If information is given on a need-to-know basis, people hear only the piece they must have, at the moment they must have it — and nothing extra. Offices, armies, hospitals, and police work use this a lot. It is not a warm way of sharing; it is a tight way, used when someone decides that extra facts would not help, or might even do harm.

If information is given on a need-to-know basis如果資訊是以need-to-know basis（有必要才告知）的方式給出，people hear only the piece they must have, at the moment they must have it人們只會在必須知道的那一刻，聽到自己必須知道的那一部分 — and nothing extra其他一概不會多說。Offices, armies, hospitals, and police work use this a lot辦公室、軍隊、醫院和警察工作裡很常這樣做。It is not a warm way of sharing這不是一種溫暖的分享方式；it is a tight way, used when someone decides that extra facts would not help, or might even do harm而是一種嚴格的方式，用在有人判斷多餘的訊息沒有幫助、甚至可能有害的時候。

You almost always meet the whole phrase on a need-to-know basis, not the word standing alone. Though actually, people also stretch it: “That’s need-to-know” can simply mean “I am not going to tell you.” The hyphens matter: need-to-know is one idea, not three loose words.

You almost always meet the whole phrase on a need-to-know basis, not the word standing alone幾乎都是看到「on a need-to-know basis」這整個片語，很少看到這個詞單獨出現。Though actually, people also stretch it不過其實人們也會把它引申："That's need-to-know" can simply mean "I am not going to tell you."「'That's need-to-know'」可以單純表示「我不打算告訴你」。The hyphens matter: need-to-know is one idea, not three loose words連字號很重要：need-to-know是一個整體的概念，不是三個各自獨立的字。