matter
matter — 名詞
1. a topic, situation, or issue that someone is thinking about or needs to handle
事情；議題
需要考慮或處理的議題或情況
a topic, situation, or issue that someone is thinking about or needs to handle
The board will discuss several financial matters at tomorrow's meeting.
董事會將在明天的會議上討論幾項財務事宜。
collocation: financial matters / personal matters
Kwame asked his lawyer to handle the legal matter regarding the property.
Kwame 請他的律師處理關於房產的法律事務。
This is a matter of public safety, so we cannot ignore it.
這是關乎公共安全的問題，我們不能視而不見。
The manager refused to discuss personal matters during office hours.
經理拒絕在上班時間討論私人事情。
文法句型
matter + of + noun
a matter of + noun
用法筆記
Often used with a descriptive adjective (financial, legal, political, personal) before it to specify the type of issue.
常見錯誤
2. the particular situation or topic that people are currently discussing or dealin
該事務
當前正在討論的具體情況或議題
the particular situation or topic that people are currently discussing or dealing with
Let us focus on the matter at hand instead of bringing up old complaints.
我們先專注於眼前的事務，不要翻舊帳。
idiom: the matter at hand
The committee spent two hours debating the matter before reaching a decision.
委員會就此事辯論了兩個小時，才做出決定。
Tara thought the matter was settled, but her colleague raised new objections.
Tara 以為事情已經解決了，但她的同事又提出了新的反對意見。
If there are no more questions on the matter, we shall move on.
如果對此事沒有其他問題，我們就進入下一個議程。
文法句型
the matter
the matter in question
3. a problem, cause of pain, or reason for unhappiness — used in questions like 'Wh
問題；毛病
痛苦、擔憂或麻煩的原因
a problem, cause of pain, or reason for unhappiness — used in questions like 'What's the matter?' to ask what is wrong
What is the matter, Ayana? You look as though you have been crying.
Ayana，你怎麼了？你看起來好像在哭。
question: What's the matter?
There is something the matter with the washing machine; it will not drain the water.
洗衣機有點毛病，水都排不出去。
The doctor asked what the matter was, but the girl stayed quiet.
醫生問她怎麼了，但小女孩不說話。
There is nothing the matter with your test results; everything looks normal.
你的檢驗結果完全沒問題，一切正常。
文法句型
What's the matter?
What's the matter with + noun?
something the matter
nothing the matter
用法筆記
Nearly always used with 'the'. 'What's the matter?' is a fixed phrase equivalent to 'What's wrong?' Do not use 'a matter' in this sense — it would be understood as sense 1 (a subject/issue).
常見錯誤
4. the physical stuff that makes up everything in the cosmos — it has weight, takes
物質
構成宇宙萬物的物理實體
the physical stuff that makes up everything in the cosmos — it has weight, takes up room, and can be seen or touched
In physics class, the students learned that all matter is made up of tiny atoms.
在物理課上，學生學到所有物質都是由微小的原子組成的。
scientific usage: all matter
Scientists study how matter behaves under extreme temperatures and pressure.
科學家研究物質在極端溫度和壓力下的變化。
According to recent studies, dark matter makes up most of the mass in the universe.
根據近期的研究，暗物質構成了宇宙中大部分的質量。
When wood burns, the matter does not disappear; it changes into gas and ash.
木頭燃燒時，物質並沒有消失，而是轉化為氣體和灰燼。
文法句型
matter + verb
adjective + matter
用法筆記
In this scientific sense, 'matter' is uncountable. It contrasts with 'energy', 'mind', or 'spirit' in philosophical contexts.
常見錯誤
5. a specific type of solid, liquid, or gas material that can be identified by its
物料
特定類型的固體、液體或氣體材料
a specific type of solid, liquid, or gas material that can be identified by its properties or origin
The compost pile is full of decaying plant matter from the garden.
堆肥堆裡充滿了花園裡腐爛的植物物料。
collocation: plant matter / organic matter
Waste matter from factories must be treated before it is released into rivers.
工廠的廢棄物料在排放到河川之前必須先經過處理。
Putri added vegetable matter to the soil to help her vegetables grow better.
Putri 在土壤中加入植物物料，幫助蔬菜長得更好。
The lab technician examined the solid matter collected from the water filter.
實驗室技術員檢查了從濾水器收集到的固體物料。
文法句型
adjective + matter
用法筆記
Unlike sense 4 (the general scientific concept), this sense refers to specific, identifiable substances, often classified by origin (plant, animal, waste) or state (solid, liquid).
