An unflappable person stays calm when things go wrong. Not calm because nothing is happening — calm while the plane is shaking, while the customer is shouting, while the numbers on the screen are all wrong. That is the whole point of the word: it only means something when there is real trouble around.

when things go wrong當事情出錯時，An unflappable person處變不驚的人 stays calm依然保持冷靜。Not calm because nothing is happening不是因為沒事才冷靜——calm while the plane is shaking而是飛機在搖晃時、while the customer is shouting顧客在大吼時、while the numbers on the screen are all wrong螢幕上的數字全部出錯時，calm仍然冷靜。That is the whole point of the word這就是這個詞的重點：when there is real trouble around只有在真的有麻煩的時候，it only means something它才有意義。

People use it about pilots, nurses, teachers of small children, goalkeepers, news readers, and anyone whose job is to be the steady one in a bad moment. It is a compliment, and it is friendly and a bit informal — you would say it about your boss to a colleague, and you would see it in a newspaper, but it would sound too light for a very serious formal report.

People use it about人們用這個詞來形容 pilots飛行員、nurses護理師、teachers of small children幼兒老師、goalkeepers守門員、news readers新聞主播，and anyone whose job is to be the steady one in a bad moment以及任何工作是在危急時刻保持穩定的人。It is a compliment這是一種讚美，and it is friendly and a bit informal而且語氣友善、有點口語——you would say it about your boss to a colleague你可能會跟同事這樣形容你的老闆，and you would see it in a newspaper也會在報紙上看到它，but it would sound too light for a very serious formal report但用在非常正式的報告裡就顯得太輕了。

One honest thing worth telling students: it describes how someone looks and behaves from the outside, not how they feel inside. An unflappable nurse may be frightened; you just cannot tell.

One honest thing worth telling students有件事該老實告訴學生：it describes how someone looks and behaves from the outside這個詞形容的是一個人外在看起來、表現出來的樣子，not how they feel inside不是他們內心的感受。An unflappable nurse處變不驚的護理師 may be frightened也可能很害怕；you just cannot tell你只是看不出來。

So the word is really about a surface that does not crack. There is also a small warm edge to it. Because it is a slightly playful-sounding word — flap, flappable — it often carries a hint of admiration mixed with amusement, as if the speaker is a little impressed that anyone could stay that calm.

So the word is really about所以這個詞真正說的是 a surface that does not crack一個不會裂開的表面。There is also這個詞也帶著 a small warm edge to it一點溫暖的味道。Because it is a slightly playful-sounding word因為它聽起來有點俏皮——flap, flappable這兩個字——it often carries a hint of admiration mixed with amusement所以常常帶著一點佩服又覺得好笑的味道，as if the speaker is a little impressed that anyone could stay that calm彷彿說話的人有點驚訝，居然有人能那麼冷靜。