real-life
real-life — adjective
1. describes events, people, or situations that exist or happen in the actual world
describes events, people, or situations that exist or happen in the actual world, rather than being invented, performed, or shown in fiction
The film follows a real-life fisherman who survived forty days at sea.
attributive use: real-life + [noun describing a person]
Wren met her closest friend through a real-life encounter at a local bakery, not on an app.
The children's book introduces real-life heroes such as nurses, firefighters, and farmers.
Players explore real-life landmarks like the Tokyo Tower and the Grand Canal in the game.
Élise prefers reading real-life crime stories because the details are more surprising than fiction.
- actual
more general; real-life emphasises contrast with fiction, while actual simply means 'not imagined'
- true-to-life
more informal; often describes art or storytelling that feels faithful to real experience
- authentic
highlights genuineness or credibility; broader than real-life
- fictional
invented for a story, film, or game
- imaginary
existing only in the mind, not in the real world
- make-believe
informal; describes children's play or obviously unreal scenarios
文法句型
real-life + noun
用法筆記
The hyphenated form real-life is standard when the compound adjective comes before the noun it modifies. When the idea follows a linking verb (e.g., 'The story feels real life'), the open form real life is used instead.
常見錯誤
real-life — noun
1. the actual experiences and events of everyday existence, contrasted with imagine
the actual experiences and events of everyday existence, contrasted with imagined, fictional, or simulated scenarios
In real life, detectives rarely solve a case in under a week the way they do on television.
prepositional phrase: in real life
Dewi discovered that real life as a primary teacher was far more chaotic than the training videos suggested.
The novel blurs the boundary between fantasy and real life, leaving readers uncertain what is true.
Hassan told his sister that handling money in real life is harder than any board game.
- reality
broader; can refer to the general state of things as they actually exist
- the real world
colloquial; often contrasts with education, theory, or the internet
- fiction
invented stories and imagined events
- fantasy
imaginative scenarios that depart from everyday reality
- make-believe
informal; play-acting or obviously invented situations
文法句型
in real life
real life and [something]
用法筆記
Always written as two separate words (real life). Most commonly appears in the prepositional phrase 'in real life', which sets up a contrast between fiction, imagination, or simulation and actual personal experience.