java sortedmap_一个关于Java中SortedMap定义的问题

一个关于Java中SortedMap定义的问题

在SortedMap接口的解释中有这么一段话：

*

Note that the ordering maintained by a sorted map (whether or not an

* explicit comparator is provided) must be consistent with equals if

* the sorted map is to correctly implement the Map interface. (See

* the Comparable interface or Comparator interface for a

* precise definition of consistent with equals.) This is so because

* the Map interface is defined in terms of the equals

* operation, but a sorted map performs all key comparisons using its

* compareTo (or compare) method, so two keys that are

* deemed equal by this method are, from the standpoint of the sorted map,

* equal. The behavior of a tree map is well-defined even if its

* ordering is inconsistent with equals; it just fails to obey the general

* contract of the Map interface.

请问这段话是什么意思？