matter

noun

课题；情况 subject/situation

1. 课题；事情；问题
   a subject or situation that you must consider or deal with
   1. It's a private matter.
      这是件私事儿。
   2. They had important matters to discuss.
      他们有些重要的问题要讨论。
   3. She may need your help with some business matters.
      她也许需要你帮助处理一些业务方面的事情。
   4. I always consulted him on matters of policy.
      我总是向他咨询一些政策问题。
   5. It's a matter for the police (= for them to deal with) .
      这事须要由警方处理。
   6. That's a matter for you to take up with your boss.
      这个问题你得去和你的老板进行交涉。
   7. Let's get on with the matter in hand (= what we need to deal with now) .
      我们继续解决手头的问题吧。
   8. I wasn't prepared to let the matter drop (= stop discussing it) .
      我没打算把这件事搁下不提。
   9. It was no easy matter getting him to change his mind.
      让他改变主意可不是件容易的事儿。
   10. It should have been a simple matter to check.
       检查核对本来应该是件简单的事情。
   11. And then there's the little matter of the fifty pounds you owe me.
       还有件小事儿，你欠我五十英镑呢。
   12. It was a matter of some concern to most of those present (= something they were worried about) .
       这是当时在场的多数人关心的问题。
   13. I did not feel that we had got to the heart of the matter (= the most important part) .
       我认为我们还没有触及问题的关键。
   14. And that is the crux of the matter (= the most important thing about the situation) .
       这就是问题的症结所在。
2. 事态；当前的状况
   the present situation, or the situation that you are talking about
   1. Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do to improve matters.
      很遗憾，我们无力改善目前的状况。
   2. I'd forgotten the keys, which didn't help matters .
      我忘记带钥匙了，这让情况更糟。
   3. Matters were made worse by a fire in the warehouse.
      仓库失火使得事态更为严重。
   4. And then, to make matters worse , his parents turned up.
      接着，更糟糕的是，他的父母亲来了。
   5. I decided to take matters into my own hands (= deal with the situation myself) .
      我决定亲自处理问题。
   6. Matters came to a head (= the situation became very difficult) with his resignation.
      随着他的辞职，局面恶化得难以收拾。

问题 problem

3. （询问某人的情况）怎么了
   used (to ask) if sb is upset, unhappy, etc. or if there is a problem
   1. What's the matter? Is there something wrong?
      怎么了？出了什么事儿吗？
   2. Is anything the matter ?
      有什么问题吗？
   3. Is something the matter with Bob? He seems very down.
      鲍勃有什么事儿吧？他好像情绪很低落。
   4. There's something the matter with my eyes.
      我的眼睛出了点毛病。
   5. ‘We've bought a new TV.’ ‘What was the matter with the old one?’
      “我们买了台新电视。”“那台旧的怎么了？”
   6. What's the matter with you today (= why are you behaving like this) ?
      你今天是怎么了？

关于…的问题 a matter of sth/of doing sth

4. 关乎…的事情
   a situation that involves sth or depends on sth
   1. Learning to drive is all a matter of coordination.
      学开车主要是靠协调。
   2. Planning a project is just a matter of working out the right order to do things in.
      规划一个项目就是要设计出正确的工作顺序。
   3. That's not a problem. It's simply a matter of letting people know in time.
      这没问题。不就是及时通知大家么。
   4. Some people prefer the older version to the new one. It's a matter of taste .
      有些人喜欢老版本而不喜欢新版本。这只是个爱好问题。
   5. She resigned over a matter of principle .
      她因为原则问题而辞职。
   6. The government must deal with this as a matter of urgency .
      政府必须将此事当作紧急的事情来处理。
   7. Just as a matter of interest (= because it is interesting, not because it is important) , how much did you pay for it?
      我只是感兴趣，你这是花多少钱买的？
   8. ‘I think this is the best so far.’ ‘Well, that's a matter of opinion (= other people may think differently) .
      “我认为这是迄今为止最好的。”“唔，仁者见仁，智者见智嘛。”

