If behaviour is reprehensible, it is very wrong — wrong enough that people should say so, not smile it away. You use it of actions, remarks, treatment of others, more than of a person as a whole (though you can).

If behaviour is reprehensible如果某個行為是reprehensible（應受譴責）的 , it is very wrong，那就是非常錯 — wrong enough that people should say so——錯到大家應該說出來 , not smile it away，而不是笑笑帶過。 You use it of actions, remarks, treatment of others你會用這個字形容行為、言論，或對待別人的方式 , more than of a person as a whole，比較少用來形容整個人 (though you can)（雖然也可以這樣用）。

It is a formal word. A friend might say “that was cruel”; a newspaper, a judge, or a speech is more likely to call a lie or an attack reprehensible.

It is a formal word它是一個正式的字。 A friend might say “that was cruel”朋友可能會說「that was cruel（那樣很殘忍）」 ; a newspaper, a judge, or a speech；而報紙、法官，或演講稿 is more likely to call a lie or an attack reprehensible比較可能把一個謊言或一次攻擊稱為reprehensible。

It does not mean “you can understand it” — that is comprehensible, which looks a little like this word and tricks the eye. It also does not mean a small bad thing, like forgetting homework.

It does not mean “you can understand it”它不是「你可以理解它」的意思 — that is comprehensible——那是comprehensible（可以理解的） which looks a little like this word and tricks the eye，這個字長得跟reprehensible有點像，容易騙過眼睛。 It also does not mean a small bad thing它也不是指一件很小的壞事 , like forgetting homework，像忘記寫作業那種程度。

You reach for it when the blame should be public and serious. In ordinary talk many people would just say “that’s awful” or “that’s not OK.” You will meet reprehensible most in news, politics, and official criticism, not in the night market.

You reach for it你會用這個字 when the blame should be public and serious當責難需要公開而且嚴肅的時候。 In ordinary talk many people would just say日常對話裡很多人只會說 “that’s awful” or “that’s not OK.”「that’s awful（太糟了）」或「that’s not OK（這樣不行）」。 You will meet reprehensible most in news, politics, and official criticism你最常在新聞、政治，和官方的譴責聲明裡遇到reprehensible , not in the night market，不會在夜市裡聽到。