"Um" is the sound English speakers make when their mouth is going but their brain has not caught up yet. You are still choosing the word, and you say "um" to fill the gap.

"Um"「Um」 is是 the sound English speakers make when their mouth is going but their brain has not caught up yet英語使用者在嘴巴已經在動、但腦袋還沒跟上時發出的聲音。You are still choosing the word你還在選詞, and you say "um" to fill the gap於是你說「um」來填補這個空檔。

It is not really a word with a meaning — it is a noise that has been written down so often it now sits in dictionaries. It does a real job, though: it tells the person listening "wait, I am still talking, do not start speaking yet". A silence would let them jump in.

It is not really a word with a meaning它其實不是一個有意義的詞——it is a noise that has been written down so often it now sits in dictionaries它是一個被寫下來太多次、以至於現在被收進字典裡的聲音。It does a real job, though不過它確實有一個實際的功能:it tells the person listening "wait, I am still talking, do not start speaking yet"它告訴聽的人「等等，我還在說話，先不要開口」。A silence would let them jump in沉默會讓對方有機可乘插話進來。

Its close cousin is "er" (British) or "uh" (American); "um" and "er" get used more or less the same way, though many people feel "um" comes before a longer pause. It also softens things.

Its close cousin is "er" (British) or "uh" (American)它的近親是「er」（英式）或「uh」（美式）;"um" and "er" get used more or less the same way「um」和「er」的用法差不多一樣, though many people feel "um" comes before a longer pause不過很多人覺得「um」後面接的停頓會比較長。It also softens things它還有軟化語氣的作用。

"Um, I don't think that's right" is much gentler than "I don't think that's right" — the "um" says you are being careful, maybe a bit reluctant to disagree. Young people, and people writing messages online, use it a second way: to show polite disbelief, as in "Um, excuse me?" or "Um, no." There the "um" carries attitude, not hesitation.

"Um, I don't think that's right" is much gentler than "I don't think that's right"「Um, I don't think that's right」比「I don't think that's right」溫和很多——the "um" says you are being careful, maybe a bit reluctant to disagree這個「um」表示你在小心翼翼，也許有點不太想反對。Young people, and people writing messages online, use it a second way年輕人、以及在網路上打訊息的人，還會用它的第二種用法:to show polite disbelief用來表示禮貌性的不敢置信, as in "Um, excuse me?" or "Um, no."像是「Um, excuse me?」或「Um, no.」There the "um" carries attitude, not hesitation這裡的「um」帶著態度，而不是猶豫。

In writing you will see it in stories, chat messages, and interviews, always with a comma after it. Keep it out of formal essays and reports.

In writing you will see it in stories, chat messages, and interviews在文字裡，你會在小說、聊天訊息、和訪談裡看到它, always with a comma after it後面通常都會加一個逗號。Keep it out of formal essays and reports正式的作文和報告裡不要用它。

And one thing your speaking teacher may not tell you: everyone does this. Native speakers say "um" constantly and do not notice. It is not bad English — but a lot of them very close together does make you sound unsure, which matters in an interview or a speaking test.

And one thing your speaking teacher may not tell you而有一件事你的口說老師可能不會告訴你:everyone does this每個人都會這樣。Native speakers say "um" constantly and do not notice母語人士經常說「um」，而且自己不會察覺。It is not bad English這不是不好的英文——but a lot of them very close together does make you sound unsure但如果很多個擠在一起，確實會讓你聽起來不太確定, which matters in an interview or a speaking test而這在面試或口說測驗裡是有影響的。