When you do something inattentively, your mind is only half there. You may be looking, writing, or nodding — but you are not really taking the person or the thing in.

When you do something inattentively當你心不在焉地做某件事時, your mind is only half there你的心只有一半在場。You你 may be looking, writing, or nodding可能在看、在寫、或在點頭——but you are not really taking the person or the thing in但其實沒有真正把那個人或那件事放進心裡。

It tells you HOW an action was done, not what kind of person someone is for ever. A student can copy a sentence inattentively and change a letter without noticing; a driver can change lanes inattentively because a thought pulled them away. It does not have to mean they chose to be rude.

It它 tells you HOW an action was done告訴你一個動作是「怎麼」做的, not what kind of person someone is for ever不是在說這個人一輩子是什麼樣的人。A student一個學生 can copy a sentence inattentively可能心不在焉地抄一句話 and change a letter without noticing而沒注意到自己改了一個字母; a driver一個駕駛 can change lanes inattentively可能心不在焉地變換車道 because a thought pulled them away因為一個念頭讓他分了心。It它 does not have to mean they chose to be rude不一定表示他們是故意沒禮貌。

Tiredness, worry, and trying to do two things at once all make this easy.

Tiredness, worry, and trying to do two things at once疲倦、擔心、還有想同時做兩件事 all make this easy都很容易讓這種情況發生。

The word is a little formal. Friends more often say you were not really listening, or you did it without paying attention. Teachers and writers like inattentively because it is neat and a bit serious.

The word這個字 is a little formal有點正式。Friends朋友之間 more often say更常說 you were not really listening你剛剛沒有真的在聽, or you did it without paying attention或者你做的時候沒有專心。Teachers and writers老師和作者 like inattentively喜歡用inattentively because it is neat and a bit serious因為它精準又有點正式。

Though actually, people stretch it: even a kind “mm-hm” on the phone can be given inattentively if your eyes are on something else.

Though actually不過其實, people stretch it人們會把它用得更寬: even a kind "mm-hm" on the phone即使電話裡一句親切的「嗯哼」 can be given inattentively如果你的眼睛在看別的東西也可能是心不在焉地說出來的 if your eyes are on something else。