1. U 物质，物体　 the material which makes up the world and everything in space which can be seen or touched
2. U 题材，内容　 a subject itself as opposed to the form in which it is spoken or written about
3. C 事情，问题　 affair; subject to which one gives attention
4. S 困难，毛病，麻烦　 a trouble or cause of pain, illness, etc.
5. U 重要性　 (of) importance

　arrange ～　安排事情
　bring the ～　引起某人注意这事件
　clear up ～s　澄清事情
　consider a ～　考虑问题
　contain much useless ～　包含许多无用的物质
　create ～　创造物质，生成物质
　discuss a ～　讨论问题
　explain a ～　解释问题
　give the ～ careful thought　慎重考虑这件事
　handle a ～　处理问题
　ignore the ～　调查这件事
　let the ～ go　让这件事过去
　make the ～s worse　把事情搞得更糟
　put off the ～　推迟处理某事
　put the ～ right　拨乱反正
　set ～s right　把事情纠正过来
　sum up the ～　总结某事
　take ～ easy　泰然处之
　take a ～ up　着手调查某事
　think a ～ over　思考某事
　treat a ～　对待问题
　turn the ～ over in one's mind　反复考虑某事
　another ～　另一件事
　colouring ～　色素
　difficult ～　难事
　educational ～s　教育问题
　fundamental ～　根本问题
　great ～　大事
　house-hold ～s　家庭事项
　long-range ～s　长远的问题
　mailed ～　邮件
　minor ～　小事
　personal ～s　个人问题
　printed ～　印刷品
　private ～　私事
　public ～　公事
　serious ～　严肃的事情
　settled ～　已决定的事项
　small ～　小事
　subject ～　主题
　vital ～　重大的事情
　waste ～　废物
　worldly ～s　俗事
　family ～s　家庭事项
　love ～s　风流韵事
　money ～s　金钱问题
　as a ～ of fact　事实上
　as a ～ of record　根据资料，作为资料
　for that ～　就这件事来说
　in the ～ of　至于
　on all ～s　对于一切事情
　～ for congratulation　值得祝贺之事
　～ of common knowledge　常识的问题
　～ of first importance　头等重要的问题
　～ of great delicacy　需要谨慎处理的问题
　～ of great significance　具有重大意义的事情
　～ of public knowledge　众所周知的事

　Matter is the opposite of mind.　物质与精神相对。
　Matter is primary and mind is secondary.　物质是第一性的，精神是第二性的。
　The river is rich in organic matter.　这条河里有丰富的有机物质。
　The entire universe is made up of different kinds of matter.　整个宇宙是由各种物质构成的。
　Matter and energy are equal and interchangeable.　物质和能量是相等的，并可相互转换。
　What's the subject matter of today's debate?　今天辩论的内容是什么?
　The book contains much useless matter.　这本书里有许多无用的东西。
　I find much matter for reflection in this book.　我在这本书中发现许多值得思考的东西。
　Perfection of form cannot excuse poverty of matter.　不能用形式完整来为内容贫乏辩解。
　The matter in your composition is quite good but the writing is not lucid enough.　你的作文内容很好，但文字不够简单明了。
　I must take some suitable reading matter for the journey.　我必须带些合适的读物在旅途中阅读。
　The room is furnished with good reading matter.　房间里备有良好的读物。
　The matter admits of no delay.　此事刻不容缓。
　I don't talk to my employer about private matters.　我不跟我的雇主谈私事。
　It is a matter of regret that you couldn't come there on time.　你不能按时到达那儿是一件遗憾的事。
　Some people adopted a wait-and-see policy in this matter.　在这件事上，有些人采取了观望的态度。
　It is difficult to argue the matter without hurting her feelings.　就这件事进行争论而又不伤她的感情是困难的。
　It relates to a matter of time.　这涉及一个时间的问题。
　Not much the matter.　没有什么事情。
　That is a decision of little matter.　那是一个不重要的决定。
　It's a matter of duty.　这是个责任问题。
　That is his matter for complaint.　那正是他抱怨的原因。
　There is no matter for wonder.　没有惊奇的理由。
　Matters went rapidly from bad to worse.　情况急剧地恶化。
　This will make matters worse.　用这种方法将会使情况更加恶化。
　They kept quiet about it until matters took a disturbing new turn.　他们对此始终保持沉默，直到情况发生了令人不安的新转折。
　You should adapt yourself for new ways of looking at matters.　你应当适应于对事情的新的看法。
　You must have something the matter with your eyes.　你的眼睛一定有点毛病。
　Is there anything the matter with him?　他出了什么事吗?

