Used before a noun to mark something as only *claimed* — other people say it is so, and you are quietly signalling that you don't buy it. "The supposed expert couldn't answer a single question." "Where is this supposed improvement?" The word does not describe the thing; it describes the claim about the thing.

Used before a noun放在名詞前面用 to mark something as only *claimed*標示這件事只是「有人這麼說」 other people say it is so別人說是這樣 and you are quietly signalling that you don't buy it而你在悄悄暗示你不相信。"The supposed expert couldn't answer a single question."像「The supposed expert couldn't answer a single question.（那位所謂的專家一個問題都答不出來）」 "Where is this supposed improvement?"「Where is this supposed improvement?（那個所謂的改善在哪裡？）」The word does not describe the thing這個字描述的不是那個東西本身；it describes the claim about the thing而是描述關於那個東西的說法。

A supposed thief may be entirely innocent — you are reporting an accusation, not making one.

A supposed thiefa supposed thief（所謂的小偷） may be entirely innocent可能完全是無辜的 you are reporting an accusation, not making one你是在轉述一個指控，不是自己在指控。

Because of this, journalists and lawyers reach for it (along with *alleged*) when they must repeat a claim without endorsing it, and ordinary speakers reach for it when they are being sarcastic: say "your supposed friend" and everyone hears the eye-roll. Note that this adjective is normally said with the -ed pronounced as a full syllable, /səˈpəʊzɪd/, and it sits *before* the noun; you would not say "the expert was supposed." This is a different animal from the very common *be supposed to* (= should, or = people say), which A1-A2 students meet first — "I'm supposed to be home by ten." Same spelling, different job.

Because of this正因為這樣 journalists and lawyers reach for it (along with *alleged*)記者和律師會用這個字（跟 alleged 一起） when they must repeat a claim without endorsing it當他們必須轉述一個說法、卻不想背書的時候, and ordinary speakers reach for it when they are being sarcastic一般人在諷刺的時候也會用它：say "your supposed friend" and everyone hears the eye-roll說「your supposed friend（你那位所謂的朋友）」，大家都聽得出翻白眼的語氣。Note that this adjective is normally said with the -ed pronounced as a full syllable, /səˈpəʊzɪd/要注意這個形容詞的 -ed 通常會唸成完整的一個音節，/səˈpəʊzɪd/ and it sits *before* the noun而且它放在名詞前面；you would not say "the expert was supposed"不會說「the expert was supposed」。This is a different animal from the very common *be supposed to*這跟很常見的 be supposed to 完全是兩回事 (= should, or = people say)（意思是「應該」，或「聽說」）, which A1-A2 students meet first初學者最早學到的是這個用法 "I'm supposed to be home by ten."像「I'm supposed to be home by ten.」 Same spelling, different job拼法一樣，功能不同。