「out」不只是外面：移除、揭露、耗盡

介副詞 out 從一個簡單的畫面出發：某樣東西從裡面移到外面。你從包包裡拿出皮夾，貓從房間跑出去。夠清楚了。

接著 out 開始和想法、祕密、能量、選擇、錯誤和計畫一起工作。你可以 find out the truth、figure out a puzzle、leave out one detail、point out a problem、sort out a schedule、run out of time，或覺得自己徹底 worn out。

在這些片語裡，out 常表示移除、發現、完成、耗盡，或從混亂中分離出清晰。它講的不只是門裡門外。

快速解答

out 常常加上「從隱藏到可見、從裡到外、從滿到空，或從混雜到清楚」的概念。

find out：發現資訊
figure out／work out：解開或想通
point out：點出來讓別人注意到
leave out：沒有納入
take out／pull out：取出
cross out／cut out：從文字或整體中刪去
run out：用完了
wear out／burn out：耗盡
sort out／straighten out：整理或解決混亂
stand out：醒目突出

有用的問題是：什麼東西跑了出來、變得清楚、消失了，或被用到一滴不剩？

核心概念

字面上的 out 是從內部往外的移動。這個實體概念很自然地延展開來。資訊可以從隱蔽處現身，錯誤可以被點出來讓大家看見，細節可以被排除在故事之外，電池可以把電量耗光，疲憊的人可以 worn out——彷彿能量被用得一點不剩。

out 常常製造出一個看得見的結果：祕密被知道了、問題被看見了、東西被取出了、補給用完了、混亂被整理了，或者有一樣東西清楚地從其他東西中突顯出來。

它是最有用的介副詞之一，因為它幫我們談論「清晰」。

Out 表示發現：Find Out、Figure Out

當資訊從隱藏變成已知，out 常常現身。

I just found out that the meeting was moved.
How did you find out about the discount?
We need to figure out why the app keeps closing.
She finally figured out the answer.
I cannot make out what this handwriting says.

Find out 表示發現資訊，通常是原本不知道的事。

I found the keys. = 我找到了一個物品。
I found out where the keys were. = 我得知了一項資訊。

這個差別很重要。皮夾是 find，事實是 find out。

Figure out 表示透過思考解開或想通。

He figured out the password.
We figured it out after reading the instructions twice.

它是可分的：

We figured out the problem.
We figured the problem out.
We figured it out.

Make out 可以表示勉強看清或聽清：

I can barely make out the sign in the fog.
Can you make out what they are saying?

這三組片語裡，原本模糊的東西都變清楚了。

Out 表示揭露：Point Out、Call Out、Bring Out

out 也可以表示讓人注意到某件事。

She pointed out a small error in the form.
Thanks for pointing that out.
The article brings out an important difference.
His comment brought out the main problem.
The coach called out the team for arriving late.

Point out 通常是中性或善意的：你把注意力引向某件事。

Let me point out one detail.
He pointed out that the numbers did not match.

Call out 強烈得多，常表示公開批評某人的不當行為。

Several customers called out the company for poor service.

使用時要小心，它可能聽起來公開又有對峙意味。

Bring out 可以表示彰顯一種特質：

The blue shirt brings out your eyes.
Stress can bring out the worst in people.

那個特質原本就在，只是現在看得見了。

Out 表示移除：Take Out、Leave Out、Cut Out、Cross Out

字面上的移除意思仍然非常常見。

Please take out the trash.
The dentist took out my wisdom tooth.
The editor cut out two paragraphs.
She crossed out the wrong answer.
Do not leave out the date on the form.

Take out 可以表示取出、帶走，或從餐廳買餐點到別處吃：

I took out the old batteries.
We ordered takeout for dinner.

Leave out 表示沒有納入：

You left out one important step.
I felt left out of the conversation.

第二句裡，left out 描述的是被排除在外的感受。

Cross out 和 cut out 都和移除有關，但方式不同。Cross out 是把文字劃掉、標示為錯誤或不要。Cut out 是從整體中取下一塊，或戒掉某件事。

Cross out the incorrect word.
Cut out the extra paragraph.
I am trying to cut out late-night snacks.