 ♣ a matter of fact
　事实上　the truth
　It is a matter of fact, not a matter of opinion.　这是一个事实问题，而不是一个看法不同的问题。
　It is a matter of fact that excessive exposure to the sun's rays, especially in fair-skinned people, can cause skin cancer.　事实上，过度地暴露于阳光之下，特别是对那些白皮肤的人们来说，易患皮肤癌。
 ♣ a matter of life and death
　生死攸关的事情；成败的关键　issue that is crucial to survival, success, etc.
　He told the telephone operator that his call was a matter of life and death.　他告诉接线员，说他的电话是生死攸关的重要事情。
 ♣ a matter of opinion
　看法不同的见解　sth about which people hold different views
　Whether she's clever or not is a matter of opinion.　对于她是否聪明大家看法不同。
 ♣ as a matter of conscience
　从道德观点出发　thinking of sth according to conscience
　As a matter of conscience, he doesn't feel that he can stand up for the President any longer.　凭良心讲，他认为他没法再支持总统了。
 ♣ as a matter of course
　自然，通常　naturally
　She took the news as a matter of course.　她把这则消息当作理所当然的事承受。
　When I go out of the house I lock the door as a matter of course.　我走出家门时总是理所当然地把门锁上。
　We don't have to ask her—she'll do it as a matter of course.　我们不必请求她做这件事，她自然会去做的。
　The milkman leaves us three pints a day as a matter of course.　送奶人每天自然给我们送3瓶奶。
 ♣ as a matter of fact
　事实上，其实　in truth
　Mary didn't seem to believe it. As a matter of fact, she said she suspected it.　玛丽似乎不相信，事实上，她怀疑。
　Mike said he didn't tell a lie. As a matter of fact, he did.　迈克说他从没有说过谎。事实上，他说过。
　I'm going there tomorrow, as a matter of fact.　其实，我明天是准备去的。
 ♣ as a matter of routine
　按照惯例　routinely
　As a matter of routine, the sheriff's office there had been notified of the change of address.　按照惯例，他们已把地址改变的消息通知了那里的郡长办公室。
 ♣ be a matter of
　问题的关键是…　be a question of what is necessary
　I know we need some extra help but it's a matter of finding the right person for the job.　我知道我们需要更多的帮助，但问题的关键是找个合适的人来干这项工作。
 ♣ be a matter of time
　迟早要发生　will happen sooner or later
　We must do something about that dead tree, it's only a matter of time before it falls down and maybe injures somebody.　我们必须对那棵枯树进行处理，它迟早要倒下来，可能会砸伤人的。
　It's only a matter of time.　这只是个时间问题。
 ♣ be the matter with
　成为困难〔问题〕 be the difficulty〔problem〕
　Whatever is the matter with you?　你究竟出了什么事?
　Something is the matter with his voice.　他的嗓音有些不对头。
　Something is the matter with Eric—he's been in a bad mood all day.　埃里克是有些问题——他整天精神不佳。
 ♣ for that matter
　就那件事而论，关于那一点　concerning that
　He doesn't trust his partner. For that matter I can't blame him.　他不信任自己的合伙人，就这一点来说，我不能责怪他。
　Your mother would never allow it, and for that matter, neither would I.　你母亲绝不会允许这种事，而且我也不会。
 ♣ (in) a matter of
　大约，左右　about; or so
　The book sold for a matter of five yuan.　这本书售价过去是5元左右。
　We walked the whole way to the station, a matter of 3 miles.　我们一直走到车站，大约3英里的路程。
　Don't worry it's only a matter of hours till the doctor arrives.　别着急，医生几小时后就会赶到。
　The police arrived in a matter of minutes.　警察几分钟就到了。
 ♣ in the matter of
　在…方面；就…而论　about sth
　He has not too good a reputation in the matter of honesty.　就诚实而言，他的名声不太好。
 ♣ matter in question
　正在考虑〔讨论〕的问题 point being considered〔discussed〕
　Did the matter in question occur on or about ten o'clock on the fifteenth of June?　那事是在6月15日10点正或10点左右发生的吗?
 ♣ no laughing matter
　需要严肃对待的事，正经事　serious thing
　Looking after fifteen noisy children is no laughing matter.　照看15个吵吵嚷嚷的孩子可不是闹着玩的事。
 ♣ no matter
1. 不介意，不要紧 never mind; it is unimportant
　It's no matter that he didn't phone.　他没有打电话也没关系。
　It's no matter whether you arrive early or late.　无论你早到或晚到都无关紧要。
　It made no matter to him that his daughter lost all her money.　他女儿把钱都丢失了，但对他来说这并不要紧。
　Let it go since it is of no matter.　既然那不要紧，就让它去吧。
　It's no matter to me whether you arrive early or late.　你到得早还是晚，对我来说无所谓。
　It makes no matter.　那无关紧要。
2. 不管，不论 regardless of
　〔说明〕 no matter作此解时多与what, who, whatever, how等疑问副词连用。
　No matter what you say, I like to listen.　不管你说什么，我都喜欢听。
　No matter what happens, I won't leave my position.　不论发生什么事，我都不会擅离岗位。
　No matter how difficult the task may be, we must complete it in time.　不管任务如何艰巨，我们必须按时完成。
　I'll finish the job, no matter how long it takes.　不管花多长时间，我都要把这工作做完。
　No matter what happened, he would not say a word.　不管发生过什么事，他不会说一个字。
　Don't open the door, no matter who calls!　不管谁叫门，都不要开！
 ♣ no matter what
　无论如何，不管怎样　whatever
　He's decided to leave tomorrow, no matter what.　不管发生什么事，他已决定明天走。
 ♣ not to mince matters
　坦率地说　to be frank
　We're in trouble. Not to mince matters, we're ruined!　我们遇到了麻烦，坦率地说，我们已破产了！
 ♣ what's the matter?
　怎么回事?怎么啦　? what is the problem?what is wrong?
　What's the matter?Why are you crying?　怎么回事?你为什么哭?
　What's the matter with this machine?　这机器怎么啦?
　What's the matter with your eyes?　你的眼睛怎么了?

