To bemuse someone is to leave them puzzled — not lost in a scary way, just unable to work out what is going on. It is a verb, and it is used far more often in the passive: people say "I was bemused by his answer" much more than "his answer bemused me." It is a fairly formal, bookish word; you will meet it in newspapers and novels more than in daily speech.

To bemuse someone is to leave them puzzledBemuse某人，意思是讓對方感到困惑——not lost in a scary way不是那種可怕的迷失, just unable to work out what is going on只是搞不清楚發生了什麼事。It is a verb這是個動詞, and it is used far more often in the passive而且更常用被動式: people say "I was bemused by his answer"人們說「I was bemused by his answer」 much more than "his answer bemused me."比說「his answer bemused me」常得多。It is a fairly formal, bookish word這是個相當正式、書面的字; you will meet it in newspapers and novels more than in daily speech你會在報紙和小說裡遇到它，比在日常對話裡多。

Two things are worth knowing about how it really works.

Two things are worth knowing有兩件事值得知道, about how it really works關於這個字實際上怎麼運作。

First, the meaning has drifted. Older writers used it for a heavy, dazed confusion — a mind clouded over. Today it usually means a mild, slightly amused puzzlement: you are confused, and part of you finds the confusion funny. That newer feeling is now normal in British English, and no one will correct you for it.

First, the meaning has drifted第一，這個字的意思已經漂移了。Older writers used it for a heavy, dazed confusion以前的作家用它來指一種沉重、昏沉的困惑——a mind clouded over頭腦被蒙上一層霧。Today it usually means a mild, slightly amused puzzlement現在它通常指的是一種輕微、還帶點好笑的困惑: you are confused, and part of you finds the confusion funny你是困惑的，但你心裡有一部分覺得這困惑很有趣。That newer feeling is now normal in British English這種比較新的感覺在英式英文裡現在是正常的, and no one will correct you for it不會有人因此糾正你。

Second, and this is the trap, it looks like a relative of amuse, and the two words really did influence each other in history — but bemuse is not a stronger or gentler amuse. If a comedian is good, he amuses you. If his joke makes no sense to you, he bemuses you. The two often go together, which is exactly why people mix them up.

Second, and this is the trap第二，這是陷阱所在: it looks like a relative of amuse它看起來像amuse的親戚, and the two words really did influence each other in history這兩個字在歷史上也確實互相影響過——but bemuse is not a stronger or gentler amuse但bemuse不是amuse的加強版或溫和版。If a comedian is good, he amuses you如果一個喜劇演員很厲害，他會amuse你（逗你開心）。If his joke makes no sense to you, he bemuses you如果他的笑話你聽不懂，他會bemuse你（讓你困惑）。The two often go together這兩件事常常一起發生, which is exactly why people mix them up這正是為什麼人們會把它們搞混。