When someone is zoned, their mind has gone somewhere else. Their eyes are open, they may even be looking straight at you, but nothing is coming in. It happens when a person is very tired, very bored, or under the effect of drugs or strong medicine. You are not asleep and you are not sick — you are simply not there.

When someone is zoned當一個人 zoned 的時候 their mind has gone somewhere else他的心思已經飄到別的地方去了 Their eyes are open眼睛雖然睜著 they may even be looking straight at you甚至可能直直看著你 but nothing is coming in但什麼訊息都進不去 It happens when a person is very tired, very bored, or under the effect of drugs or strong medicine這種情況發生在一個人非常累、非常無聊、或受藥物、強效藥品影響的時候 You are not asleep and you are not sick你不是睡著也不是生病 you are simply not there你只是「人在心不在」

This is informal, spoken English. Speakers usually say the full phrase 'zoned out' rather than 'zoned' alone: 'Sorry, I zoned out — can you say that again?' As an adjective before a noun you might see 'a zoned-out look'. 'Zone out' also works as a verb: 'I zone out in that class every week.' Note that this sense of 'zoned' has nothing to do with zones on a map, even though it is the same spelling as the town-planning word.

This is informal, spoken English這是口語、非正式的英文 Speakers usually say the full phrase 'zoned out' rather than 'zoned' alone說話者通常會說完整的 zoned out 而不是單獨說 zoned 'Sorry, I zoned out — can you say that again?'像 sorry, I zoned out, can you say that again 抱歉我剛剛恍神了你可以再說一次嗎 As an adjective before a noun當放在名詞前面當形容詞用時 you might see 'a zoned-out look'可能會看到 a zoned-out look 這種說法一臉恍神的樣子 'Zone out' also works as a verbzone out 也可以當動詞用 'I zone out in that class every week.'像 I zone out in that class every week 我每星期上那堂課都會恍神 Note that this sense of 'zoned' has nothing to do with zones on a map要注意這個意思的 zoned 跟地圖上的「區」完全沒關係 even though it is the same spelling as the town-planning word雖然拼法跟都市計畫用的那個字一樣

There is a friendly, harmless version of this. Everyone zones out sometimes — in a long meeting, on a bus, in the last ten minutes of a boring lesson. Saying 'I zoned out' is an easy, non-embarrassing way to admit you missed something.

There is a friendly, harmless version of this這個字也有一種友善、無害的用法 Everyone zones out sometimes每個人偶爾都會恍神 in a long meeting, on a bus, in the last ten minutes of a boring lesson像在冗長的會議裡、在公車上、在無聊課程的最後十分鐘 Saying 'I zoned out' is an easy, non-embarrassing way to admit you missed something說 I zoned out 是一種輕鬆、不會尷尬的方式來承認自己剛剛沒聽到

But be careful, because the same word can hint at drugs. If someone says 'he was completely zoned', the listener may well picture drugs rather than tiredness. The situation decides.

But be careful但要小心 because the same word can hint at drugs因為同一個字也可能暗示嗑藥 If someone says 'he was completely zoned'如果有人說 he was completely zoned the listener may well picture drugs rather than tiredness聽的人很可能會聯想到藥物而不是疲勞 The situation decides要看情境才能判斷

And here is a strange twist worth knowing. There is a nearly opposite expression: 'in the zone', which means totally focused and doing something brilliantly. 'Zoned out' is empty; 'in the zone' is full.

And here is a strange twist worth knowing還有一個奇怪但值得知道的轉折 There is a nearly opposite expression有一個幾乎完全相反的說法 'in the zone'叫 in the zone which means totally focused and doing something brilliantly意思是完全專注、把事情做得很出色 'Zoned out' is empty; 'in the zone' is fullzoned out 是「空」的 in the zone 則是「滿」的

Same little word, two opposite states of mind.

Same little word, two opposite states of mind同樣一個小小的字卻代表兩種完全相反的心理狀態