 ♣ in a matter of, in the matter of
　两者不容混淆：in a matter of的意思是“只消，不过”；而in the matter of的意思是“关于，对于”。例如：
　You can finish the course in a matter of weeks.　你只消几周就能学完这门课程。
　Jimmy has a name in the matter of enthusiasm in work.　吉米的工作干劲是有名的。
 ♣ matter, affair, business, concern, thing
　参见affair条。
 ♣ matter, material, stuff, substance
　参见material条。

1. 物质世界是由物质组成的。
　［误］ The physical world is composed of matters.
　［正］ The physical world is composed of matter.
　［析］ matter作“物质”解时是不可数名词。
2. 你怎么啦?
　［误］ What's the matter to you?
　［正］ What's the matter with you?
　收音机没有什么毛病。
　［误］ There wasn't any matter with the radio.
　［正］ There was nothing the matter with the radio.
　［析］ the matter with为固定搭配，表示“…出了毛病”。
3. 事实上，他在假装睡觉。
　［误］ As the matter of fact he was pretending to be asleep.
　［正］ As a matter of fact he was pretending to be asleep.
　［析］ as a matter of fact是固定说法，表示“事实上”。
4. 我有几件事要做。
　［误］ I have several matters to do.
　［正］ I have several things to do.
　［析］ matter虽可用作可数名词，并可说a matter，但不可说two matters, several matters，可改用two things, several things.
5. 无论你给那个孩子什么东西，他都会吃的。
　［误］ The child will eat no matter what you give him.
　［正］ The child will eat whatever you give him.
　［析］ no matter what引起的从句不能作主语或宾语，而whatever可以引导主语从句或宾语从句。
6. 问题是车内没有位置容纳你，所以我们无法带你一起去。
　［误］ The matter is that we won't have enough room in the car to take you with us.
　［正］ The problem is that we won't have enough room in the car to take you with us.
　［析］ the matter作“问题”或“麻烦”解时不用作主语。

