Inexact means not exact: close, but not right down to the last bit.

Inexact的意思是not exact不精確：close接近，but not right down to the last bit但不到最後一絲一毫都準確。

A number can be inexact, a translation can be inexact, a memory can be inexact.

A number can be inexact一個數字可以是inexact的，a translation can be inexact一個翻譯可以是inexact的，a memory can be inexact一段記憶也可以是inexact的。

It does not usually mean “completely wrong”; it means “not precise.” Teachers, scientists, and careful writers use it when they want to be honest that a figure or a wording is only approximate. It is a quieter word than “wrong,” and cooler than “sloppy.” People also talk about an inexact science — a field that cannot give you a perfect, neat answer every time, because real life will not sit still for a ruler.

It does not usually mean 'completely wrong'它通常不是指「完全錯了」；it means 'not precise'它的意思是「不夠精確」。Teachers, scientists, and careful writers use it老師、科學家、還有嚴謹的作家會用這個字，when they want to be honest that a figure or a wording is only approximate當他們想誠實表達某個數字或說法只是概略值的時候。It is a quieter word than 'wrong'它比「wrong」語氣輕，and cooler than 'sloppy'也比「sloppy」冷靜。People also talk about an inexact science人們也會講an inexact science——a field that cannot give you a perfect, neat answer every time一個沒辦法每次都給你完美整齊答案的領域，because real life will not sit still for a ruler因為真實生活不會乖乖讓你拿尺量。

Though actually, calling something inexact can sound polite when the speaker really means “this is too rough to trust.”

Though actually不過其實，calling something inexact可以說某樣東西是inexact can sound polite聽起來可以很有禮貌，when the speaker really means 'this is too rough to trust'但講的人其實真正的意思是「這個粗糙到不能信」。