Stealthy describes a person, an animal, or a movement that is quiet and secret — done in a way designed not to be seen or heard. A stealthy cat. A stealthy step. A stealthy look at someone's phone screen.

Stealthystealthy這個字 describes a person, an animal, or a movement用來形容一個人、一隻動物，或一個動作 that is quiet and secret安靜又隱密 done in a way designed not to be seen or heard刻意做得不讓人看到或聽到。A stealthy cat一隻躡手躡腳的貓。A stealthy step一個悄悄的腳步。A stealthy look偷偷瞄一眼 at someone's phone screen別人的手機螢幕。

The key idea is not only that it is quiet, but that the quietness is deliberate. Someone is trying not to be noticed, and usually has a reason for it. Because of that reason, the word often has a faint smell of something being hidden. A stealthy movement makes a reader slightly suspicious — what is this person up to?

The key idea is not only that it is quiet這個字的重點不只是安靜 but that the quietness is deliberate而是這份安靜是刻意的。Someone is trying not to be noticed有人正試著不被發現 and usually has a reason for it通常也是有原因的。Because of that reason正因為有這個原因 the word often has a faint smell of something being hidden這個字常帶著一點「有事情被隱瞞」的味道。A stealthy movement一個 stealthy 的動作 makes a reader slightly suspicious會讓讀者有點起疑 what is this person up to?這個人到底想幹嘛？

But it is not always bad. Soldiers, hunters, and nurses on a night shift all move stealthily for perfectly good reasons, and 'stealth aircraft' — planes built to be almost invisible to radar — use the same idea proudly.

But it is not always bad不過這個字不一定是壞的意思。Soldiers, hunters, and nurses on a night shift軍人、獵人，還有上夜班的護理師 all move stealthily for perfectly good reasons都會因為完全正當的理由悄悄行動 and 'stealth aircraft'而「stealth aircraft（匿蹤飛機）」 planes built to be almost invisible to radar那種造來幾乎躲過雷達偵測的飛機 use the same idea proudly也是光明正大地用了同一個概念。

It is a slightly literary word, more at home in stories and news writing than in daily talk. In conversation most people would say 'quiet' or 'sneaky'.

It is a slightly literary word這是個帶點文學味的字 more at home in stories and news writing比較常出現在故事和新聞寫作裡 than in daily talk而不是日常對話。In conversation平常講話 most people would say 'quiet' or 'sneaky'大家多半會說 quiet 或 sneaky。

'Sneaky' is close in meaning but feels more childish and more clearly disapproving — a sneaky child hides a biscuit; a stealthy soldier crosses a field. Stealthy sounds skilful; sneaky sounds naughty.

'Sneaky' is close in meaningsneaky 意思相近 but feels more childish and more clearly disapproving但感覺比較幼稚，也比較明顯帶著不贊同 a sneaky child hides a biscuit一個 sneaky 的小孩會偷藏一塊餅乾 a stealthy soldier crosses a field一個 stealthy 的軍人則是悄悄穿過一片田。Stealthy sounds skilfulstealthy 聽起來很有本事 sneaky sounds naughtysneaky 聽起來很調皮搗蛋。

Two forms to keep straight: stealthy is the describing word (a stealthy cat), stealthily is the how-word (the cat moved stealthily), and stealth is the thing itself (he crossed the room with great stealth).

Two forms to keep straight有兩個相關詞形要分清楚 stealthy is the describing wordstealthy 是形容詞 (a stealthy cat)（像 a stealthy cat）stealthily is the how-wordstealthily 是講「怎麼做」的副詞 (the cat moved stealthily)（像 the cat moved stealthily）and stealth is the thing itselfstealth 則是這件事本身的名詞 (he crossed the room with great stealth)（像 he crossed the room with great stealth）。