物质 substance

5. （统称）物质
   physical substance in general that everything in the world consists of; not mind or spirit
   1. to study the properties of matter
      研究物质的属性
6. （某种）东西，物品，材料
   a substance or things of a particular sort
   1. Add plenty of organic matter to improve the soil.
      施用大量的有机肥料以改良土壤。
   2. elimination of waste matter from the body
      体内废物的排除
   3. She didn't approve of their choice of reading matter .
      她不赞同他们选用的阅读材料。

verb

1. 事关紧要；要紧；有重大影响
   to be important or have an important effect on sb/sth
   1. The children matter more to her than anything else in the world.
      对于她来说，在这个世界上没有比孩子更重要的了。
   2. It doesn't matter to me what you do.
      你做什么我无所谓。
   3. ‘What did you say?’ ‘Oh, it doesn't matter’ (= it is not important enough to repeat) .’
      “你说什么？”“噢，没什么。”
   4. ‘I'm afraid I forgot that book again.’ ‘It doesn't matter (= it is not important enough to worry about) .’
      “很抱歉，我又忘了把那本书带来了。”“没事儿。”
   5. What does it matter if I spent $100 on it─it's my money!
      我花100元钱买这东西有什么关系——那是我的钱！
   6. As long as you're happy, that's all that matters .
      只要你幸福，这就是最重要的事情。
   7. After his death, nothing seemed to matter any more.
      他死了以后，好像一切都无所谓了。
   8. He's been in prison, you know─ not that it matters (= that information does not affect my opinion of him) .
      你知道，他坐过牢，可那倒无关紧要。
   9. Does it really matter who did it?
      是谁干的真的很重要吗？
   10. It didn't matter that the weather was bad.
       天气不好并没什么影响。

