Something that cannot keep going — not forever, and often not even for long — because it uses up what it needs, or costs more than it brings in, or wears people out. It works in three big areas.

Something that cannot keep going形容一個東西沒辦法一直持續下去——not forever, and often not even for long不是永遠不行，通常連撐久一點都不行——because it uses up what it needs因為它把自己需要的東西用光了， or costs more than it brings in或是花費比帶來的收益還多， or wears people out或是把人給累垮。It works in three big areas這個字主要用在三大領域。

In the environment: "unsustainable fishing" takes fish faster than they can breed, so one day there are none left. In money: "unsustainable debt" or "unsustainable spending" means the numbers only work for a while and then collapse. In work and life: "an unsustainable workload", "an unsustainable pace" — you can do it this month, but you will break.

In the environment在環境方面： "unsustainable fishing" takes fish faster than they can breed"unsustainable fishing"（不永續的捕魚）是抓魚的速度比魚繁殖的速度還快， so one day there are none left所以總有一天會抓到一條都不剩。In money在金錢方面： "unsustainable debt" or "unsustainable spending" means the numbers only work for a while and then collapse"unsustainable debt"（無法持續的負債）或 "unsustainable spending"（無法持續的支出）是指這些數字只撐得了一陣子，之後就會垮掉。In work and life在工作和生活方面： "an unsustainable workload", "an unsustainable pace"像 "an unsustainable workload"（撐不下去的工作量）、"an unsustainable pace"（撐不下去的步調）——you can do it this month, but you will break這個月你或許撐得過去，但遲早會垮。

The picture underneath all three is the same, and it is the useful thing to hold on to: something is being taken out faster than it is being put back.

The picture underneath all three is the same這三種情況背後的畫面都一樣， and it is the useful thing to hold on to這也是最值得記住的重點： something is being taken out faster than it is being put back東西被拿走的速度，比補回去的速度還快。

Note that unsustainable does not mean "bad right now". A company growing 200% a year, a runner sprinting, a student sleeping four hours a night — all may be doing fine today. The word is a prediction about the future, and it is a common way to criticise something without saying it is wrong: "the plan is not wrong, it is simply unsustainable".

Note that要注意 unsustainable does not mean "bad right now"unsustainable 不代表「現在就很糟」。A company growing 200% a year, a runner sprinting, a student sleeping four hours a night一家一年成長200%的公司、一個正在衝刺的跑者、一個一天只睡四小時的學生——all may be doing fine today今天可能都表現得好好的。The word is a prediction about the future這個字是一種對未來的預測， and it is a common way to criticise something without saying it is wrong也是一種常見的批評方式，不用直接說某件事是錯的： "the plan is not wrong, it is simply unsustainable"像 "the plan is not wrong, it is simply unsustainable"（這個計畫沒有錯，只是撐不下去而已）。

It is formal and belongs to news, business and environmental writing rather than daily chat. In Taiwan you will meet its positive twin everywhere — 永續 — on company reports and government posters.

It is formal and belongs to news, business and environmental writing rather than daily chat這是個正式的字，比較常出現在新聞、商業和環境相關的寫作裡，而不是日常聊天。In Taiwan在台灣， you will meet its positive twin everywhere你到處都會遇到它的正面雙胞胎——永續——on company reports and government posters出現在公司報告和政府海報上。