real
real — adjective
1. actually present in the world or in events that have happened, rather than only
actually present in the world or in events that have happened, rather than only in someone's mind, in a dream, or in a story.
Nikos was relieved to learn the strange noises in the attic came from a real animal, not a ghost.
real + noun (contrast with imagined entity)
After the long flight, the sunlight on her face made the trip to Tokyo finally feel real to Adina.
feel + real (subjective realness)
The dragon in the children's book is not real, but the castle on the cover stands in Wales.
Are these footprints in the snow real, or did Caleb make them with a stick to trick us?
Roya could not tell if the tears in the film were real or just water from a small bottle.
文法句型
real + noun
be + real
用法筆記
Often paired with a contrasting word such as 'imaginary', 'pretend', 'fake', or 'a dream' to make the contrast clear. Distinguish from sense 2 (real = genuine, not false), which contrasts with counterfeit or imitation rather than with imaginary.
常見錯誤
2. made of the true material it is sold as, or being the true version of something
made of the true material it is sold as, or being the true version of something rather than a copy or imitation made to look the same.
The market sold cheap copies, but Christopher's grandmother insisted on a wallet made of real leather.
real + material (leather)
The flowers on the table looked perfect, yet only the white roses in the corner were real.
real (vs artificial flowers)
Paul checked the ring under a strong light to make sure the stone was a real diamond.
The author writes under a false name; her real name is printed only inside the back cover.
The painting looked like a Monet, but experts in Paris confirmed it was not a real one.
- fake
informal; covers any imitation made to deceive
- artificial
made by people to copy something natural
- imitation
a copy, often legally sold as such
文法句型
real + concrete noun (e.g., gold, leather, name)
用法筆記
Subject is usually a concrete object whose value depends on its material or origin: jewellery, leather, gold, fur, flowers, paintings, signatures, names. Distinguish from sense 1 (real = exists in fact, contrast with imaginary); sense 2 contrasts with 'fake', 'false', 'artificial', or 'imitation', not with 'imaginary'.
常見錯誤
3. describing the everyday world we all live in, used as a contrast with stories, f
describing the everyday world we all live in, used as a contrast with stories, films, online spaces, or daydreams.
After three years of online classes, João finally met his study group in the real world.
the real world (vs online)
In real life, fixing a broken car takes hours, not the two minutes shown on television.
in real life (vs fiction)
Lakan's gaming friends were great online, but in the real world he had never spoken to any of them.
Sade said the novel was beautiful, but real life rarely had such tidy endings.
Children eventually learn that the rules of cartoons do not work in the real world.
文法句型
the real world
real life
in real life
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed phrases 'the real world', 'real life', or 'in real life' (often shortened to 'IRL' online). Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 asks whether one specific thing exists, while sense 3 contrasts the whole everyday world with imagined or virtual spaces.
常見錯誤
4. describing a person, feeling, or behaviour that is honest and natural, with no a
describing a person, feeling, or behaviour that is honest and natural, with no acting or pretending hidden underneath.
Gabriel cried at the funeral, and you could tell his sadness was real.
predicative: feeling + be real
Hoa liked her new manager because he was a warm, real person, not a polished salesman.
attributive: a real person (not pretending)
Behind the cheerful smile on stage, the singer's real feelings were lonely and tired.
Try to be real with your friends instead of acting cool all the time.
Liang's apology sounded scripted, so nobody believed it was real.
文法句型
a real + noun
be real
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (GENUINE NOT FAKE), which is about materials or objects (real leather, real gold). This sense is about people's character, feelings, or behaviour being honest rather than acted.
常見錯誤
5. describing the most important part or the true cause of something, as opposed to
describing the most important part or the true cause of something, as opposed to the surface explanation that people first notice.
Money was just an excuse; the real reason Shanti quit was her rude boss.
the real reason for X
The real problem with the old bridge is the rusted steel underneath, not the cracked paint.
the real problem (vs. surface symptom)
Élise smiled for the cameras, but the real winner of the debate was her quieter opponent.
Cheap rent is nice, but the real benefit of this flat is being two minutes from the train.
Tendai realised the real cost of the trip was missing her sister's wedding.