1. N-COUNT 事情;状况;问题
   A matter is a task, situation, or event which you have to deal with or think about, especially one that involves problems.
   1. It was clear that she wanted to discuss some private matter...
      很明显，她想谈些私事。
   2. Until the matter is resolved the athletes will be ineligible to compete...
      除非这个问题得以解决，否则这些运动员没有资格参加比赛。
   3. Don't you think this is now a matter for the police?...
      难道你不觉得这件事现在该交由警方处理吗？
   4. Business matters drew him to Paris.
      他因公前往巴黎。
2. N-PLURAL 事态;情况;局面
   You use matters to refer to the situation you are talking about, especially when something is affecting the situation in some way.
   1. If your ordinary life is out of control, then retreating into a cosy ritual will not improve matters...
      如果正常生活都一团糟了，那么再讲究小情调根本无济于事。
   2. If it would facilitate matters, I would be happy to come to New York...
      如果对事态发展有利，我很乐意来纽约。
   3. Matters took an unexpected turn.
      事态发生了意想不到的转变。
3. N-SING (是…的)问题;取决于…的问题;关乎…的问题
   If you say that a situation is a matter of a particular thing, you mean that that is the most important thing to be done or considered when you are involved in the situation or explaining it.
   1. History is always a matter of interpretation...
      历史总是一种阐释角度的问题。
   2. Observance of the law is a matter of principle for us...
      守法是我们的一个原则问题。
   3. After that, life became a matter of defying school rules...
      从那以后，生活便成了处处与校规作对。
   4. Jack had attended these meetings as a matter of routine for years.
      数年来，杰克把参加这些会议当成是例行公事。
4. N-UNCOUNT (印刷或阅读的)材料
   Printed matter consists of books, newspapers, and other texts that are printed. Reading matter consists of things that are suitable for reading, such as books and newspapers.
   1. ...the Government's plans to levy VAT on printed matter.
      政府对印刷品征收增值税的计划
   2. ...a rich variety of reading matter.
      种类繁多的阅读材料
5. N-UNCOUNT (有形的)物质
   Matter is the physical part of the universe consisting of solids, liquids, and gases.
   1. A proton is an elementary particle of matter.
      质子是物质的基本粒子。
   2. He has spent his career studying how matter behaves at the fine edge between order and disorder.
      他从事研究物质在有序与无序的细微临界处的行为变化。
6. N-UNCOUNT (某一类型的)物质
   You use matter to refer to a particular type of substance.
   1. They feed mostly on decaying vegetable matter.
      它们大多以腐烂的蔬菜为食。
   2. ...waste matter from industries.
      工业废料
7. N-SING 麻烦事;问题
   You use matter in expressions such as 'What's the matter?' or 'Is anything the matter?' when you think that someone has a problem and you want to know what it is.
   1. Carole, what's the matter? You don't seem happy...
      卡萝尔，出什么事了？你好像不开心。
   2. What's the matter with your office?...
      你们部门出什么事了吗？
   3. She told him there was nothing the matter.
      她告诉他没出什么事。
8. N-SING (强调数量少、时间短)
   You use matter in expressions such as 'a matter of weeks' when you are emphasizing how small an amount is or how short a period of time is.
   1. Within a matter of days she was back at work...
      仅仅几天后，她又回去上班了。
   2. He expected to be at East Grinstead station in a matter of hours...
      他希望几个小时内可以到达东格林斯特德站。
   3. This time the journey was short, a matter of four or five miles up into the hills.
      这次的旅程很短，只有上山的四五英里路。
9. VERB 有关系;要紧;有影响
   If you say that something does not matter, you mean that it is not important to you because it does not have an effect on you or on a particular situation.
   1. A lot of the food goes on the floor but that doesn't matter...
      许多食品掉在地板上，不过也没什么关系。
   2. As for Laura and me, the colour of our skin has never mattered...
      至于我和劳拉，肤色根本不是问题。
   3. As long as staff are smart, it does not matter how long their hair is...
      员工只要聪明，头发留多长没什么关系。
   4. Does it matter that people don't know this?...
      人们对此事不知情，这重要吗？
   5. Money is the only thing that matters to them.
      对他们来说，钱是唯一重要的东西。
10. See also: grey matter subject matter
11. PHRASE 另一码事；另一回事;不同情形
    If you say that something is another matter or a different matter, you mean that it is very different from the situation that you have just discussed.
    1. Being responsible for one's own health is one thing, but being responsible for another person's health is quite a different matter...
       对自己的健康负责是一回事，对他人的健康负责就完全是另一回事了。
    2. You have no business going into such places all by yourselves. If your parents take you, of course, that's another matter.
       你们不该自己去这些地方。不过如果是父母带你们去的，那就另当别论了。
12. PHRASE 出于（时间）的考虑;作为（紧急）事件（处理）
    If you are going to do something as a matter of urgency or priority, you are going to do it as soon as possible, because it is important.
