Umbrage means the feeling of being offended — hurt and annoyed because you think someone has insulted you or not shown you respect.

Umbrage umbrage見怪、被冒犯的感覺 means the feeling of being offended意思是被冒犯的感覺 hurt and annoyed because you think someone has insulted you or not shown you respect因為你覺得有人侮辱了你、或不尊重你而感到受傷生氣。

But the word almost never travels alone. In real English it lives inside one fixed phrase: to take umbrage at something. You take umbrage at a remark, at being left off a list, at not being asked. You can also "give umbrage" to someone, but that is rare and old-fashioned.

But the word almost never travels alone不過這個字幾乎不會單獨出現。In real English it lives inside one fixed phrase在真實的英文裡，它活在一個固定片語裡 to take umbrage at something就是take umbrage at something對某事感到見怪。You take umbrage at a remark你可以對一句話take umbrage at being left off a list對被漏掉沒列進名單 at not being asked對沒被問過。You can also 'give umbrage' to someone你也可以對某人'give umbrage'讓人見怪 but that is rare and old-fashioned不過這種用法很少見也很老派。

Two things make this word special, and both matter. First, it is formal and slightly old — you meet it in newspapers, novels and reports, not in a conversation with friends. Nobody says "I took umbrage" to a classmate; they say "I was annoyed" or "that upset me".

Two things make this word special有兩件事讓這個詞特別 and both matter而且兩件都重要。First, it is formal and slightly old第一，它正式又有點老派 you meet it in newspapers, novels and reports你會在報紙、小說、和報告裡遇到它 not in a conversation with friends不是跟朋友聊天會用的。Nobody says 'I took umbrage' to a classmate沒人會對同學說'I took umbrage' they say 'I was annoyed' or 'that upset me'他們會說'I was annoyed'我很不爽或'that upset me'那讓我很難過。

Second, and this is the part dictionaries often hide: the phrase usually carries a small hint that the person is being oversensitive. If I write "the minister took umbrage at the question", I am gently suggesting the minister got offended over something small, and perhaps should not have. It is not always negative, but that flavour is there often enough that you should hear it.

Second, and this is the part dictionaries often hide第二點，這是字典常常沒講清楚的部分 the phrase usually carries a small hint that the person is being oversensitive這個片語通常帶著一點暗示，暗示那個人有點反應過度。If I write 'the minister took umbrage at the question'如果我寫'the minister took umbrage at the question' I am gently suggesting the minister got offended over something small我其實是委婉地暗示部長為了一件小事生氣了 and perhaps should not have而且或許不該生氣。It is not always negative這不是每次都是負面的 but that flavour is there often enough that you should hear it但這種味道常常存在，你應該聽得出來。

Because of this, writers use it when they want to describe someone's offence at a slight distance, with a raised eyebrow, rather than share it. The feeling itself is about dignity — being looked down on — more than about being hurt or sad.

Because of this, writers use it因為這樣，作家會用這個詞 when they want to describe someone's offence at a slight distance當他們想帶點距離地描述某人的不滿 with a raised eyebrow帶著一點挑眉的態度 rather than share it而不是跟著一起感同身受。The feeling itself is about dignity這種感覺本身跟尊嚴有關 being looked down on是覺得被看輕了 more than about being hurt or sad而不只是受傷或難過。