alternate reality
alternate reality — 名詞
1. a digital world inside a computer game where players can explore, talk to other
遊戲虛境
電腦遊戲中的互動虛擬世界
a digital world inside a computer game where players can explore, talk to other players, and change things around them
In this alternate reality, Rin can build a house and invite her friends to visit.
在這個遊戲虛境中，Rin 可以蓋房子並邀請朋友來參觀。
in [article] + alternate reality for setting location
Players from around the world meet inside the alternate reality to trade items.
來自世界各地的玩家在遊戲虛境中碰面交換物品。
verb: meet inside / trade inside the alternate reality
The game's alternate reality has its own economy, weather, and daily events.
這款遊戲的虛擬世界有自己的經濟系統、天氣變化與日常活動。
Every month the developers add new areas for players to explore in the alternate reality.
開發人員每個月都會在遊戲虛境中新增區域讓玩家探索。
- virtual world
broader term, not limited to gaming
- virtual environment
more technical, used in computing contexts
- game world
simpler, everyday term for the same concept
文法句型
in an alternate reality
the alternate reality
用法筆記
Common in discussions of massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) and virtual worlds. The definite article 'the' is frequently used when referring to a specific game's world.
常見錯誤
2. a version of the real world created in stories or films, where some events, peop
平行世界
與現實相似但不同的故事背景
a version of the real world created in stories or films, where some events, people, or rules are different from those in actual life
The novel imagines an alternate reality where the Roman Empire never fell.
這部小說想像了一個羅馬帝國未曾滅亡的平行世界。
alternate reality + where + counterfactual clause
In the film's alternate reality, cars can fly and people communicate by thought.
在這部電影的平行世界裡，汽車可以飛行，人們靠意念溝通。
Ayana enjoys books set in an alternate reality that looks like 1990s Tokyo.
Ayana 很喜歡閱讀以平行世界為背景的書籍，那個世界看起來就像1990年代的東京。
The TV show creates an alternate reality where everyone has a hidden superpower.
這部影集創造了一個人人都有隱藏超能力的平行世界。
- parallel world
more specific, often implies a coexisting universe
- parallel universe
common in science fiction, more scientific tone
- alternate timeline
focuses on a different sequence of historical events
- real world
the actual world we live in
文法句型
alternate reality where [clause]
an alternate reality in which [clause]
用法筆記
This sense is typical of speculative fiction genres. The clause that follows 'where' describes ONE key difference from our world — keeping the rest familiar makes the story feel believable.
常見錯誤
3. a situation or set of beliefs that has no basis in fact, but that a person or gr
幻象
人們誤信為真的不實狀態
a situation or set of beliefs that has no basis in fact, but that a person or group accepts as true anyway
Hugo lives in an alternate reality where he believes his old job is still waiting for him.
Hugo 活在一個幻象中，以為他的舊工作還在等他回去。
verb collocation: live in an alternate reality
Some people on the internet create an alternate reality around their political views.
有些人在網路上圍繞自己的政治觀點創造了一個幻象。
verb + object: create an alternate reality around [topic]
Gita's alternate reality makes her believe she is still in a relationship from years ago.
Gita 的幻象讓她相信自己仍處於一段多年前就結束的感情中。
The conspiracy group built an alternate reality where every news story is a lie.
那個陰謀論團體建立了一個幻象，認為每則新聞都是謊言。
- delusion
stronger, clinical term for a fixed false belief
- fantasy world
less critical, can be positive or neutral
- false reality
more direct, emphasises the lack of truth
文法句型
[possessive] alternate reality
live in an alternate reality
用法筆記
This sense carries a critical or judgmental tone — it is used to describe someone else's false perception, not one's own. Frequently appears in discussions about misinformation, conspiracy theories, or psychological denial.