So big, or so surprising, that it is hard to take in. This is the word for the THING that shocks you, not the person who is shocked.

So big這麼大, or so surprising或這麼令人驚訝, that it is hard to take in以至於讓人一時反應不過來。This這個字 is the word for the THING that shocks you是用來形容讓你震驚的那個「東西」, not the person who is shocked不是形容被嚇到的那個人。

Its most common job by far is sitting in front of a number or an amount: a staggering 40 per cent, a staggering $2 billion, a staggering amount of food, a staggering number of complaints. When a writer wants a figure to land, this is the word they reach for.

Its most common job by far它最常見的用法, is sitting in front of a number or an amount遠遠是放在數字或數量前面: a staggering 40 per cent驚人的百分之四十, a staggering $2 billion驚人的二十億美元, a staggering amount of food驚人份量的食物, a staggering number of complaints驚人數量的投訴。When a writer wants a figure to land當作者想讓一個數字有衝擊力時, this這個字 is the word they reach for就是他們會用的字。

It also works for non-number things that are hugely surprising — a staggering achievement, staggering news, staggering rudeness, a staggering waste of money. Notice that it does not tell you good or bad by itself; the surrounding words do that. Staggering beauty is wonderful, staggering incompetence is not.

It它 also works for non-number things that are hugely surprising也可以用在非數字、但極度令人驚訝的事情上 — a staggering achievement驚人的成就, staggering news驚人的消息, staggering rudeness驚人的無禮, a staggering waste of money驚人的浪費。Notice that請注意 it它 does not tell you good or bad by itself本身不會告訴你是好是壞; the surrounding words do that周圍的字才會決定。Staggering beauty驚人的美 is wonderful是很棒的, staggering incompetence驚人的無能 is not則不是。

What it always tells you is size — this is off the normal scale. It usually comes before a noun ('a staggering rise') but also works after be ('the cost was staggering').

What it always tells you它永遠會告訴你的 is size是規模大小 — this is off the normal scale也就是超出正常的尺度。It它 usually comes before a noun通常放在名詞前面 ('a staggering rise'像「a staggering rise」) but also works after be但也可以放在be動詞後面 ('the cost was staggering'像「the cost was staggering」)。

It is common in journalism and everyday speech, and because journalists overuse it in front of statistics, it can sound a bit like a headline. Save it for things that really are extreme, or it loses its force.

It它 is common in journalism and everyday speech常見於新聞寫作和日常口語, and because journalists overuse it in front of statistics而因為記者太常把它放在統計數字前面用, it can sound a bit like a headline它可能聽起來有點像標題用語。Save it for things that really are extreme把它留給真的很極端的事情, or it loses its force不然它就會失去力道。

Careful with the other meaning: staggering is also the -ing form of the verb stagger, so 'he came staggering through the door' means he was walking unsteadily, probably drunk or hurt — nothing to do with surprise.

Careful with the other meaning小心另一個意思: staggering staggering is also the -ing form of the verb stagger也是動詞stagger的-ing形式, so 'he came staggering through the door'所以「he came staggering through the door」 means he was walking unsteadily意思是他走路搖搖晃晃, probably drunk or hurt可能是喝醉或受傷了 — nothing to do with surprise跟驚訝一點關係都沒有。