Literally, a hinge is the metal joint that lets a door swing. Take the hinges off and the door is not held to anything any more — it falls, it swings wild, it does not shut properly. That picture is the whole word.

Literally照字面說, a hinge is the metal joint that lets a door swinghinge是讓門能夠擺動的那個金屬鉸鏈。Take the hinges off把鉸鏈拆掉 and the door is not held to anything any more門就再也沒有被固定住 — it falls, it swings wild, it does not shut properly門會掉下來、亂晃、也關不緊。That picture is the whole word這個畫面就是整個字的意思。

As a verb, to unhinge someone is to shake their mind so badly that they stop thinking or behaving normally: 'The loss of his wife unhinged him.' It is a strong, rather formal, rather old-fashioned verb, and you will meet it far more often in books than in speech. Note that it is almost always something big and painful doing it to a person — grief, fear, months alone. You would not say a small annoyance unhinged you unless you were joking.

As a verb作動詞用, to unhinge someone is to shake their mind so badly that they stop thinking or behaving normallyunhinge someone指的是把某人的心智震盪到失去正常思考或行為的地步: 'The loss of his wife unhinged him.'像『他妻子的離世讓他崩潰』這句話。It is a strong, rather formal, rather old-fashioned verb這是個語氣很強、偏正式、也有點過時的動詞, and you will meet it far more often in books than in speech你在書裡遇到它的機會遠比在口語裡多。Note that it is almost always something big and painful doing it to a person要注意，會這樣讓人崩潰的幾乎都是重大又痛苦的事 — grief, fear, months alone比如悲傷、恐懼、長期的孤獨。You would not say a small annoyance unhinged you你不會說一件小煩心事讓你崩潰 unless you were joking除非你是在開玩笑。

The past-participle form 'unhinged' is where the word really lives today, as an adjective. Older use: mentally ill, not in control of one's mind — 'an unhinged man wandering the streets.' Said this way it is serious, and quite cold; it is not a kind word for a person who is genuinely sick.

The past-participle form 'unhinged'過去分詞形式的'unhinged' is where the word really lives today, as an adjective才是這個字今天真正常用的樣子，當形容詞用。Older use較舊的用法: mentally ill, not in control of one's mind指精神失常、無法控制自己的心智 — 'an unhinged man wandering the streets.'像『一個精神失常的男人在街上遊蕩』。Said this way這樣說的時候 it is serious, and quite cold語氣是嚴肅而且相當冷酷的; it is not a kind word for a person who is genuinely sick對一個真正生病的人來說，這不是個友善的用詞。

But here is where you have to watch the age of the speaker. Since about 2018, younger people online use 'unhinged' for anything wild, out of control, with no filter — and they usually mean it as a compliment. 'That ad is completely unhinged.' 'Her posts are unhinged and I love them.' A brand posting nonsense at 2am, a friend sending forty messages in a row, a film with no rules — all unhinged, all praise.

But here is where you have to watch the age of the speaker但這裡你就得注意說話者的年齡了。Since about 2018大概從2018年起, younger people online use 'unhinged' for anything wild, out of control, with no filter網路上的年輕人會用'unhinged'來形容任何瘋狂、失控、毫無顧忌的東西 — and they usually mean it as a compliment而且通常是當作稱讚在用。'That ad is completely unhinged.'像『這支廣告根本瘋了』 'Her posts are unhinged and I love them.'『她的貼文很瘋，我超愛』 A brand posting nonsense at 2am品牌在凌晨兩點發廢文, a friend sending forty messages in a row朋友連發四十則訊息, a film with no rules一部完全沒規則的電影 — all unhinged, all praise全都可以說是unhinged，而且全都是讚美。

So one word carries a heavy clinical meaning in a novel and a cheerful 'this is gloriously silly' meaning in a group chat, and only the situation tells you which. If you are not sure of your audience, the older meaning is the one people may hear, so use it carefully about a real person.

So one word carries a heavy clinical meaning in a novel and a cheerful 'this is gloriously silly' meaning in a group chat所以同一個字在小說裡帶著沉重的臨床意味，在群組聊天裡卻帶著『這也太瞎太好笑了』的輕快意味, and only the situation tells you which只有場合能告訴你是哪一種。If you are not sure of your audience如果你不確定聽的人是誰, the older meaning is the one people may hear較舊的那個意思才是別人可能聽到的, so use it carefully about a real person所以講到真實的人時要小心使用這個字。