1. what's the matter有两种译法：如果要询问有关的人或物时， the matter相当于wrong（毛病，故障），意为“出了什么事”，是习惯用语。另外， matter还可作“物质”解，是不可数名词。例如：
　What's the matter with that boy?　那男孩出了什么事?
　What's the matter with your leg?　你的腿怎么了?
　What's the matter in the bottle?　瓶里装的是什么物质?
2. matter用作可数名词多指“事态，问题”，但指一般事情常用something, anything, nothing；指具体的问题时常用question, problem，一般不用matter.

　vi.　要紧，有关系 be of importance

　～ little　无关紧要
　～ much　事关重大
　～ nothing　毫无关系

　Age doesn't matter.　年龄无关紧要。
　All these things do not matter now.　现在所有这些事情都不重要了。
　What they say matters little.　他们的话无关紧要。
　It doesn't matter.　这不碍事。
　It doesn't matter much.　没有多大关系。
　It does not matter at all.　毫无关系。
　I wasn't able to speak to her before she left—not that it matters though, because I can phone her tonight.　我未能在她离开前同她谈话，但这并不重要，因为今晚还能给她打电话。
　"I'm sorry; I am two minutes late.""It doesn't matter."　“对不起，我迟到了2分钟。”“没关系。”
　The cut got dirty and after a few days began to matter.　伤口弄脏了，几天后就开始化脓。
　It doesn't matter hurting myself a little bit.　我受点伤，不要紧。
　It had never mattered much to her that she had not had a formal education.　她未受过正规教育，这对她来说从来没有多大关系。
　If a person does his best it doesn't matter what people think of him.　如果一个人尽了他最大的努力，那么人们如何看他并没关系。
　It does not matter who wins.　无论谁赢都无关紧要。
　It doesn't matter how you're dressed.　你穿得怎样并没关系。
　What does it matter if it rains?　下雨有啥要紧?
　It doesn't matter if I miss my train, because there's another later.　如果我错过了我那趟火车，没关系，晚些时候还有一趟。
　It doesn't matter much whether we go together or separately.　我们一起去还是分头去都可以。
　Does it matter to you what people say?　别人说什么你在乎吗?
　It doesn't matter to me whether to go by ship or train.　乘船还是乘火车对我来说都可以。

 ♣ matter about　(v.+prep.)
　对…重要　be important to (sb)
　It doesn't matter about me; I can walk.　不要管我，我能走。
　It doesn't matter about the price, buy it, whatever it costs.　不要考虑价钱，无论花多少钱，都买吧。
　Is the idea clear?It does not matter about the actual numbers.　概念清楚了吗?具体数字倒没什么关系。
　It doesn't matter if you close the door.　关门没关系。
 ♣ matter to　(v.+prep.)
　对…重要　be important to (sb)
　〔说明〕 matter to不用于被动结构。
　My health matters more to my doctor than to my family.　我的健康状况对医生比对我家里人更为重要。
　That was what mattered most to him.　那是对他至关重要的事。
　It matters little to me.　这对我无所谓。
　It matters greatly to our relationship.　这事对你我之间的关系影响重大。
　I don't think anybody matters to her apart from herself.　我认为除了她自己以外，别人对她无关紧要。

 ♣ 下面两个句子意思不同：
　

　你来不来对他都无关紧要。
　［误］ It doesn't matter with him whether you will come or not.
　［正］ It doesn't matter to him whether you will come or not.
　［析］ 表示“…对某人无关紧要”，应该说It doesn't matter to sb，其中介词 to不能改用with.

　matter　后跟more and more或less and less短语时，可用于进行时态，因为matter已由状态性动词转化为运动性动词了。例如：
　Class origin seems to be mattering less and less, but diploma appears to be mattering more and more these days.　如今家庭出身似乎越来越次要了，而文凭却越来越显得重要。

　［同义词］ n. affair, argument, business, discharge v. count, signify, discharge, secrete
　［反义词］ n. insignificance
　［词源］　古法语matiere<拉丁语materia（物质）