- main
neutral; same idea without the 'hidden vs. surface' contrast
- actual
stresses 'this is what is truly the case', similar pattern
- underlying
more formal; specifically suggests something hidden beneath the surface
文法句型
the real + noun
用法筆記
Used attributively only — 'the real X', never '*the X is real' in this sense. Almost always preceded by 'the'. Common nouns following: reason, problem, cause, issue, winner, cost, benefit, story.
常見錯誤
6. used before a noun to emphasise that something or someone is a complete or extre
used before a noun to emphasise that something or someone is a complete or extreme example of that thing, often in admiration, complaint, or surprise.
Christopher fixed the leaking pipe in ten minutes — he is a real lifesaver.
a real + positive noun (admiration)
Cleaning chewing gum off the carpet was a real nightmare.
a real + negative noun (complaint)
Beatrix scored four goals in the second half — the match turned into a real spectacle.
The crowded train at rush hour was a real challenge for Mateo with his suitcase.
Salma's grandmother told the story so well that listening felt like a real treat.
文法句型
a real + noun
用法筆記
Always attributive ('a real X'), never predicative in this sense — '*the nightmare was real' shifts to sense 1 (actually existing). The noun that follows usually carries strong positive (lifesaver, treat, hero) or negative (nightmare, mess, disaster) feeling on its own; 'real' just turns the volume up.
常見錯誤
7. describing food or drink that is made the old way, using simple ingredients and
describing food or drink that is made the old way, using simple ingredients and no chemical additives, rather than mass-produced in a factory.
The pub on the corner serves real ale brewed in small barrels by a family in Yorkshire.
real ale (British tradition)
Adina drove to a farm outside the city to buy real bread baked in a wood oven each morning.
real bread (artisan)
The cheese counter only sells real cheese made from raw milk on small French farms.
After tasting the real Italian gelato in Florence, Brooke could no longer enjoy supermarket ice cream.
- traditional
neutral; stresses the old method
- artisan
stresses small-scale, hand-made production
- proper
British, informal; close in feel to 'real' for food
文法句型
real + food/drink noun
用法筆記
Mainly British; common in food and drink writing, organic markets, and pub culture (especially the fixed phrase 'real ale'). The unspoken contrast is with industrial, mass-produced versions of the same food. Subject is usually a single food or drink word: ale, bread, cheese, butter, coffee.
常見錯誤
8. describing an economic figure — money, growth, or other measurement — that has b
describing an economic figure — money, growth, or other measurement — that has been corrected for the rise in prices over time, so the number reflects what it can actually buy or how much truly changed.
Although Yan's salary went up by three percent, his real wages fell because grocery prices rose much faster.
real wages (money figure adjusted for inflation)
The report shows that real earnings for nurses have dropped over the last ten years across the country.
real earnings + time period
The shop's sales looked higher this year, but real growth was only one percent once Élise removed inflation.
The country reported six percent expansion, but real GDP, after price changes, rose closer to two.
In real terms, the price of a loaf of bread is similar to what it was twenty years ago.
- inflation-adjusted
more explicit and technical; common in tables and footnotes
- adjusted
neutral and clear; works in tables and headlines
- nominal
the standard economics opposite; the unadjusted, headline figure
文法句型
real + economic noun (wages, income, GDP, growth, terms)
用法筆記
Sits before an economic noun (wages, income, earnings, GDP, growth, terms). The opposite is 'nominal' — the headline figure before inflation is taken out. Common in news articles, government reports, and economics classes; not used in casual conversation.
常見錯誤
real — adverb
1. placed in front of an adjective or another adverb to make its meaning stronger,
placed in front of an adjective or another adverb to make its meaning stronger, the same way 'really' or 'very' does in casual speech.
Ritu said the apple pie at the diner was real good.
real + adjective in informal American speech
After the long hike up the canyon, Dario felt real tired.
real before a predicative adjective
Be real careful on the icy steps behind the barn.
Yara drives real slow whenever the kids are riding in the back.
That was a real nice thing to say to your grandmother, Henry.
文法句型
real + adjective
real + adverb
用法筆記
Informal North American usage only; in formal writing or British English, replace with 'really' or 'very'. Distinguish from the adjective senses (e.g. 'a real diamond'): the adverb 'real' sits before another adjective or adverb, never directly before a noun on its own.