    1. Your doctor and health visitor can help a great deal and you need to talk about it with them as a matter of urgency.
       你的医生和家访护士会帮很大的忙。你应该和他们谈一谈，这是当务之急。
13. PHRASE 难事;并非易事
    If something is no easy matter, it is difficult to do it.
    1. Choosing the colour for the drawing-room walls was no easy matter.
       选择客厅墙壁的颜色绝非易事。
14. PHRASE 此事已定;(事情)到此为止，到此结束
    If someone says that's the end of the matter or that's an end to the matter, they mean that a decision that has been taken must not be changed or discussed any more.
    1. 'He's moving in here,' Maria said. 'So that's the end of the matter.'
       “他就要搬来住了，”玛丽亚说，“那么就这么定了。”
15. PHRASE 事实真相是;真实情况是
    You use the fact of the matter is or the truth of the matter is to introduce a fact which supports what you are saying or which is not widely known, for example because it is a secret.
    1. The fact of the matter is that most people consume far more protein than they actually need...
       真实的情况是，大多数人摄入的蛋白质比他们实际所需的多出许多。
    2. The truth of the matter is that he was having an identity crisis when he met Carina.
       实际情况是，他认识卡丽娜时正在迷失自我。
16. PHRASE 同样;而且
    You can use for that matter to emphasize that the remark you are making is true in the same way as your previous, similar remark.
    1. The irony was that Shawn had not seen her. Nor for that matter had anyone else...
       具有讽刺意味的是，肖恩并没有见过她，别人也同样如此。
    2. A great deal of hard work was done and, for that matter, is continuing.
       大量艰苦的工作已经完成，同样，大量艰苦的工作也仍在继续。
17. CONVENTION 不要紧;没关系
    You say 'it doesn't matter' to tell someone who is apologizing to you that you are not angry or upset, and that they should not worry.
    1. 'Did I wake you?' — 'Yes, but it doesn't matter.'
       “我把你吵醒了？”——“是的，不过没关系。”
18. CONVENTION 都行;无所谓;随便
    You say 'it doesn't matter' when someone offers you a choice between two or more things and you do not mind which is chosen.
    1. 'Steve, what do you want?' — 'Coke, Pepsi, it doesn't matter.'
       “史蒂夫，你要喝点什么？”——“可口可乐，百事，随便啦。”
19. PHRASE 正经事；非同儿戏
    If you say that something is no laughing matter, you mean that it is very serious and not something that you should laugh or joke about.
    1. Their behaviour is an offence. It's no laughing matter.
       他们这么做是犯罪，这可不是开玩笑的。
20. PHRASE 使情况变得更糟
    If you say that something makes matters worse, you mean that it makes a difficult situation even more difficult.
    1. Don't let yourself despair; this will only make matters worse...
       不要想不开，这样只能使情况变得更糟。
    2. To make matters worse, it started to rain again.
       更糟的是，又开始下雨了。
21. CONVENTION 没关系;不要紧
    You say 'no matter' after you have just asked a question or mentioned an idea or doubt and you have decided that it is not really important, interesting, or worth discussing.
    1. 'Didn't you ever read the book?' Keating shook his head. 'Well, no matter.'...
       “你从没看过这本书？”基廷摇了摇头。“嗯，没关系。”
    2. 'Shoddy workmanship these days,' he remarked. 'No matter, it will still bear my weight.'
       “现如今的做工实在是差劲，”他说，“无所谓了，好歹还撑得住我的体重。”
22. PHRASE 不管…;无论…
    You use no matter in expressions such as 'no matter how' and 'no matter what' to say that something is true or happens in all circumstances.
    1. No matter what your age, you can lose weight by following this program...
       不论年龄多大，都可以按这套方案来减肥。
    2. No matter how often they were urged, they could not bring themselves to join in...
       就算别人说破了嘴皮，他们就是不加入。
    3. Jenkins would reward all investors, no matter when they made their investment.
       无论投资人何时投资，詹金斯都会让他们得到回报。
23. PHRASE 不管怎样;无论如何
    If you say that you are going to do something no matter what, you are emphasizing that you are definitely going to do it, even if there are obstacles or difficulties.
    1. He had decided to publish the manuscript no matter what...
       他决定无论如何都要出版那部手稿。
    2. I vowed then, no matter what, I would never be like those people.
       于是我发誓，无论如何，我和他们那种人都不会成为一丘之貉。
24. PHRASE 看法问题;看法因人而异的事情
    If you say that a statement is a matter of opinion, you mean that it is not a fact, and that other people, including yourself, do not agree with it.
    1. 'We're not that contrived. We're not that theatrical.' — 'That's a matter of opinion.'
       “我们没那么造作，也没那么夸张。”——“见仁见智喽。”
25. PHRASE (只是)时间的问题（用于说明某事必定发生）
    If you say that something is just a matter of time, you mean that it is certain to happen at some time in the future.
    1. It would be only a matter of time before he went through with it.
       他完成这件事只是时间问题。
26. a matter of life and death → see: death

