To underachieve is to do less well than you could — the result falls below your own ability, not below some fixed standard. That comparison is the whole point of the word: a student with a C who could not do better has not underachieved, while a very able student with a B has.

To underachieve isunderachieve表現不如預期，是 to do less well than you could指做得比你原本能做到的還差 — the result falls below your own ability——結果低於你自己的能力, not below some fixed standard，而不是低於某個固定標準. That comparison is the whole point of the word這種比較正是這個字的重點: a student with a C who could not do better has not underachieved：一個拿C、原本就做不到更好的學生，不算underachieved, while a very able student with a B has，但一個很有能力、只拿到B的學生，就算是.

It is used most about school, and often by teachers writing reports, but it also fits sport, business, and any team that was expected to do well and did not. The subject can be a person, a group, or an organisation: boys underachieve in these subjects; the department has underachieved for years.

It is used most about school它最常用在學校方面, and often by teachers writing reports，而且常常是老師寫報告時用的, but it also fits sport, business，但也適用於運動、商業, and any team that was expected to do well and did not，以及任何被期待表現好、卻沒做到的團隊. The subject can be a person, a group, or an organisation主詞可以是一個人、一個群體，或一個組織: boys underachieve in these subjects：boys underachieve in these subjects男生在這些科目表現不如預期; the department has underachieved for years；the department has underachieved for years這個部門已經表現不佳好幾年了.

It is usually intransitive — you underachieve, you do not underachieve something. The feeling is disappointed rather than angry, and it is gentler than 'fail', because it quietly assumes the ability was there all along.

It is usually intransitive它通常是不及物動詞 — you underachieve——你underachieve表現不佳, you do not underachieve something，而不是underachieve某個東西. The feeling is disappointed rather than angry這個字帶著的情緒是失望，而不是生氣, and it is gentler than 'fail'，而且它比'fail失敗'更溫和, because it quietly assumes the ability was there all along，因為它悄悄假設了那個能力本來就在.