as a matter of fact...

英 /æz ə ˈmætər əv fækt/美 /æz ə ˈmætər əv fækt/

短语

事实上;其实;说真的

含义详解

该短语本义为“作为事实”,引申为“事实上”或“其实”,用于强调所说内容为真实情况,常与预期或表面印象形成对比。它有两个主要义项:其一,用于纠正或反驳之前的说法或想法,如“As a matter of fact, I didn't go.”(事实上,我没去。);其二,用于补充或强调一个事实,使论述更充分,如“As a matter of fact, she is very kind.”(其实,她非常善良。)。从本义到引申义,其核心在于“以事实为依据”,从客观陈述转为强调主观认知中的事实。

词根溯源

该短语由“as”(作为)、“a matter of”(一个……的问题)和“fact”(事实)组成。“matter”源自古法语“matere”,最终来自拉丁语“materia”,意为“材料、主题”;“fact”源自拉丁语“factum”,意为“已做的事情”。整个短语字面意思为“作为一件事实”,在英语中逐渐固定为副词性短语,表示“事实上”。记忆时可拆解为“as”+“a matter of fact”,联想到“以事实为根据”,即可掌握其含义。

常见语境

该短语广泛用于日常口语、正式演讲和书面语中。在日常口语中,它常用来轻松地纠正对方或补充信息,语气自然,如“As a matter of fact, I've never been there.”(其实,我从没去过那里。)。在正式场合如学术写作或新闻报道中,它用于强调事实的客观性,语气较为严肃,如“As a matter of fact, the experiment failed.”(事实上,实验失败了。)。在法律文本中,它可能用于陈述确凿的事实,但较少见。总的来说,该短语在口语中更显亲切,在书面语中则增强论述的力度。

语法要点

该短语通常用作句子副词,位于句首或句中,后接完整句子。它不改变句子的语法结构,仅起修饰作用。常见句型为“As a matter of fact, + 完整句子”,或插入句中,如“She is, as a matter of fact, very talented.”。易错点在于:不要将其与“as a matter of course”(理所当然)混淆;在口语中常简化为“matter of fact”,但正式写作中应使用完整形式。此外,该短语后不接名词或动词不定式。

同义词区别

与“in fact”和“actually”意思相近,但略有差异。“in fact”更强调与之前说法的对比,语气更直接;“actually”更口语化,常表示惊讶或纠正;“as a matter of fact”则更正式,带有“以事实为依据”的强调意味。例如,在正式报告中,用“as a matter of fact”比“actually”更合适;在日常对话中,“actually”更自然。此外,“in reality”和“in truth”更文学化,而“as a matter of fact”更中性。

常见误区

该短语属于中性语域,可用于正式和非正式场合,但正式场合更显严谨。它没有褒贬色彩,但可能带有“纠正对方”的意味,因此使用时需注意语气,避免显得傲慢。常见误用包括:将其与“as a matter of course”混淆,或将其置于句末(不标准)。另外,在口语中过度使用会显得啰嗦,应适度。

高频搭配

as a matter of fact, ...事实上,……
but as a matter of fact但事实上
as a matter of fact, I think事实上,我认为
as a matter of fact, it is事实上,它是
as a matter of fact, I don't事实上,我不……
as a matter of fact, she/he事实上,她/他……
as a matter of fact, we事实上,我们……

句子示例

As a matter of fact, I have never been to Paris.事实上,我从未去过巴黎。
You think she is shy, but as a matter of fact, she is very outgoing.你以为她害羞,但事实上她非常外向。
As a matter of fact, the results were better than expected.事实上,结果比预期的要好。
He seemed unfriendly, but as a matter of fact, he was just nervous.他看起来不友好,但其实他只是紧张。
As a matter of fact, the company has been profitable for years.事实上,公司多年来一直盈利。