lost

Compared meaning: not in the place it should be (adjective).

比较义项：不在原本该有的位置——丢失、下落不明或无主流浪（形容词）。

• lost 本词

  Describes a possession the owner once had but no longer has; used informally for personal belongings like keys, wallets or phones the owner is trying to recover.

  指某物本来属于某人，但现在已经不再拥有；常用于口语中描述个人物品（如钥匙、钱包、手机），主人正设法找回。

  He finally found his lost keys under the couch after searching all morning.

  他找了一上午，终于在沙发底下找到了自己丢失的钥匙。

• missing

  A more neutral, often official term for a person or thing whose current location is unknown; common in reports and searches, without stating whose fault it is.

  语气更中性，常用于正式场合，指人或物目前下落不明；常见于报告或搜寻场景，并不说明是谁的责任。

  Officials released a photo of the missing child to help the search efforts.

  官方公布了这名失踪儿童的照片，以协助搜寻工作。

• stray

  Used almost only for animals with no owner or home, wandering on their own; unlike lost, it does not imply the animal ever belonged to someone.

  几乎只用来形容无主、四处游荡的动物；和lost不同，它并不暗示这只动物曾经属于某人。

  A stray dog followed us home from the park and now lives in our yard.

  一只流浪狗从公园跟着我们回家，现在就住在我们院子里。

All three describe something not in its proper place. Lost implies it was once owned. Missing is neutral, used in official searches. Stray describes only ownerless animals wandering freely. Lost also means unable to find your way; stray also means random. Not compared here.

这三个词都表示某物或某人“不在该在的地方”，但语气和搭配不同：lost强调本来拥有、后来失去；missing更中性、常用于正式的寻人寻物场合；stray几乎只用于无主、四处游荡的动物。这里不比较lost另一常见的“迷路的”义项（如I got lost），也不比较stray“偏离主题的、偶然的”义项（如a stray remark）。

Compared meaning: confused, not understanding something (adjective).

比较义项：困惑的、糊涂的（不明白某事物）（形容词）。

• lost 本词

  Informal and common in speech; describes not following an explanation or situation, often said directly as 'I'm lost.' Milder than bewildered.

  口语化、常用；指跟不上解释或情况的发展，常直接说“I'm lost”。语气比 bewildered 温和。

  Can you go back a step? I'm completely lost after that explanation.

  你能倒回上一步吗？听完那个解释我完全糊涂了。

• bewildered

  Stronger than lost or bemused; describes being overwhelmed and completely unable to understand, often due to complexity, chaos or shock; more formal/written.

  语气比 lost 和 bemused 都强；指被复杂、混乱或意外的情况完全搞晕，不知所措；比较偏书面语。

  The new employee looked bewildered by the endless stream of unfamiliar forms.

  这位新员工被没完没了的陌生表格搞得不知所措。

• bemused

  Milder and often literary; suggests being puzzled or lost in thought, sometimes with a hint of wry amusement, e.g. in a 'bemused smile' or 'bemused look'.

  语气较轻，也更书面化；指困惑或陷入沉思，有时带一丝略带玩味的意味，如“bemused smile”（困惑而略带笑意的微笑）。

  She wore a bemused expression, unsure whether the story was a joke.

  她脸上带着困惑的神情，不确定这个故事是不是在开玩笑。

All three mean confused, but differ in strength. Lost is casual, for not following or understanding something. Bewildered is strongest, meaning completely unable to think clearly. Bemused is milder, suggesting puzzlement plus mild amusement. Lost's meaning 'unable to find your way' is not compared.

这三个词都表示困惑、摸不着头脑，但语气强弱和正式程度不同：lost 最口语化，常用于跟不上、听不懂的场合；bewildered 语气最强，指完全摸不着头脑、不知所措；bemused 则较温和，常带一丝愣住或若有所思的意味。这里不比较 lost 表示迷路的或丢失的其他义项。