facts

IPA/fækt/
KK[fˈækts]IPA/fækt/

facts — 名詞

  • factssingular
  • factsesplural

1. Something people accept as true because evidence clearly supports it — for insta

1.名詞B1
釋義

事實

已知為真且有證據的事

Something people accept as true because evidence clearly supports it — for instance, that water boils at one hundred degrees Celsius or that Taipei is the capital of Taiwan.

例句

The report presented the facts about pollution levels in the city for residents to study.

這份報告向居民展示了城市污染程度的相關事實，供大家研究。

Emma checked the historical facts before writing her school essay on the war.

Emma 在撰寫關於戰爭的學校報告前，先查證了歷史事實。

collocation: check the facts

同義詞
  • truth

    focuses on correctness or accuracy rather than verifiability

  • reality

    emphasises existence rather than proof

  • certainty

    something accepted without any doubt

反義詞
  • lie

    a deliberately false statement

  • fiction

    something invented or imagined

用法筆記

Often used with adjectives that show reliability, such as 'hard', 'proven', 'known', 'basic', or 'key'. The phrase 'the fact that' introduces a clause naming a true situation.

常見錯誤

❌In my fact, this is the wrong answer.
✅In my opinion, this is the wrong answer.
💡'fact' refers to something proved true, not a personal view.
❌That's just your fact, not mine.
✅That's just your opinion, not mine.
💡Facts are objective; statements of personal belief are opinions.

2. Used in fixed phrases such as 'in fact' or 'as a matter of fact' to add a strong

2.名詞B1
釋義

其實；事實上

用於強調或表示與前文相反

Used in fixed phrases such as 'in fact' or 'as a matter of fact' to add a stronger or contrasting statement after what was just said.

例句

I thought the exam would be very hard. In fact, it turned out to be quite easy.

我以為考試會很難，其實結果相當簡單。

phrase: in fact for contrast

Kenji said he did not like cake. As a matter of fact, he ate three slices at the party.

Kenji 說他不喜歡蛋糕，事實上他在派對上吃了三塊。

phrase: as a matter of fact

同義詞
  • actually

    more common in everyday speech, slightly weaker emphasis

  • indeed

    more formal, often used in writing

  • in reality

    strongly contrasts with appearance or assumption

用法筆記

This sense only appears in the fixed phrases 'in fact', 'as a matter of fact', and 'in point of fact'. It cannot stand alone as 'fact' or 'facts' with this meaning.

常見錯誤

❌In fact, I woke up at seven o'clock this morning.' (no contrast or emphasis needed)
✅Add a contrasting idea: 'I usually wake up late. In fact, today I woke up at seven.
💡'in fact' needs a context of contrast or surprise.

3. Used in the phrase 'the fact that' followed by a full clause, to stress that a s

3.名詞B1
釋義

…的事實

用「…的事實」句式強調某事為真

Used in the phrase 'the fact that' followed by a full clause, to stress that a situation is genuinely true — often before stating a reaction, result, or consequence.

例句

The fact that Adaeze finished the race surprised no one who had seen her training.

Adaeze 跑完了全程，這個事實讓看過她訓練的人一點也不意外。

construction: the fact that + clause

Despite the fact that it rained all afternoon, the children played outside happily.

儘管整下午都在下雨，孩子們還是開心地在外頭玩耍。

用法筆記

Always followed by a 'that'-clause containing a full subject and verb. This sense cannot be replaced by 'facts' (plural); it is a fixed grammatical construction with the singular 'fact'.

常見錯誤

❌The fact she left early upset everyone.
✅The fact that she left early upset everyone.
💡In formal and written English, 'that' is required after 'the fact' to introduce the clause.

4. A situation or truth that is unpleasant but cannot be changed or avoided — often

4.名詞B2
釋義

殘酷現實

無法避免且令人不快的實情

A situation or truth that is unpleasant but cannot be changed or avoided — often used in the fixed phrase 'a fact of life'.

例句

Getting older is a fact of life that everyone must accept sooner or later.

變老是每個人都遲早要接受的事實。

phrase: fact of life

Reuben had to explain the harsh facts of life to his younger brother after their pet died.

Reuben 在寵物過世後，不得不向弟弟解釋生命中殘酷的現實。

同義詞
  • reality

    broader meaning, not necessarily unpleasant

  • inevitability

    focuses on unavoidability rather than truth

反義詞
  • choice

    something you can decide to do or not do

  • possibility

    something that may or may not happen

用法筆記

Commonly appears with the adjectives 'hard', 'harsh', 'sad', or 'unpleasant', or in the fixed form 'a fact of life'. Unlike sense 1, the focus here is on unavoidability rather than verifiability.

常見錯誤

❌Having to wait at the bus stop is a fact of life.
✅Traffic delays in big cities are a fact of life.
💡'fact of life' should refer to genuinely serious or fundamental inevitabilities, not minor inconveniences.

5. Precise, operational details about a particular case or situation, gathered for

5.名詞B2
釋義

詳細資訊

精確具體的資料或細節

Precise, operational details about a particular case or situation, gathered for a practical purpose such as making a decision, writing a report, or settling a dispute.

例句

The buyer asked for the hard facts about the property before making an offer.

買方在出價前要求了解該房產的具體事實。

collocation: hard facts

Nikos collected facts and figures from the experiment to support his conclusion.

Nikos 收集了實驗的數據和數字來支持他的結論。

collocation: facts and figures

同義詞
  • details

    may include subjective or less verified items

  • specifics

    focuses on precision rather than truthfulness

  • data

    more technical, commonly used in research

用法筆記

Unlike sense 1, the emphasis is on precision and detail rather than on general truth. Common in professional contexts such as law, business, and journalism.

常見錯誤

❌I need the facts about the bus schedule.
✅I need the information about the bus schedule.
💡'facts' implies verified, precise data; 'information' is more natural for routine practical details.

6. Information about sex, reproduction, and how babies are born — used especially i

6.名詞B1
釋義

性知識

關於性與生育的知識

Information about sex, reproduction, and how babies are born — used especially in the fixed phrase 'the facts of life', which is often taught to children and teenagers.

例句

Layla's parents gave her a simple book about the facts of life when she turned twelve.

Layla 十二歲時，父母給了她一本簡單介紹性知識的書。

phrase: the facts of life

The school nurse explained the facts of life to the curious group of teenagers.

學校護理師向一群好奇的青少年講解了性知識。

用法筆記

Almost always appears in the fixed plural phrase 'the facts of life'. Rarely used with 'fact' (singular) for this meaning.