theoretical

Compared meaning: not a proven fact, but assumed, theoretical, or guessed (adjective).

比较义项：并非确证的事实，而是被认为如此、基于理论、假设或推测得出的（形容词）。

• supposed

  Describes a claim or reputation that is widely repeated but possibly untrue; typically placed before a noun to signal the speaker's doubt, distinct from the obligation sense of being required to do something.

  描述一种流传甚广、但未必属实的说法或名声，常放在名词前以表达说话者的怀疑，不同于表示“理应做某事”这一义务义项。

  Her supposed expertise did not survive the first tough question.

  她那所谓的专长，在第一个棘手的问题面前就站不住脚了。

• theoretical 本词

  Describes something derived from theory or reasoning rather than proven through actual practice; contrasts with what is practical, and casts no doubt on its truth, only on whether it has been tested or applied.

  描述某事源自理论或推理，而非经过实际操作验证；与“实际的”相对，并不怀疑其真实性，只是尚未被检验或应用。

  The professor's theoretical framework has never been tested in a real classroom.

  教授的理论框架从未在真实课堂中得到过检验。

• hypothetical

  Describes a scenario invented for discussion or argument's sake, not a claim about what actually happened; used to set up an imagined situation rather than to cast doubt on a real claim.

  描述为讨论或论证而设想出来的情境，而非对实际发生之事的陈述；用于设定一个假想的场景，而不是对某个真实说法表示怀疑。

  Let's imagine a hypothetical scenario where the whole team resigns at once.

  我们来设想一个假设的情境：整个团队同时辞职。

• speculative

  Describes a conclusion, plan or forecast built on guesswork with little solid evidence, often implying financial or practical risk if the guess turns out wrong.

  描述建立在缺乏确凿证据的猜测之上的结论、计划或预测，往往暗示如果猜错就会带来经济或实际上的风险。

  Investors called the startup's growth forecasts purely speculative and refused to fund it.

  投资者认为这家初创公司的增长预测纯属推测，因此拒绝投资。

Supposed, theoretical, hypothetical, and speculative all mean not proven true. Supposed means widely claimed but maybe untrue. Theoretical means based on theory, not tested in practice. Hypothetical means invented for discussion, not a real claim. Speculative means based on guesswork. It excludes supposed meaning required.

这四个词都表示“并非确证的事实”，但侧重点不同：supposed 强调“据称如此，但可能并不属实”，常带怀疑语气，多用于名词前；theoretical 强调“停留在理论层面，尚未经过实际检验”，常与“实际的”相对；hypothetical 强调“为讨论或论证而假设出来的情境”；speculative 强调“仅凭猜测、缺乏确凿证据”，常见于预测或投资语境。这里不比较 supposed 表示“理应，应该”这一表义务的用法。