privy

Compared meaning: secret, not known publicly (adjective).

比较义项：秘密的、不公开的（形容词）。

• private

  General, everyday word for something kept from public knowledge or from other people; can describe objects, feelings, information or spaces; neutral in register.

  普通、常用词，指不让公众或他人知道的事物；可以形容物品、感情、信息或空间；语域中性。

  He never talks about his salary; he thinks money should stay private.

  他从不谈论自己的薪水，他认为钱的事应该保密。

• confidential

  Formal word used almost only for information, documents or communications that must not be disclosed; common in business, legal or medical settings; often paired with phrases like 'keep something confidential.'

  较正式的词，几乎只用于不可泄露的信息、文件或通讯；常见于商务、法律或医疗场合；常与“keep something confidential（对某事保密）”等搭配连用。

  The report is confidential, so only senior managers may read it.

  这份报告是机密文件，只有高级经理才能阅读。

• privy 本词

  Formal word used almost only in the fixed phrase 'privy to something,' describing a person who has secret knowledge of or access to something, rather than describing the secret thing itself.

  正式用词，几乎只出现在固定搭配“privy to something”中，用来形容某人知晓或能接触到某项秘密，而不是直接形容秘密本身。

  Only a few managers were privy to the company's new plans.

  只有少数几位经理知悉公司的新计划。

All three mean secret or not open to the public. Private is the common, neutral word. Confidential is formal, for information that must stay secret in business or legal writing. Privy is formal, used only in 'privy to something,' for someone who knows a secret.

这三个词都表示“秘密的、不为人知的”，但语域和用法不同：private 最常用、语域中性；confidential 更正式，多用于信息或文件；privy 语域正式，几乎只出现在固定搭配 privy to 中，表示某人知晓某项秘密，而不是直接形容秘密本身。这里不比较 private 表示“私人的、个人所有的”这一义项，也不比较 privy 作名词表示“茅厕”的用法。