fable
fable — 名詞
1. A brief story, often with animals or objects that talk and act like humans, writ
寓言
以動物為角色的道德故事
A brief story, often with animals or objects that talk and act like humans, written to teach a lesson about right and wrong behaviour.
Sayaka's mother told her a fable about a clever fox who tricked a boastful wolf into falling down a well.
Sayaka 的媽媽講了一則寓言給她聽，內容是關於一隻狡猾的狐狸如何騙一隻自誇的狼掉進井裡。
told + fable about [animal]
The old man's favourite fable teaches that slow and steady wins every race.
那位老先生最喜歡的寓言故事告訴我們，慢而穩才能贏得每場比賽。
fable teaches that [moral]
Children in Taiwan often read Aesop's fables during literature class.
台灣的孩子們在文學課上經常閱讀《伊索寓言》。
Greta's class performed a short play based on a fable about a giant who learns to share.
Greta 的班上表演了一齣短劇，改編自一則關於巨人學會分享的寓言。
- parable
uses human characters in everyday settings to teach a religious or moral lesson
- folk tale
traditional story passed down orally, not necessarily with an explicit moral
- moral tale
broader term; any story designed to teach right from wrong, not limited to animal characters
用法筆記
Frequently ends with a stated moral. The best-known collection is Aesop's Fables, traditionally attributed to a storyteller from ancient Greece.
常見錯誤
2. A story from ancient times involving gods, heroes, or magical events, not intend
神話傳說
涉及神話或超自然生物的古老故事
A story from ancient times involving gods, heroes, or magical events, not intended to be historically accurate.
The ancient Greek fable tells of a river god who fell in love with a mortal woman.
這則古希臘神話傳說講述了一位河神愛上凡間女子的故事。
fable + about [mythological being]
Historians still debate whether the fable about the golden city was based on a real location.
歷史學家仍在爭論那則關於黃金之城的神話傳說是否源自真實的地點。
Reuben read a Norse fable about a hero whose magical hammer was stolen by a giant.
Reuben 讀了一則北歐神話，講述一名英雄的魔法槌被巨人偷走的故事。
Sahil collects ancient fables about dragon gods and enchanted rivers from cultures across Asia and Europe.
Sahil 收集來自亞洲和歐洲各地文化中關於龍神與魔法河流的古老神話傳說。
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense emphasises mythical, supernatural content rather than a moral lesson. The word 'myth' is more common for this meaning in modern English.
3. A statement or account that is deliberately invented and presented as true, inte
虛構謊言
刻意編造的不實說法
A statement or account that is deliberately invented and presented as true, intended to deceive others.
The politician's version of the event was later exposed as a complete fable.
那位政治人物對事件的說法後來被揭露純屬虛構謊言。
exposed as a fable
Adina knew the rumour was a fable spread to damage her reputation at work.
Adina 知道那則謠言是為了破壞她在職場的名聲而散播的虛構謊言。
The journalist's account of the rescue turned out to be nothing but a fable.
那位記者對救援行動的描述結果不過是一派虛構謊言。
Heloísa dismissed the article as a fable full of exaggeration and false claims.
Heloísa 認為那篇文章不過是一堆誇大不實的虛構謊言。
- lie
blunter and more common; any intentionally false statement, not necessarily elaborated
- fabrication
formal synonym that emphasises the act of inventing; interchangeable in most contexts
- tall tale
informal; an exaggerated story told for entertainment rather than serious deception
用法筆記
Stronger than 'lie' — implies a detailed, elaborated invention rather than a simple falsehood. Common in formal or literary criticism of someone's story.
常見錯誤
fable — 動詞
1. To tell traditional stories with talking animals or magical events, especially a
講寓言
講述含有道德教訓的故事
To tell traditional stories with talking animals or magical events, especially as a skilled storyteller.
Grandfather would fable for hours, telling stories of talking animals and wise old kings.
祖父會連續好幾個小時講寓言故事，訴說會說話的動物和睿智老國王的故事。
intransitive: fable for [duration]
The village elder fabled about a clever rabbit who tricked a hungry lion.
那位村中長老講了一則寓言，內容關於一隻聰明的兔子如何騙過了一頭飢餓的獅子。
fable about [subject]
At the harvest festival, the village women would fable about a clever turtle who outran a boastful hare.
在豐收節期間，村裡的婦女們會講一則關於聰明的烏龜跑贏自誇的兔子的寓言故事。
The court poet fabled about a phoenix that rose from its own ashes.
宮廷詩人講了一則寓言，關於一隻從灰燼中重生的鳳凰。
用法筆記
Intransitive only — the focus is on the act of storytelling, not on a specific story being told. 'Fable about + topic' is the most common pattern.
2. To describe something in a way that makes it seem real or impressive, often by e
虛構描述
把不實之事當成事實來描述
To describe something in a way that makes it seem real or impressive, often by exaggerating or inventing details.
The explorer fabled his journey, claiming he had discovered a secret valley of diamonds.
那位探險家虛構了自己的旅程，聲稱發現了一座祕密的鑽石谷。
transitive: fabled + object (his journey)
Layla fabled an exciting tale of adventure just to impress her younger cousins.
Layla 虛構了一個刺激的冒險故事，只是為了讓表弟表妹們佩服。
João fabled his humble beginnings, telling everyone he was once a prince.
João 虛構了自己的卑微出身，告訴大家他曾是一位王子。
The merchant fabled the origin of his silk to make it sound more mysterious.
那位商人虛構了絲綢的來源，想讓它聽起來更加神秘。
- report
gives factual information without invention
用法筆記
The only transitive sense of 'fable'. The object is typically a story, journey, or account. Often implies the speaker knows the account is exaggerated or untrue.