Whimsical describes something odd or fanciful in a light, playful way that makes you smile. A house painted with cartoon fish, a shop that sells only tiny hats, a story where the teapot talks — these are whimsical. The idea is: it is strange, but the strangeness is gentle and fun, not frightening and not serious. Nobody made it that way for a good practical reason; someone made it that way because it was charming.

Whimsical describes something odd or fancifulwhimsical形容一個東西怪怪的、有點異想天開 in a light, playful way that makes you smile，但是用一種輕鬆、俏皮、會讓人微笑的方式。 A house painted with cartoon fish畫滿卡通魚的房子 a shop that sells only tiny hats、只賣迷你帽子的店 a story where the teapot talks、茶壺會說話的故事 these are whimsical——這些都是whimsical。 The idea is重點是 it is strange, but the strangeness is gentle and fun：它很奇怪，但這種奇怪是溫和、有趣的 not frightening and not serious，不嚇人也不嚴肅。 Nobody made it that way for a good practical reason沒有人是為了什麼實用的理由才做成這樣 someone made it that way because it was charming，會這樣做，純粹是因為這樣很討喜。

You will meet it most often about art, design, films, books, decoration, and clothes. 'A whimsical little film', 'whimsical illustrations', 'a whimsical garden full of small doors'. Reviewers love this word.

You will meet it most often about art, design, films, books, decoration, and clothes你最常在講藝術、設計、電影、書、裝飾和服裝的時候看到它。 'A whimsical little film'像『a whimsical little film一部異想天開的小電影』 'whimsical illustrations'、『whimsical illustrations充滿童趣的插畫』 'a whimsical garden full of small doors'、『a whimsical garden full of small doors滿是小門的奇想花園』。 Reviewers love this word影評人很愛用這個字。

There is a second, less sunny use, and it is worth knowing. If you call a *person* or a *decision* whimsical, you usually mean they change with no reason — they follow their whims. 'The rules here are whimsical' is not a compliment: it means the rules change depending on someone's mood, and you cannot rely on them. So the same word praises a picture book and criticises a boss.

There is a second, less sunny use還有第二種比較不討喜的用法 and it is worth knowing，值得知道一下。 If you call a *person* or a *decision* whimsical如果你說一個人或一個決定whimsical you usually mean they change with no reason，通常是說他們毫無理由地說變就變 they follow their whims——只憑一時的興致做事。 'The rules here are whimsical' is not a compliment『The rules here are whimsical（這裡的規矩反覆無常）』不是稱讚 it means the rules change depending on someone's mood，意思是規矩會隨某人的心情變來變去 and you cannot rely on them，讓人沒辦法依賴。 So the same word praises a picture book and criticises a boss所以同一個字，用在繪本上是稱讚，用在老闆身上卻是批評。

Also know that in the art world, calling something whimsical can be a quiet way of saying it is pretty but light — sweet, not deep. Whether that is praise depends on the speaker's tone.

Also know that in the art world另外要知道，在藝術圈裡 calling something whimsical can be a quiet way of saying it is pretty but light，說一件作品whimsical，有時是委婉地說它好看但不夠份量 sweet, not deep——甜美，但不深刻。 Whether that is praise depends on the speaker's tone這算不算稱讚，要看說話的人語氣而定。

It is a normal written-and-spoken word, slightly literary, but not difficult or old.

It is a normal written-and-spoken word這是個口語、書面都很常見的字 slightly literary，帶一點文藝氣息 but not difficult or old，但不難，也不老派。