"as a matter of fact" 是一个常用的英语短语,意为“事实上;实际上;其实”,用于纠正之前的错误认知、补充真实情况,或强调与表面不符的事实(相当于中文里的“其实”“说真的”“实际上”)。
该短语通常作为插入语或衔接语使用,位置灵活(句首、句中或句末均可),但需注意标点:
句首时,后面加逗号(如:As a matter of fact, ...);
句中时,前后加逗号(如:..., as a matter of fact, ...);
句末时,前面加逗号(如:..., as a matter of fact)。
当他人的说法不准确时,用该短语引出真实情况:
People think I’m rich, but as a matter of fact, I’m in debt.
(人们以为我很有钱,其实我欠着债。)
He says he’s never lied to you—but as a matter of fact, he did last week.
(他说从没骗过你——实际上,他上周就骗了。)
用于进一步说明真实情况,或强调与预期相反的结果:
I didn’t plan to stay long. As a matter of fact, I’m leaving tomorrow.
(我没打算待久。事实上,我明天就走。)
The party seemed boring at first. As a matter of fact, it turned out to be fun.
(派对一开始看似无聊,其实后来很有趣。)
在对话中回应对方的问题,直接点明事实:
A: Do you know how to cook?
B: As a matter of fact, I’m a professional chef.
(A:你会做饭吗?B:其实,我是专业厨师。)
"as a matter of fact" 与 in fact、actually 含义相近,但:
"as a matter of fact" 更正式,强调“基于事实的澄清”;
"in fact" 更口语化,用法更广泛;
"actually" 更侧重“与预期不同的真实情况”(如:I thought it was easy—actually, it’s hard.)。
"as a matter of fact" 是“用事实说话”的短语,核心功能是“纠正、补充或强调真实情况”。记住它的位置和标点,结合具体语境使用,就能自然融入口语或写作中~