contingent
contingent — 名詞
1. a body of people who share a common place of origin, belong to the same organiza
代表團；分隊
代表某組織、國家或軍隊的一群人
a body of people who share a common place of origin, belong to the same organization, or serve in the armed forces together, and are typically sent to represent a larger group at an event or on an operation
The Brazilian contingent at the climate summit included scientists, diplomats, and indigenous leaders.
巴西代表團在氣候高峰會上包括了科學家、外交官和原住民領袖。
contingent + of + place/nationality + at + event
A small contingent of UN peacekeepers was sent to monitor the border after the ceasefire.
一支小型聯合國維和部隊分隊被派往邊境，在停火後進行監控。
Each university sent a contingent of students to the national debating championship.
每所大學都派了一支學生代表團參加全國辯論錦標賽。
The French contingent marched proudly during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.
法國代表團在奧運會開幕典禮上驕傲地行進。
The largest contingent of volunteers came from a single church in the town of Belém.
最大的一批志工隊伍來自貝倫鎮上的一間教堂。
- delegation
more civilian, often diplomatic or political
- detachment
more military-specific, often smaller
- squad
smaller and less formal, usually military or police
文法句型
contingent + of + group name / number
用法筆記
Common in news reports, politics, and military contexts. The verb that follows can be singular or plural: 'a contingent of soldiers was/were sent.' Singular is more common in formal British English.
常見錯誤
2. an event, situation, or outcome that depends on another factor and may or may no
或有事項
取決於其他因素的未定事物
an event, situation, or outcome that depends on another factor and may or may not happen, so that it cannot be treated as certain until that other factor is decided
The final payment was a contingent of the peace agreement, dependent on both sides disarming.
最終款項是和平協議中的或有事項，須視雙方解除武裝的情況而定。
Tara's admission to the programme was a contingent — it would be confirmed only after the language test.
Tara 的入學資格屬於或有事項——必須在通過語言測驗後才能確認。
be + a contingent — formal structure for conditional situations
Karim treated the bonus as a contingent rather than a certainty, knowing the budget could still change.
Karim 將這筆獎金視為或有事項而非確定收入，因為他知道預算仍可能變動。
The court ruled that the inheritance was a contingent, subject to the fraud investigation's outcome.
法院裁定該筆遺產為或有事項，須待詐欺調查結果出爐才能確定。
- contingency
much more common; preferred in everyday and professional writing
- eventuality
slightly more formal, focuses on the possibility itself
- certainty
something that is guaranteed to happen
文法句型
a + contingent + of + something
be + a + contingent
用法筆記
Very formal and rare in everyday speech. In most contexts, the more common noun form 'contingency' is preferred ('a contingency plan', 'prepare for contingencies'). This sense is primarily used in legal contracts and technical writing.
常見錯誤
contingent — 形容詞
1. needing a particular future event, condition, or arrangement to happen or be tru
取決於
需視未來情況而定才能發生
needing a particular future event, condition, or arrangement to happen or be true first, before something else can be certain or take place
The ceasefire was contingent on both sides agreeing to withdraw their troops from the border.
停火取決於雙方同意從邊境撤軍。
contingent + on + noun/gerund
Felix's promotion was contingent upon completing a six-month training programme in Singapore.
Felix 的晉升取決於他是否完成為期六個月的新加坡培訓課程。
The scholarship is contingent on the student maintaining a grade average above eighty percent.
該獎學金取決於學生是否能維持平均成績八十分以上。
Their support for the policy was contingent on several key amendments being added to the bill.
他們對該政策的支持取決於法案中是否加入幾項關鍵修正條文。
Whether they proceed with the building work is contingent on how the council votes next week.
他們是否繼續進行該建設工程，取決於市議會下週的投票結果。
- conditional
more formal and legal; strongly implies terms that must be met
- dependent
more general; can refer to any kind of reliance, not just future events
- unconditional
not subject to any conditions or requirements
- independent
not relying on something else
文法句型
be + contingent + on/upon + noun/gerund
contingent + on + whether / what / how clause
用法筆記
This is the most common sense of the adjective. It is almost always used with 'on' or 'upon'. 'Upon' is more formal. The adjective is used predicatively (after the verb 'be'), not before a noun — you cannot say 'the contingent agreement' to mean 'the agreement that depends on something' (that would be sense 2).
常見錯誤
2. possible but not guaranteed — used to describe something that could happen or be
可能的；或有
可能發生但不確定的
possible but not guaranteed — used to describe something that could happen or be required, but only if particular conditions are met, often in financial or planning contexts
The company set aside funds for contingent expenses that might arise during the merger.
公司預留了資金，以應付合併過程中可能產生的或有關費用。
contingent + noun — attributive use
João signed a contract with a contingent payment of two million dollars if the drug passed trials.
João 簽署了一份合約，其中包含一筆兩百萬美元的或有款項，條件是該藥物通過試驗。
The government budget included a contingent allocation for disaster relief, to be released only if needed.
政府預算中編列了一筆災害應變的可能經費，僅在必要時才會動用。
A contingent agreement was drawn up, leaving both sides room to withdraw if conditions changed.
雙方簽訂了一份附條件協議，保留在情況改變時退出合作的空間。
The firm listed contingent liabilities of fifteen million dollars in its annual financial report.
該公司在年度財務報告中列出了價值一千五百萬美元的或有負債。
- potential
more common in general English; focuses on possibility without emphasizing conditions
- conditional
more legal in tone; emphasizes that terms must be satisfied
文法句型
contingent + noun
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this sense is used before a noun (attributive), not after 'be'. Common in business and legal phrases: 'contingent payment', 'contingent liability', 'contingent fee'. The emphasis is on the possibility itself, not on what the thing depends on.
常見錯誤
3. happening or existing as a result of chance or forces that no one can control, s
難預料的
因不可控因素而難以預測
happening or existing as a result of chance or forces that no one can control, so that the result cannot be predicted with confidence
Success in organic farming is highly contingent — a late frost can destroy an entire season's crop.
有機農業的成功非常難以預料——一場晚霜就能毀掉整季的收成。
highly + contingent — common intensifier pattern
Emre found the outcome of the job interview frustratingly contingent, with too many factors outside his control.
Emre 發現這場工作面試的結果難以預料，有太多因素是他無法控制的。
The timing of the wedding remained contingent, as the family waited for travel documents to be approved.
婚禮的日期仍然無法確定，因為家人還在等旅行證件核准。
In live theatre, success is entirely contingent — a single missed cue can change everything.
在現場劇場中，成功與否完全難以預料——一個失誤的提示就可能改變一切。
- unpredictable
more common in everyday English; broader in meaning
- uncertain
more general; does not necessarily imply external forces
- random
emphasizes lack of pattern; often less formal
- predictable
able to be known or guessed in advance
- certain
known for sure, not open to doubt
文法句型
be + contingent
be + highly/entirely/totally + contingent
用法筆記
This sense emphasizes unpredictability caused by external forces, not by a specific condition (sense 1) or a planned possibility (sense 2). Often used with 'highly', 'entirely', or 'totally' to intensify the uncertainty. Common in discussions of complex systems such as weather, politics, and live events.