6. a category of items or content sharing a common quality, especially written or i
內容材料
特定類型的材料或資訊內容
a category of items or content sharing a common quality, especially written or informational works
The library has a large collection of printed matter on local history.
圖書館收藏了大量關於本地歷史的印刷資料。
collocation: printed matter
The publisher needs to review all advertising matter before the brochure goes to print.
出版商需要在手冊付印前審查所有的廣告內容。
His suitcase was full of promotional matter for the new software product.
他的手提箱裡塞滿了新軟體產品的宣傳資料。
The teacher prepared supplementary reading matter for the advanced students.
老師為進階學生準備了補充閱讀材料。
- material
more common in everyday English; 'teaching material', 'reading material'
- content
broader; can refer to digital or multimedia as well as print
- literature
usually implies higher-quality or more substantial written works
文法句型
adjective + matter
用法筆記
Typically used with adjectives like 'printed', 'reading', 'advertising', or 'promotional'. This sense is less common in everyday conversation and appears more in formal or professional contexts.
7. used within the phrase 'a matter of' to stress that something involves only a ti
少許
極短的時間或極少的數量
used within the phrase 'a matter of' to stress that something involves only a tiny quantity, number, or duration
The fire crews arrived at the scene in a matter of minutes after the call.
消防隊接到電話後不到幾分鐘就趕到了現場。
pattern: a matter of minutes
The repair job is simple; it is a matter of tightening a few screws.
這個修理工作很簡單，只需要鎖緊幾個螺絲就行了。
Xiu finished the marathon in a matter of hours, beating her previous record.
Xiu 在短短幾小時內就跑完了馬拉松，打破了她的紀錄。
The difference between the two prices is a matter of a few dollars at most.
這兩種價格的差異最多不過幾塊錢。
- scarcely
adverb meaning 'barely'; different grammar but similar meaning of small quantity
文法句型
a matter of + noun (minutes/hours/dollars/metres)
用法筆記
Always part of the fixed phrase 'a matter of'. Common time words: minutes, hours, days, weeks. Common quantities: dollars, metres, inches, degrees.
常見錯誤
8. documents, letters, packages, or printed items considered together as a group
印刷物；郵件
書面文件、印刷品或郵遞物品
documents, letters, packages, or printed items considered together as a group
The secretary sorted the incoming matter into urgent and routine piles.
秘書將來件分成緊急和例行兩類。
formal usage: incoming matter
All printed matter sent through the post must include a return address.
所有透過郵局寄送的印刷品都必須附上回郵地址。
collocation: printed matter
The company ships promotional matter to potential customers twice a year.
該公司每年兩次向潛在客戶寄送宣傳資料。
The archive contains classified matter that cannot be viewed by the public.
檔案館內含機密文件，不對公眾開放。
- mail
more common for letters and packages sent through the postal system
- correspondence
specifically refers to letters and written communication between people
文法句型
adjective + matter
用法筆記
This sense overlaps with sense 6 but is more specifically about physical documents and mail items, often in official or postal contexts.
matter — 動詞
1. to have importance or influence on a situation — used especially in negative sta
要緊；重要
對某情況具有重要性或影響力
to have importance or influence on a situation — used especially in negative statements and questions to say something is not significant or to ask what is significant
It does not matter if you arrive late; we will wait for you.
如果你遲到了也沒關係，我們會等你。
negative: It doesn't matter if...
What matters most to Élise is spending time with her family on weekends.
對 Élise 來說，最重要的是週末能和家人在一起。
question structure: What matters most...
Does it really matter which colour we choose for the living room walls?
選哪個顏色粉刷客廳真的有那麼重要嗎？
The only thing that matters to the coach is whether the team tried its best.
對教練來說，唯一重要的是球隊是否盡了全力。
It matters a great deal to Naoko that her children learn to speak Japanese.
Naoko 非常重視孩子們學習說日語這件事。
- count
slightly less formal; 'Every vote counts'
- signify
more formal and less common in everyday speech
- be important
a longer paraphrase; 'matter' is more concise
文法句型
It doesn't matter
What matters is...
matter + if/whether
matter + to + person
用法筆記
Most common in negative sentences ('it doesn't matter'), questions ('what matters?'), or with 'if/whether/that'. In affirmative sentences, it often pairs with adverbs like 'much', 'a lot', 'a great deal'.