

    • "Calves", "cacti", and "children" are irregular plurals.
    • "To buy" is an irregular English verb: its past simple and past participle tense is "bought".
  • 7

    gastroenterologymedicinesciencesHaving abnormal bowel movements at inconsistent intervals.

irregularnoun/ɪˈɹɛɡ.jʊ.lə/

  • 1

    A soldier who is not a member of an official military force and who may not use regular army tactics.

  • 2

    One who does not regularly attend a venue.

    • There's one neighborhood tavern where the regulars and irregulars go after a hard day to unlax and rewind, throw back a few, and just hang out - you know the one.

資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。