英文也有句諺語是這麼說的---“The wise man knows he knows nothing, the fool thinks he knows all. (智者自認一無所知, 愚者自負無事不曉)”。該問為什麼的時候，就問為什麼；不知道的時候，就大聲說”I don’t know.”，人生才可能有更多不同的轉彎，以及遇見你從未想見的風景。
但你有想過不知道除了”I don’t know.”之外，還有哪些說法可以表達你真正迷惘的心情嗎？這句話其實在不同的情境下，可能代表了不同的意義，當然說法也可以隨之變化，其中的學問可大了呢！我們就簡單做個分類吧：
1. 當你對一件事物完全沒有概念，連做個簡單的猜想都做不到的時候，你可以這麼說：
I have no idea. / I have no clue.
I don't have a clue.
Example:
Steve: What is the movie about? Is it good?
Emma: I have no idea. I don't even hear of it.
2. 當某件事情是超乎想像，或是鮮少為人所知的，大概天底下找不到幾個人可以說得上來的時候，你可以這麼說：
Who knows?
It's anyone's guess.
Example:
Mark: I heard the plane crashed due to the severe weather. Did the government find the crash spot and start the rescue?
Dean: Who knows? They can't even be sure whether it was the weather or something else.
3.有時候你不僅對某件事的狀況不甚了解，但又頻頻被追問到心煩氣躁時，你可以這麼說：
How should … know?
Don't ask me.
Search me.
Example:
Nicky: When on earth is the meeting going to start? I'm here for ages.
Elma: How should I know? I was told to wait here from 9 o'clock. And look what time it is! It's now 10:30 already!
4.可能你確實知道一些資訊，但這些資訊又不足以幫助你判斷目前的情勢是否屬實或正確時，你可以這麼說：
I'm not sure. / I'm unsure.
Not as far as I know.
Example:
Jenny: Do you know which counter I should go to hand in the application form?
Halley: I'm not sure, but maybe you can try no.2-4. I just saw some people line up earlier.
Jenny: Thanks a lot. I'll try and ask.
Nick: Have you heard anything from Dave? He should have been here an hour ago.
Louise: Not as far as I know. Maybe he got caught by something on the way. Let me try to reach him and find out what happened.
5.某些狀況下，問題本身並不難，但不屬於你的專業或是熟悉的領域，你可以這麼說：
I don't have that answer.
I'm not the best person to answer that.
Example:
Tim: What do you think the situation will develop? Could be better or worse?
Mark: I don't have that answer. It's really not my expertise.
6.當你發現問問題的人，所知道的跟你相差無幾，你們都對這個狀況一知半解，也都很想進一步的得到答案的時候，你可以這麼說：
I have that same question.
That's an interesting question.
Your guess is as good as mine
Example:
Timothy: Do you think our team will be able to advance to the final round?
Kelly: That's an interesting question. I guess we can only find out tomorrow.
Liz: Do you think we can win the game?
Gilbert: Your guess is as good as mine.
7.最後，非正式的口語表達裡也有較簡短的回應方式，在與較熟的朋友互動時，你可以這麼說：
Beats me. / It beats me. Dunno.
Example:
Laurence: Where did you get the bag?
Fanny: Dunno. I can't remember. What about it?
Naomi: Why did Eric leave such a mess on the table?
Ray: Beats me. You can ask him yourself when he gets home.
是不是很驚訝，原來「不知道」也有這麼多元的花式表達，以及隱藏的情緒和含意呢？下次要脫口說出"I don't know"前，你可以多想想，要怎麼說可以更傳神的表達你的不解或困惑喔！
持續關注我們的文章，一起學習更多實用好玩的英文喔！
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