有時候我們在看電影或影集時,
會聽到角色在情緒激動時說出:“What on earth are you talking about?”
這句話到底是什麼意思呢?
正確答案:「你到底在說什麼?」
on earth 在這裡並不是指「地球」,
而是用來加強語氣,可翻成「到底」、「究竟」。
定義說明:
什麼時候可以用 on earth?
當你想要在疑問句中表達驚訝、不耐煩、困惑或情緒起伏時,
可以在下列疑問詞後面加上 on earth:
who / what / where / when / why / how
語氣強度比較
中性但帶情緒:on earth
偏不耐煩、較口語:the heck
粗魯、強烈(慎用):the hell
髒話版本:the f*ck(⚠ 請視場合使用)
※以上用法在英文母語環境中皆屬常見口語現象
例句:
Who
- Who are you?
(你是誰?) - Who on earth are you?
(你到底是誰?) - Who the heck are you?
(你到底是誰?)👉 口氣較衝
What
- What was that?
(那是什麼?) - What on earth was that?
(那到底是什麼?) - What the heck was that?
(那到底是什麼?)👉 口氣較衝
Where
- Where have you been?
(你去哪了?) - Where on earth have you been?
(你到底去哪了?) - Where the heck have you been?
(你到底去哪了?)👉 口氣較衝
When
- When are you coming?
(你什麼時候來?) - When on earth are you coming?
(你到底什麼時候來?) - When the heck are you coming?
(你到底什麼時候來?)👉 口氣較衝
Why
- Why did you do this?
(你為什麼要這樣做?) - Why on earth did you do this?
(你到底為什麼要這樣做?) - Why the heck did you do this?
(你到底為什麼要這樣做?)👉 口氣較衝
How
- How do they know it?
(他們怎麼知道的?) - How on earth do they know it?
(他們到底怎麼知道的?) - How the heck do they know it?
(他們到底怎麼知道的?)👉 口氣較衝
當疑問詞後面已接名詞或形容詞時,通常不再加 on earth / the heck / the hell
例如:
❌ What on earth color do you like?
❌ How on earth old are you?
✔ What color do you like?
✔ How old are you?
單純疑問 → 可加 on earth 強化情緒
疑問詞後面已接名詞或形容詞 → 不加