1. It was clear that she wanted to discuss some private matter
   很明显，她想谈些私事。
2. Until the matter is resolved the athletes will be ineligible to compete
   除非这个问题得以解决，否则这些运动员没有资格参加比赛。
3. Don't you think this is now a matter for the police?
   难道你不觉得这件事现在该交由警方处理吗？
4. Business matters drew him to Paris.
   他因公前往巴黎。
5. If your ordinary life is out of control, then retreating into a cosy ritual will not improve matters
   如果正常生活都一团糟了，那么再讲究小情调根本无济于事。
6. If it would facilitate matters, I would be happy to come to New York
   如果对事态发展有利，我很乐意来纽约。
7. Matters took an unexpected turn.
   事态发生了意想不到的转变。
8. History is always a matter of interpretation
   历史总是一种阐释角度的问题。
9. Observance of the law is a matter of principle for us
   守法是我们的一个原则问题。
10. After that, life became a matter of defying school rules
    从那以后，生活便成了处处与校规作对。
11. A proton is an elementary particle of matter.
    质子是物质的基本粒子。
12. They feed mostly on decaying vegetable matter.
    它们大多以腐烂的蔬菜为食。
13. Carole, what's the matter? You don't seem happy
    卡萝尔，出什么事了？你好像不开心。
14. Within a matter of days she was back at work
    仅仅几天后，她又回去上班了。
15. A lot of the food goes on the floor but that doesn't matter
    许多食品掉在地板上，不过也没什么关系。
16. Being responsible for one's own health is one thing, but being responsible for another person's health is quite a different matter
    对自己的健康负责是一回事，对他人的健康负责就完全是另一回事了。
17. Your doctor and health visitor can help a great deal and you need to talk about it with them as a matter of urgency.
    你的医生和家访护士会帮很大的忙。你应该和他们谈一谈，这是当务之急。
18. Choosing the colour for the drawing-room walls was no easy matter.
    选择客厅墙壁的颜色绝非易事。
19. 'He's moving in here,' Maria said. 'So that's the end of the matter.'
    “他就要搬来住了，”玛丽亚说，“那么就这么定了。”
20. The fact of the matter is that most people consume far more protein than they actually need
    真实的情况是，大多数人摄入的蛋白质比他们实际所需的多出许多。
21. The irony was that Shawn had not seen her. Nor for that matter had anyone else
    具有讽刺意味的是，肖恩并没有见过她，别人也同样如此。
22. 'Did I wake you?' — 'Yes, but it doesn't matter.'
    “我把你吵醒了？”——“是的，不过没关系。”
23. 'Steve, what do you want?' — 'Coke, Pepsi, it doesn't matter.'
    “史蒂夫，你要喝点什么？”——“可口可乐，百事，随便啦。”
24. Their behaviour is an offence. It's no laughing matter.
    他们这么做是犯罪，这可不是开玩笑的。
25. Don't let yourself despair; this will only make matters worse
    不要想不开，这样只能使情况变得更糟。
26. 'Didn't you ever read the book?' Keating shook his head. 'Well, no matter.'
    “你从没看过这本书？”基廷摇了摇头。“嗯，没关系。”
27. No matter what your age, you can lose weight by following this program
    不论年龄多大，都可以按这套方案来减肥。
28. He had decided to publish the manuscript no matter what
    他决定无论如何都要出版那部手稿。
29. 'We're not that contrived. We're not that theatrical.' — 'That's a matter of opinion.'
    “我们没那么造作，也没那么夸张。”——“见仁见智喽。”
30. It would be only a matter of time before he went through with it.
    他完成这件事只是时间问题。

