actually

adv.

1. （在口语中用于强调事实）的确，真实地，事实上
   used in speaking to emphasize a fact or a comment, or that sth is really true
   1. What did she actually say?
      她到底是怎么说的？
   2. It's not actually raining now.
      其实现在并没有下雨。
   3. That's the only reason I'm actually going.
      这是我确实要走的唯一理由。
   4. There are lots of people there who can actually help you.
      那里有很多人可以真正帮上你的忙。
   5. I didn't want to say anything without actually reading the letter first.
      在未确实读信之前我什么也不想说。
2. （表示想法与事实不一致因而惊奇）居然，竟然
   used to show a contrast between what is true and what sb believes, and to show surprise about this contrast
   1. It was actually quite fun after all.
      这居然还很有趣。
   2. The food was not actually all that expensive.
      食品居然并不那么昂贵。
   3. Our turnover actually increased last year.
      去年我们的营业额竟然增加了。
3. （礼貌地纠正他人）实际上，事实上
   used to correct sb in a polite way
   1. We're not American, actually. We're Canadian.
      实际上我们不是美国人。我们是加拿大人。
   2. Actually, it would be much more sensible to do it later.
      事实上，以后再办这件事可能要明智得多。
   3. They're not married, actually.
      他们实际上没有结婚。
4. （礼貌地引起注意、转换话题、直言）确实，说实在的
   used to get sb's attention, to introduce a new topic or to say sth that sb may not like, in a polite way
   1. Actually, I'll be a bit late home.
      说真的，我回家会晚一点。
   2. Actually, I'm busy at the moment─can I call you back?
      说实在的，我这会儿正忙——我可以给你回电话吗？

1. ADV 的确;真实地;事实上
   You use actually to indicate that a situation exists or happened, or to emphasize that it is true.
   1. One afternoon, I grew bored and actually fell asleep for a few minutes...
      一天下午，我觉得有些无聊，还真的睡着了一小会儿。
   2. Interest is only payable on the amount actually borrowed.
      利息只能根据实际借款数目给付。
2. ADV （用于纠正他人或表示反对）实际上，事实上
   You use actually when you are correcting or contradicting someone.
   1. No, I'm not a student. I'm a doctor, actually...
      不，我不是学生。实际上我是医生。
   2. 'So it's not a family show then?' —'Well, actually, I think that's exactly what it is.'
      “那么这并不是一次家庭才艺表演了？”——“嗯，事实上我觉得这恰恰就是一次家庭才艺表演。”
3. ADV (礼貌地表达与他人的期待所不同的观点)说实在的，说真的
   You can use actually when you are politely expressing an opinion that other people might not have expected from you.
   1. 'Do you think it's a good idea to socialize with one's patients?' — 'Actually, I do, I think it's a great idea.'
      “你认为和自己的病人交朋友的想法好吗？”——“说实在的，我认为很好，这个想法很棒。”
   2. I would be surprised, actually, if he left Birmingham.
      如果他要离开伯明翰，说真的，我会很惊讶。
4. ADV （引入新话题）其实，说实在的
   You use actually to introduce a new topic into a conversation.
   1. Well actually, John, I rang you for some advice...
      这么说吧，约翰，我给你打电话是想得到些建议。
   2. Actually, let's just read this little bit where you've made them bump into each other.
      这样吧，我们就只读你让他们偶遇这一小段吧。

Note that actually and really are both used to emphasize statements. Actually is used to emphasize what is true or genuine in a situation, often when this is surprising, or a contrast with what has just been said. All the characters in the novel actually existed... He actually began to cry. It can also be used to be precise or to correct someone. No one was actually drunk... We couldn't actually see the garden. You use really in conversation to emphasize something that you are saying. I really think he's sick. When you use really in front of an adjective or adverb, it has a similar meaning to 'very'. This is really serious.
注意，actually和really都用于强调。actually用于强调情况的真实性，往往是在出人意料或跟刚刚所说的话形成对照的情况下使用。例如：All the characters in the novel actually existed（这部小说中所有人物都确有其人），He actually began to cry（他真的哭了起来）。actually也可用于加强准确性或纠正别人。例如：No one was actually drunk（没有人真的喝醉了），We couldn't actually see the garden（我们其实看不到花园）。really可用于对话中强调说话内容：I really think he's sick（我确实认为他生病了）。really用于形容词和副词之前时，意思与very相近：This is really serious (这非常严重）。

