case

Compared meaning: a particular situation or example (noun).

比较义项：情况／例子（名词）。

• case 本词

  Case refers to a specific situation or set of circumstances, often one already mentioned or hypothetical; it commonly appears in fixed phrases like 'in that case' or 'in case', which introduce a condition rather than illustrate a general pattern.

  case（情况）指一种具体的情况或一系列条件，通常是已经提到过的或假设性的；它常出现在固定短语中，如“in that case”（在那种情况下）或“in case”（以防），用来引出一个条件，而不是用来举例说明某种普遍规律。

  In that case, we should leave right now.

  既然是那种情况，我们现在就应该马上离开。

• instance

  Instance refers to one specific example or occurrence used to illustrate a broader point or category; it typically appears in 'for instance' (meaning 'for example') or 'in this instance', and always implies a wider pattern behind it.

  instance（例子）指用来说明更广泛的观点或类别的某一具体例子或事件；它通常出现在“for instance”（例如）或“in this instance”（在这一次）中，并且总是暗示背后存在一种更普遍的模式。

  For instance, you could try a different route to avoid traffic.

  例如，你可以尝试走另一条路线来避开交通拥堵。

Case and instance can both mean a specific situation or example. Case refers to circumstances already mentioned, as in 'in that case'. Instance means one example that shows a general pattern, as in 'for instance'. Case can also mean a box or illness, not compared.

case 和 instance 在这个意义上都可以指某种具体的情况或事例，但语气和用法不同：case 强调已提到或假设的“情况／条件”，常用于“in that case”；instance 强调用来说明普遍规律的“例子／事例”，常用于“for instance”。这里不比较 case 的其他义项，如“箱子”“病例”或“案件”。