  matter affair business concern thing【导航词义：事情】

  matter n. 事情，事务

〔辨析〕通常指关乎利益、命运等的紧要事务，必须予以考虑或解决。

  affair n. 事件，事情

〔辨析〕指令人印象深刻的重大事件或具有某种特点的不寻常之事。

  business n. 事情，事务

〔辨析〕指需要完成或讨论的重要事务，也指归某人管的事或某人持有某种看法的事情。

  concern n. 事情，关注的事

〔辨析〕指关系到某人切身利益、引起其关注或担忧的重要事情。

  thing n. 事情

〔辨析〕普通用词，词义最为广泛，可指任何事实、事件、情况、行为等。

  material matter stuff substance【导航词义：物质】

  material n. 材料，原料；素材

〔辨析〕尤指木材、石头、金属、塑料等用于制作某物的原材料；也可指文学创作的素材。

  matter n. 物质

〔辨析〕一切有形物质的总称，既指构成宇宙万物的物质，也指哲学上与意识相对的物质。

  stuff n. 〈非正式〉东西，物品

〔辨析〕多用于日常口语，可指各种叫不出名称的物质、材料、物体等；有时指无关紧要的东西，含轻视意味。

  substance n. 物质

〔辨析〕通常指有某种特性的固体、液体或气体物质。

n.

as a matter of fact

• 事实上；其实；说真的
  used to add a comment on sth that you have just said, usually adding sth that you think the other person will be interested in
  1. It's a nice place. We've stayed there ourselves, as a matter of fact.
     那个地方不错。其实，我们自己在那儿待过。
• （表示不同意）事实上，其实
  used to disagree with sth that sb has just said
  1. ‘I suppose you'll be leaving soon, then?’ ‘No, as a matter of fact I'll be staying for another two years.’
     “我想你快要离开了吧？”“不。事实上，我还要再待两年呢。”

be another/a different matter

• 另外一回事；又是一回事；另当别论
  to be very different
  1. I know which area they live in, but whether I can find their house is a different matter.
     我知道他们住在哪一地区，但能不能找到他们的住宅则是另外一回事了。

for that matter

• 就此而论；在这方面
  used to add a comment on sth that you have just said
  1. I didn't like it much. Nor did the kids, for that matter.
     我不怎么喜欢它。孩子们也同样不喜欢。

it's just/only a matter of time (before…)

• 早晚的事；只是时间问题
  used to say that sth will definitely happen, although you are not sure when
  1. It's only a matter of time before they bring out their own version of the software.
     他们推出自己的软件只是个时间问题。

(as) a matter of course

• （作为）理所当然的事；（当作）常规
  (as) the usual and correct thing to do
  1. We always check people's addresses as a matter of course.
     我们总是照例检查一下人们的地址。

a matter of hours, minutes, etc.

a matter of inches, metres, etc.

• 只有几个小时、几分钟（或几英寸、几米等）之多；不多于…
  only a few hours, minutes, etc.
  1. It was all over in a matter of minutes.
     几分钟就全部结束了。
  2. The bullet missed her by a matter of inches.
     子弹几乎擦着她的身体飞过。

a matter of life and death

• 生死攸关的事；成败的关键
  used to describe a situation that is very important or serious

a matter of record

• 有案可查的事
  something that has been recorded as being true

no matter

• 没关系；不要紧；不重要
  used to say that sth is not important

no matter who, what, where, etc.

• 不论…；无论…；不管…
  used to say that sth is always true, whatever the situation is, or that sb should certainly do sth
  1. They don't last long no matter how careful you are.
     不管你如何仔细，他们都维持不了很久。
  2. Call me when you get there, no matter what the time is.
     无论什么时间，你到了那儿就给我打电话。

be no laughing matter

• 不是开玩笑的事；严肃的事
  to be sth serious that you should not joke about

noun

1. that which has mass and occupies space
   1. physicists study both the nature of matter and the forces which govern it

2. (used with negation) having consequence
   1. they were friends and it was no matter who won the games

3. a vaguely specified concern
   1. several matters to attend to
   2. it is none of your affair
   3. things are going well

   Synonym:    affairthing

4. a problem
   1. is anything the matter?

5. some situation or event that is thought about
   1. he kept drifting off the topic
   2. he had been thinking about the subject for several years
   3. it is a matter for the police

   Synonym:    topicsubjectissue

6. written works (especially in books or magazines)
   1. he always took some reading matter with him on the plane

verb

1. have weight
   1. It does not matter much

   Synonym:    countweigh