When two things pull you different ways, the one that outweighs the other is the one that matters more — more important, more serious, more valuable.

When two things pull you different ways當兩件事把你往不同方向拉 the one that outweighs the other那一方 is 就是 the one that matters more比較重要的那一方 more important, more serious, more valuable更重要、更嚴重、也更有價值。

The benefits outweigh the risks. The cost outweighed the fun.

The benefits好處 outweigh大於 the risks風險。 The cost付出的代價 outweighed蓋過了 the fun樂趣。

This is the sense you will meet in essays and advice. Underneath it is a pair of scales: one side goes down because it weighs more.

This這 is是 the sense you will meet in essays and advice你在議論文和建議文裡會遇到的意思。 Underneath it背後 is是 a pair of scales一組天平 one side goes down一邊往下沉 because it weighs more因為它比較重。

Though actually the older, physical sense is still alive — if this box outweighs that one, it is heavier — but students meet “matters more” far more often.

Though actually不過其實 the older, physical sense比較舊的、實體意義 is still alive還在使用 if this box outweighs that one如果這個箱子比那個箱子重 it is heavier就是這個意思 but students meet但學生遇到的 「matters more」「比較重要」 far more often這個意思要常見得多。

It is formal enough for school writing and still fine in ordinary talk. It does not mean “weigh something outside.”

It它 is formal enough for school writing正式到可以用在學校作文裡 and 也 still fine in ordinary talk用在平常說話也沒問題。 It它 does not mean 不是 「weigh something outside」「在外面秤重」 的意思。