fun
fun — adjective
1. Something that is fun gives you pleasure or makes you happy, because it is light
Something that is fun gives you pleasure or makes you happy, because it is light-hearted, not serious, and easy to enjoy.
The children had a fun afternoon playing board games with their grandfather.
fun + noun describing an activity
Aoi said the cooking class was more fun than she had expected.
Eitan's birthday party was full of fun activities like face-painting and dancing.
Sometimes the most fun holidays are the ones where you just stay home and relax.
The museum had a fun interactive exhibit that let visitors design their own robots.
- enjoyable
slightly more formal; focuses on the positive experience itself
- amusing
emphasises making people laugh or smile
- entertaining
suggests holding one's attention through enjoyment
文法句型
fun + noun
be + fun
用法筆記
In informal speech, fun is often used as an adjective (a fun movie). In more formal writing, alternatives such as enjoyable or entertaining may be preferred.
常見錯誤
2. If you describe a person as fun, you mean that you enjoy spending time with them
If you describe a person as fun, you mean that you enjoy spending time with them, usually because they are lively, cheerful, and not too serious.
Tuan is really fun to work with — he always makes the team laugh.
fun + to-infinitive describing a person
My aunt is the most fun person I know; she tells silly jokes all the time.
Asher tried to act fun at the party, but his jokes did not land well.
A fun tour guide can completely change how you feel about a new city.
- lively
focuses on energy rather than the feeling of enjoyment
- entertaining
slightly more formal; can apply to both people and performances
文法句型
be + fun
fun + person
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively of a person's character or company, not of their appearance. 'He is fun' means you enjoy his company, not that he looks amusing.
常見錯誤
fun — noun
1. Fun is the happy, pleased feeling you get when you do something you enjoy, or th
Fun is the happy, pleased feeling you get when you do something you enjoy, or the activities that give you that feeling.
The kids had so much fun at the water park that they did not want to leave.
have fun — fixed expression for enjoyment
Imani gets a lot of fun out of gardening on weekends.
Part of the fun of travelling is trying local foods you have never eaten before.
There is no fun in playing a game if you already know who will win.
Mei and her friends had a lot of fun at the karaoke bar singing old pop songs.
- enjoyment
more formal; focuses on the pleasant feeling itself
- pleasure
a broader term covering satisfaction, delight, and happiness
- amusement
suggests light-hearted entertainment that makes you smile
- entertainment
more about the activity/event than the feeling
文法句型
have fun
get fun out of
for fun
用法筆記
Fun as a noun is uncountable, so it is never used with 'a' (❌ a fun) and has no plural form. Use 'a lot of fun' or 'so much fun' instead.
常見錯誤
2. If you do something for fun, you do it to amuse yourself rather than for a serio
If you do something for fun, you do it to amuse yourself rather than for a serious, practical, or professional reason.
Selim started learning Cantonese just for fun, not because he needed it for work.
for fun — purpose phrase
We built the treehouse purely for fun — it is not meant to be used as a real room.
Megan writes short stories for fun but has never tried to publish them.
The race was just a bit of fun between friends, not a real competition.
- recreation
more formal; refers to activities done to relax
- leisure
refers to free time rather than the purpose of an action
文法句型
for fun
just for fun
purely for fun
用法筆記
This sense is most common in the fixed phrases 'for fun' and 'a bit of fun'. Unlike noun sense 1, it emphasises the purpose rather than the feeling.
常見錯誤
3. If you make fun of someone or something, you say unkind or mocking things about
If you make fun of someone or something, you say unkind or mocking things about them in order to amuse others at that person's expense, often causing embarrassment or hurt.
It is cruel to make fun of someone for the way they speak or dress.
make fun of + person — core pattern
The other kids made fun of Nikhil's glasses until the teacher stopped them.
I felt hurt when my brother made fun of my new haircut in front of everyone.
The comedian's routine made fun of politicians from both parties.
文法句型
make fun of + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'make fun of'. The noun cannot be used freely outside this construction — you cannot say 'fun was directed at him.'
常見錯誤
4. Fun describes light-hearted joking and silly behaviour where nothing has a serio
Fun describes light-hearted joking and silly behaviour where nothing has a serious purpose and the goal is simply amusement.
There is always a lot of fun and laughter whenever the cousins visit.
The meeting began with some fun — a quick trivia game to wake everyone up.
some fun — light-hearted activity
Do not take his teasing too seriously; it is all just fun and nothing mean.
The office party was full of fun, silly games, and terrible karaoke.
- playfulness
more formal; describes the quality of being light-hearted
- mischief
suggests slightly naughty or cheeky behaviour
- joking
focuses on verbal humour rather than general behaviour
- seriousness
the quality of being earnest or solemn
文法句型
full of fun
all in fun
用法筆記
This sense overlaps with noun sense 1 but emphasises the playful, unserious nature of the activity rather than the feeling it produces. Often appears with 'and laughter' or 'and games'.
5. If you say or do something in fun, your purpose is to make people laugh, not to
If you say or do something in fun, your purpose is to make people laugh, not to cause harm — even if someone might feel upset or offended by it.
Gabriela called her brother a clumsy giant, but she said it only in fun.
in fun — signalling a joke despite the words
I know that comment sounded harsh, but I promise I meant it in fun.
Even when spoken in fun, certain remarks can still cause real hurt.
His teasing was meant in fun, but Élise still felt embarrassed about it.
- in earnest
seriously, not as a joke
- with malice
with the intention to hurt
文法句型
in fun
said in fun
meant in fun
用法筆記
The phrase 'in fun' typically appears after verbs like 'say', 'do', or 'mean'. It is used to reassure someone that no harm was intended. Distinguish from noun sense 3 (mockery): 'in fun' is harmless joking, whereas 'make fun of' is unkind.
常見錯誤
fun — verb
1. To talk playfully or tease someone in a light-hearted way, usually among friends
To talk playfully or tease someone in a light-hearted way, usually among friends.
The teammates were funning each other in the locker room before the big game.
funning each other — reciprocal use
Christopher funned with the cashier while waiting for his change.
The two old friends funned about their embarrassing high-school photos.
Stop funning around and help your dad carry the groceries inside.
Sven was funning his little sister about her favourite cartoon character.
文法句型
fun + with + person
be funning around
用法筆記
This verb is very informal and fairly rare in modern English. It is most commonly used in the present participle form ('funning') or simple past ('funned'). Learners should recognise it when reading or listening, but for everyday speaking and writing, 'joke', 'tease', or 'banter' are far more common.