Word · Frequency #15468
unwritten
不成文的；心照不宣的
Implicit or understood but not formally articulated.
- 1.
Not written.
未写的；非书面的。
- 2.
Oral or otherwise communicated without writing.
口头的或以非书面方式传达的。
- 3.
Implicit or understood but not formally articulated.
隐含的；心照不宣但未正式阐明的。
- 4.
Containing no writing; blank.
无字迹的；空白的。
未写的；非书面的；口头的；非书面传达的；空白的；未写字的；未写的；非书面的。；口头的或以非书面方式传达的。
In use
In this team, finishing your work on time is an unwritten rule.
Their unwritten agreement lasted for decades.
The blank, unwritten pages of the diary made her feel free.
unwritten + noun
Many companies have unwritten rules about dress code.
许多公司都有关于着装的不成文规定。
be + unwritten
This agreement is unwritten but mutually understood.
这份协议没有书面形式但双方都理解。
remain + unwritten
The constitution remains unwritten in that country.
Connections
Collocations
- unwritten rule
- 不成文的规矩；潜规则
- There is an unwritten rule that you should not ask colleagues about their salary.有一条不成文的规矩：你不应问同事的薪水。
- unwritten law
- 不成文法；约定俗成的规矩
- In this workplace, it is an unwritten law that you don't take the last piece of cake.在这个工作场所，不拿最后一块蛋糕是一条不成文的规矩。
- unwritten agreement
- 口头协议；默契
- The partners had an unwritten agreement never to compete on price.合伙人之间有个默契，绝不在价格上互相竞争。
- unwritten constitution
- 不成文宪法
- The UK is often said to have an unwritten constitution.人们常说英国拥有不成文宪法。
- unwritten code
- 不成文的准则
- Among the mountaineers, there is an unwritten code that you help anyone in trouble.登山者之间有一条不成文的准则：要向遇险的人伸出援手。
Learner notes
Memory Tip
记：un（没）+ written（写）＝没写下来；不成文的规矩指心照不宣、未正式写出的规则。
Context & Register
语域：neutral 常见场景：social conventions and unwritten rules、legal and political arrangements without codification、oral or informal communication 该词在多数语境下为中性，没有明显的正式或非正式色彩。多用于“unwritten rule”“unwritten law”等搭配，指虽未正式写下来、但被普遍理解或遵守的规则；日常和书面语中均可使用。若指“没有字迹/空白”时也属中性，多出现在对书面材料的描述中。
Grammar Note
常用于修饰规则、法律等名词，表示不成文的。常作定语或表语。
Pronunciation & Spelling
这些词都以 /ɪtn/ 结尾，与 unwritten 的 /rɪtn/ 部分押韵：written, bitten, kitten, smitten, mitten。注意：unwitting /ʌnˈwɪtɪŋ/ 拼写相似，但结尾是 /ɪŋ/，不押韵。
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 1，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.