1. Am I right in thinking you're the only person in the club who's actually played at Wembley?
   我想你是这个俱乐部中唯一一个真正在温布利打过比赛的人，对吗？
2. How big is the abyss between what you think you are and what you actually are?
   你对自己的认识和真实的你之间差别到底有多大？
3. One afternoon, I grew bored and actually fell asleep for a few minutes
   一天下午，我觉得有些无聊，还真的睡着了一小会儿。
4. Interest is only payable on the amount actually borrowed.
   利息只能根据实际借款数目给付。
5. No, I'm not a student. I'm a doctor, actually
   不，我不是学生。实际上我是医生。
6. 'So it's not a family show then?' —'Well, actually, I think that's exactly what it is. '
   “那么这并不是一次家庭才艺表演了？”——“嗯，事实上我觉得这恰恰就是一次家庭才艺表演。”
7. 'Do you think it's a good idea to socialize with one's patients?' — 'Actually, I do, I think it's a great idea.'
   “你认为和自己的病人交朋友的想法好吗？”——“说实在的，我认为很好，这个想法很棒。”
8. I would be surprised, actually, if he left Birmingham.
   如果他要离开伯明翰，说真的，我会很惊讶。
9. Well actually, John, I rang you for some advice
   这么说吧，约翰，我给你打电话是想得到些建议。
10. Actually, let's just read this little bit where you've made them bump into each other.
    这样吧，我们就只读你让他们偶遇这一小段吧。
11. I can't give you details because I don't actually have any details
    我没办法给你提供细节，因为我并不了解任何细节。
12. I have battled with my conscience over whether I should actually send this letter
    我备受良心的煎熬，不知是否真的应该把这封信寄出去。
13. You can't actually drink the water from the marshland. But you can distil it
    沼泽地的水不能饮用，但是可以将它蒸馏净化。
14. Do I sound envious? I pity them, actually.
    我听起来是嫉妒吗？实际上我是可怜他们。
15. Now with this particular piece of instrumentation, you can actually spot individual carbon atoms.
    现在利用这件特定的仪器，就可以真正观察到单个碳原子了。
16. Once people have seen that something actually works, they are much more likely to accept change.
    一旦人们看到有些东西确实奏效，那他们可能会更容易接受变化。
17. The fact of the matter is that most people consume far more protein than they actually need
    真实的情况是，大多数人摄入的蛋白质比他们实际所需的多出许多。
18. What you actually receive is net of deductions for the airfare and administration.
    你实际上得到的是扣除机票和管理费的净值。
19. Actually we do have a position in mind. Why don't you fill out our application?
    实际上我们的确在考虑一个职位，你先填一下我们的求职表好吗？
20. People don't realize how serious this recession has actually been
    人们没有意识到这次经济衰退事实上有多严重。
21. We are not, I repeat, not actually in the negotiating process
    我们不是，我重申一下，实际上不是在进行谈判。
22. I don't actually mind being sampled as long as people give credit where it's due.
    只要人们在适当处标明出处，我其实并不在乎自己的音乐被人节录。
23. I actually skated, and despite some teetering I did not fall on the ice
    我真的滑冰了——尽管有些踉跄，但没有跌跟头。
24. This is really something. Someone actually thinks my records are all right!
    太棒了，有人真的认为我的唱片不错呢！
25. They actually moved down from upstairs because the rent's that expensive.
    他们确实从楼上搬到了楼下，因为房租太贵了。
26. She'd actually taken it home and she put it in this jar thing
    她确实把它拿回了家，放在了一个罐子模样的东西里。
27. They ran out of drink. Which actually didn't bother me because I wasn't drinking
    他们把酒喝完了。但实际上这对我来说无所谓，因为我不喝酒。
28. Actually this is not so.
    其实不然。
29. It's easy for you to say that, but actually it is not so simple.
    你说得倒容易，事情哪有那么简单！
30. We all want to know what actually happened.
    我们都想知道个究竟。

adv

1. used to imply that one would expect the fact to be the opposite of that stated
   1. you may actually be doing the right thing by walking out
   2. she actually spoke Latin
   3. they thought they made the rules but in reality they were only puppets
   4. people who seem stand-offish are in reality often simply nervous

   Synonym:    in reality

2. in actual fact
   1. to be nominally but not actually independent
   2. no one actually saw the shark
   3. large meteorites actually come from the asteroid belt

   Synonym:    really

3. as a sentence modifier to add slight emphasis
   1. actually, we all help clear up after a meal
   2. actually, I haven't seen the film
   3. I'm not all that surprised actually
   4. she hasn't proved to be too satisfactory, actually

4. at the present moment
   1. the transmission screen shows the picture that is actually on the air