pun

IPA/pʌn/
KK[pˈʌn]IPA/pʌn/

pun — noun

  • punsingular
  • punsplural

1. a joke that uses a word's two possible meanings or the similar sound of two diff

1.名詞B2
釋義

a joke that uses a word's two possible meanings or the similar sound of two different words to create a funny effect — for example, saying "I used to be a baker but I couldn't make enough dough" because 'dough' can mean both bread mixture and money.

例句

Romi's pun about the baker being a 'dough-nut' had the whole class laughing.

example of pun: 'dough-nut' plays on dough/donut

The newspaper headline used a clever pun on 'current' to discuss electricity prices.

collocation: pun on [word]

同義詞
  • wordplay

    broader term; any clever use of language, not necessarily funny

  • double entendre

    a pun with a second, usually sexual, meaning

  • play on words

    another way to say pun, slightly more formal

文法句型

pun + on/upon + [word/topic]

用法筆記

Puns appear frequently in newspaper headlines, advertising slogans, and comedy routines because they grab attention through wordplay.

常見錯誤

❌She told a fun pun that made everyone smile.
✅She made a clever pun that made everyone smile.
💡'Fun' is vague with puns; use 'clever,' 'terrible,' or 'silly' to describe them.
❌He made a pun by changing the meaning of the word.
✅He made a pun by using the double meaning of the word.
💡Puns rely on both meanings being present, not just a changed meaning.

pun — verb