matter
单词辨析：
通常指关乎利益、命运等的紧要事务，必须予以考虑或解决。
This is a serious matter that you need to concentrate on.
这件事很严重，你需要集中精力解决。
This is a matter for the manager to decide.
这是该由经理决定的事。
指令人印象深刻的重大事件或具有某种特点的不寻常之事。
Who first reported the Watergate affair?
谁最先报道了水门事件？
The wedding was a very grand affair.
婚礼场面非常隆重。
affairs 表示公共或政治事务、活动，也可指私事。
She is interested in public affairs.
她对公共事务感兴趣。
Don't keep asking about my financial affairs.
不要总是打听我的财务问题。
指需要完成或讨论的重要事务，也指归某人管的事或某人持有某种看法的事情。
Let's get down to the unfinished business.
我们来处理尚未了结的事务吧。
My family life is my personal business.
我的家庭生活是我的私事。
He regarded homework as serious business.
他把作业当作重要的事。
指关系到某人切身利益、引起其关注或担忧的重要事情。
What is a mother's main concern?
当妈妈的最关心什么？
How to control inflation has become a major concern for consumers.
如何控制通货膨胀已成为消费者关注的重要问题。
普通用词，词义最为广泛，可指任何事实、事件、情况、行为等。
That strange thing worried him a lot.
那件奇怪的事情让他十分不安。
The first thing to do is to improve their working conditions.
首要的事是改善他们的工作环境。
尤指木材、石头、金属、塑料等用于制作某物的原材料；也可指文学创作的素材。
As a building material, wood is not sturdy enough.
作为一种建筑材料，木材不够结实。
Production has come to a halt owing to the lack of raw materials.
由于缺少原料，生产已陷入停顿。
He is now collecting material for a biography.
他正在为写一部传记收集素材。
一切有形物质的总称，既指构成宇宙万物的物质，也指哲学上与意识相对的物质。
The entire universe is made up of different kinds of matter.
整个宇宙是由各种物质构成的。
The lake is rich in organic matter.
该湖中有丰富的有机物质。
Matter is primary and mind is secondary.
物质是第一性的，精神是第二性的。
多用于日常口语，可指各种叫不出名称的物质、材料、物体等；有时指无关紧要的东西，含轻视意味。
There is some sticky stuff on my trousers.
我裤子上粘了些黏糊糊的东西。
Put all the stuff into the box and seal it tightly with sticky tape.
把所有的东西都放进盒子里，再用胶带封好。
Could you move all the stuff off the desk?
请你把桌子上的那些玩意儿全部清走行不行？
通常指有某种特性的固体、液体或气体物质。
Soil consists of various chemical substances.
土壤由各种化学物质组成。
Water, ice and steam are the same substance in different forms.
水、冰和蒸汽是形态不同的同一物质。
Police found an illegal substance in his briefcase.
警察在他的公文包里发现了违禁品。
相关例句：
Your doctor and health visitor can help a great deal and you need to talk about it with them as a matter of urgency.
你的医生和家访护士会帮很大的忙。你应该和他们谈一谈，这是当务之急。
It was clear that she wanted to discuss some private matter
很明显，她想谈些私事。
A proton is an elementary particle of matter.
质子是物质的基本粒子。
If your ordinary life is out of control, then retreating into a cosy ritual will not improve matters
如果正常生活都一团糟了，那么再讲究小情调根本无济于事。
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。
Don't let yourself despair; this will only make matters worse
不要想不开，这样只能使情况变得更糟。