Describing something that turned out badly, that you wish had gone another way. A regrettable event is unfortunate, unpleasant, a shame — an accident, a remark, a delay, a decision that caused harm.

Describing something that turned out badly,用來形容某件事後來變得很糟， that you wish had gone another way.是你希望它當初有不同結果的那種事。A regrettable event is unfortunate, unpleasant, a shameregrettable 的事件是不幸的、令人不快的、很可惜的 — an accident, a remark, a delay, a decision that caused harm.──像是一場意外、一句話、一次延誤，或是一個造成傷害的決定。

The useful thing to notice is what the word does socially. It is the word of official apology, and it apologises without confessing.

The useful thing to notice is值得注意的重點是， what the word does socially.這個字在社交上做了什麼事。It is the word of official apology,它是官方道歉時用的字， and it apologises without confessing.能道歉卻不用承認錯誤。

A company says 'the incident was regrettable' — the sentence is sad about the event but does not say who caused it or that anyone is sorry. Compare 'we made a serious mistake and we apologise'. That is why you meet regrettable so often in company statements, government announcements, and news writing: it lets a speaker sound sorry while staying at a distance.

A company says 'the incident was regrettable'公司會說「這起事件是 regrettable 的」 — the sentence is sad about the event──這句話對這件事表示遺憾， but does not say who caused it or that anyone is sorry.但沒有說是誰造成的，也沒有說有誰感到抱歉。Compare比較一下 'we made a serious mistake and we apologise'.「我們犯了嚴重的錯誤，我們道歉」這句話。That is why you meet regrettable so often in company statements, government announcements, and news writing:這就是為什麼你會在公司聲明、政府公告和新聞寫作裡常常遇到 regrettable： it lets a speaker sound sorry while staying at a distance.它讓說話者聽起來很抱歉，同時又能保持距離。

Native listeners hear that distance. When a politician says something is 'deeply regrettable', many people hear it as a non-apology.

Native listeners母語人士 hear that distance.聽得出那個距離。When a politician says something is 'deeply regrettable',當政治人物說某件事「deeply regrettable」（非常令人遺憾）時， many people hear it as a non-apology.很多人聽起來就像是沒有道歉。

It is formal. In everyday talk people say 'it's a shame', 'it's too bad', 'what a pity'. Save regrettable for writing and for careful, serious speech.

It is formal.這是正式用語。In everyday talk日常說話 people say 'it's a shame', 'it's too bad', 'what a pity'.大家會說「it's a shame」、「it's too bad」、「what a pity」。Save regrettable for把 regrettable 留給 writing and for careful, serious speech.書寫，和謹慎、正式的場合說話用。

Remember also that it attaches to the THING, never to the person feeling it. Events, decisions, remarks, delays, and consequences are regrettable. A person who feels sorry is regretful.

Remember also that也要記得， it attaches to the THING,這個字是接在「事情」上， never to the person feeling it.絕不接在感到遺憾的那個人身上。Events, decisions, remarks, delays, and consequences事件、決定、言論、延誤和後果， are regrettable.都可以是 regrettable。A person who feels sorry is感到抱歉的人，是 regretful.regretful。