Out 表示用完：Run Out、Sell Out、Give Out

out 常表示補給沒了。

We ran out of milk.
I am running out of time.
The concert sold out in an hour.
My phone battery gave out during the trip.
The printer gave out after years of use.

Run out of 是最實用的句型：

run out of money
run out of ideas
run out of patience
run out of space

不要說 "My time ran out of."，要說：

I ran out of time.
My time ran out.

Sell out 表示門票或商品全數售完。它也可以表示為了金錢或成功而背叛自己的價值：

The show sold out quickly.
Fans accused the singer of selling out.

Give out 可以表示因為衰弱或老舊而停止運作：

His knees gave out near the finish line.

這些資源不是單純跑到外面去了，而是被用到失靈為止。

Out 表示耗盡：Wear Out、Burn Out、Tire Out

當能量見底，out 又出現了。

These shoes are worn out.
I am worn out after three long meetings.
The kids tired out the babysitter.
Too many late nights can burn you out.

Wear out 對物品和人都適用：

The carpet is worn out.
I am worn out.

Tire out 通常表示把某人弄累：

The hike tired us out.

Burn out 常表示因長期壓力或過勞而深度耗竭：

She burned out after months of overtime.

它比「累」更重。如果你只是需要小睡一下，那大概是累了。如果幾個月的壓力榨乾了你的動力和健康，那可能是 burned out。

Out 表示理清：Sort Out、Straighten Out、Spell Out

out 也可以表示把混亂的局面變清楚。

We need to sort out the schedule.
They are trying to sort out their disagreement.
Let me straighten out one misunderstanding.
The contract spells out each person's responsibilities.

Sort out 表示整理、解決，或處理混亂。

I need to sort out my files.
We will sort it out tomorrow.

Straighten out 表示糾正誤會或修正問題：

The hotel mixed up our booking, but they straightened it out.

Spell out 表示清楚而詳細地說明：

The rules are spelled out in the guide.

這裡的 out 像是把零件全部攤在桌上，讓每個人都看得到。

Out 表示醒目：Stand Out、Stick Out

有時 out 表示從背景中跳出來。

Her bright yellow coat stood out in the crowd.
One sentence stands out in the report.
His name stuck out because it was printed in red.
A nail was sticking out of the board.

Stand out 通常是正面或中性的：某樣東西因為出色、特別、鮮明或與眾不同而引人注目。

Your application really stands out.

Stick out 可以更實體，或帶點突兀：

Your shirt tag is sticking out.
That excuse sticks out as strange.

兩個片語都來自同一個概念：某樣東西從表面或群體中伸了出來。

常見錯誤

"I found out my keys." → "I found my keys" 或 "I found out where my keys were." · Find out 用於資訊。
"We ran out milk." → "We ran out of milk." · 用完的東西前面要加 of。
"Please explain out the rule." → "Please spell out the rule" 或 "explain the rule." · Explain 不需要 out。
"He called out my mistake." 可能聽起來公開又帶批評。如果語氣是善意的，用 "He pointed out my mistake."
"I left out from the group." → "I felt left out of the group."

小練習

I just _____ _____ that the class starts at nine.
We _____ _____ _____ paper halfway through printing.
She politely _____ _____ a typo in the title.
Please do not _____ _____ the final step.
After the long trip, everyone was completely _____ _____.

解答

found out — 發現資訊是 find out。
ran out of — 用完了是 run out of。
pointed out — 點出來讓人注意是 point out。
leave out — 沒有納入是 leave out。
worn out — 徹底疲憊是 worn out。

小結

Out 模式	核心意思	例子
發現	從隱藏到已知	find out、figure out
揭露	讓人注意到	point out、bring out
移除	取走或排除	take out、leave out、cut out
用完	一點不剩	run out、sell out
耗盡	能量用到底	wear out、burn out
理清	整理或說明	sort out、spell out
醒目	從背景中跳出	stand out、stick out

遇到 out，找出那條從隱藏到可見、從裡到外、從滿到空、從混亂到清楚的移動路線。一旦看出是什麼跑了出來，這個片語通常就藏不住了。

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