Stealthily describes HOW someone does something: quietly and secretly, moving in a way that is meant not to be noticed. If you walk stealthily, you are watching your own feet, keeping your steps soft, perhaps holding your breath — because being seen or heard would spoil everything.

Stealthily這個字 describes形容的是 HOW someone does something一件事是怎麼做的：quietly and secretly安靜又偷偷地，moving in a way that is meant not to be noticed用不想被發現的方式行動。If you walk stealthily如果你這樣走路，you are watching your own feet你會盯著自己的腳，keeping your steps soft把腳步放輕，perhaps holding your breath也許還屏住呼吸 — because being seen or heard would spoil everything因為被看到或聽到就全毀了。

A cat crossing a room towards a bird moves stealthily. A child creeping downstairs at midnight to look at the presents moves stealthily.

A cat貓 crossing a room towards a bird要穿過房間靠近鳥的時候， moves stealthily就是這樣悄悄移動的。A child小孩 creeping downstairs at midnight半夜偷偷下樓 to look at the presents看禮物， moves stealthily也是這樣悄悄移動的。

So the word says two things at once, and both matter: quiet, and on purpose. Quiet by accident is not stealthy. There has to be a reason for hiding.

So the word所以這個字 says two things at once同時說了兩件事， and both matter而且兩個都重要： quiet安靜， and on purpose還有故意。Quiet by accident不小心才安靜的 is not stealthy不算stealthy。There has to be一定要有 a reason for hiding想隱藏的理由。

It is a somewhat literary word. You meet it in novels, in news writing, and in storytelling much more than in speech; in conversation people say 'quietly', or 'without anyone noticing', or 'he sneaked out'. That does not make it a difficult word to use — it is a lovely word — but if you say it in a casual chat, it will sound slightly grand, which may be exactly the effect you want.

It is這是個 a somewhat literary word帶點文學味的字。You meet it你會遇到它 in novels, in news writing, and in storytelling在小說、新聞寫作和說故事裡， much more than in speech比在口語裡多得多；in conversation對話中 people say人們會說 'quietly'『quietly』， or或 'without anyone noticing'『without anyone noticing』， or或 'he sneaked out'『he sneaked out』。That does not make it a difficult word to use這不代表它是個難用的字 — it is a lovely word它其實是個很美的字 — but if you say it in a casual chat但如果你在閒聊時說出來， it will sound slightly grand會聽起來有點正式， which may be exactly the effect you want這可能正是你要的效果。

It is often mildly negative, or at least suspicious, because people who hide their movements usually have a reason. But not always: a nurse can move stealthily through a dark ward so as not to wake the patients, and there is nothing wrong in that.

It is often mildly negative它常常帶點負面， or at least suspicious至少是可疑的， because people who hide their movements因為會刻意隱藏行動的人 usually have a reason通常有理由。But not always但也不一定： a nurse護理師 can move stealthily through a dark ward可以悄悄穿過昏暗的病房 so as not to wake the patients避免吵醒病人， and there is nothing wrong in that這樣做完全沒問題。

Writers also use it about things that are not people. Prices rise stealthily. An illness spreads stealthily. Here it means the change is slow and quiet enough that nobody notices until it is large.

Writers作家 also use it about things that are not people也會用它來說不是人的東西。Prices物價 rise stealthily悄悄上漲。An illness疾病 spreads stealthily悄悄蔓延。Here這裡 it means意思是 the change is slow and quiet enough變化緩慢又安靜 that nobody notices到沒人注意 until it is large直到變得很嚴重。