false

false — 形容詞

1. Describes something that has been made to look like the real thing but is not —

1.形容詞A2
釋義

假的

非真實的，偽造的

Describes something that has been made to look like the real thing but is not — for example, a false passport, false teeth, or a false wall built to hide something.

例句

Tyler wore a pair of false eyelashes to the costume party last weekend.

Tyler 上週末戴了一副假睫毛去參加化裝舞會。

collocation: false eyelashes / false teeth / false passport

The security guard checked the passport and immediately knew it was false.

警衛檢查了護照，馬上就發現那是假的。

同義詞
  • fake

    more common in informal speech for imitation goods

  • imitation

    suggests a copy not intended to deceive

  • counterfeit

    formal term for illegally copied money or goods

  • artificial

    focuses on being man-made rather than fake

反義詞
  • real

    the opposite of imitation or fake

  • genuine

    authentic, not a copy

文法句型

false + noun

用法筆記

Common before nouns for body parts (false teeth, false eyelashes, false nails) and documents (false passport, false ID). When describing a copy of a branded product, 'fake' is more frequent in everyday speech.

常見錯誤

❌The story he told was false so the police arrested him.
✅The story he told was untrue so the police arrested him.
💡For intentional lies, 'false' works but 'untrue' is more neutral; 'false' carries a stronger implication of deliberate deception.

2. Describes a statement, claim, or piece of information that someone says knowing

2.形容詞A2
釋義

不實的

故意欺騙人的陳述或資訊

Describes a statement, claim, or piece of information that someone says knowing it is not true, usually in order to gain an advantage or hide the truth.

例句

The candidate was caught making false promises about lowering taxes during the debate.

該候選人在辯論中做出降低稅收的不實承諾，被當場抓包。

collocation: false promise / false claim / false statement

Ezra gave the hotel a false name because he did not want to be found.

Ezra 向飯店櫃檯報了假名，因為他不想被人找到。

同義詞
  • untrue

    less accusatory; simply states the fact of not being true

  • misleading

    not necessarily a lie, but gives the wrong idea

  • deceptive

    focuses on the effect of causing wrong belief

  • fraudulent

    stronger, legal term for deliberate deception

反義詞

文法句型

false + noun (statement, claim, promise)

用法筆記

Unlike sense 1 (NOT REAL), this sense is about spoken or written information, not physical objects. The noun is usually an abstract thing: claim, promise, statement, name, accusation, report, rumour.

常見錯誤

❌She gave a false excuse for being late.
✅She gave a false reason for being late.
💡'False excuse' is used but 'false reason' or 'false explanation' sound more natural; 'excuse' already implies a justification, so adding 'false' can feel redundant.

3. Refers to the expression 'under false pretences', describing a situation where a

3.形容詞B1
釋義

欺詐手段

以說謊方式獲取利益

Refers to the expression 'under false pretences', describing a situation where a person obtains something — money, a job, or entry to a place — by hiding the truth about their identity, their actions, or their reasons.

例句

The salesman gained entry to the elderly woman's house under false pretences.

那名推銷員以欺詐手段進入了老婦人的家中。

fixed phrase: under false pretences

Niran was charged with obtaining money under false pretences from three different families.

Niran 被指控以欺詐手段向三個不同的家庭騙取金錢。

同義詞

文法句型

under false pretences

用法筆記

Almost always occurs in the prepositional phrase 'under false pretences' (British spelling) or 'under false pretenses' (American spelling). This is a fixed expression — you cannot replace 'false' with a synonym.

常見錯誤

❌He got money by false pretences.
✅He got money under false pretences.
💡The preposition must be 'under', not 'by'.

4. Not correct or accurate; this type of error typically results from wrong informa

4.形容詞A2
釋義

錯誤的

不正確的，基於錯誤資訊

Not correct or accurate; this type of error typically results from wrong information or a misunderstanding rather than from a deliberate intention to deceive others.

例句

Folake had a false impression that the test would be easy and did not study.

Folake 錯誤地以為考試很簡單，所以沒有唸書。

collocation: false impression

The map gave us a false sense of how far the train station really was.

那張地圖讓我們對火車站的距離產生了錯誤的判斷。

同義詞
  • wrong

    most common everyday word for incorrect

  • incorrect

    more formal than 'wrong', common in academic settings

  • inaccurate

    suggests small errors rather than complete wrongness

  • mistaken

    focuses on the person holding the wrong idea

反義詞

文法句型

be false

false + noun (assumption, impression, belief)

用法筆記

This sense contrasts with sense 2 (DISHONEST): here the information is wrong by accident or misunderstanding, not by deliberate design. 'False' in this sense overlaps with 'wrong' and 'incorrect', but 'false' often carries a slightly more formal tone.

常見錯誤

❌Your answer on question three is false.
✅Your answer on question three is wrong / incorrect.
💡In exam contexts, 'wrong' or 'incorrect' is more natural; 'false' sounds like an accusation of lying.

5. Describes a display of emotion or politeness that is not genuine — the person ap

5.形容詞B1
釋義

虛偽的

不真誠、裝出來的

Describes a display of emotion or politeness that is not genuine — the person appears to feel something kind or friendly but does not really feel it.

例句

Quinn forced a false smile when the boring guest arrived at the party.

Quinn 在無聊的客人到場時勉強擠出虛偽的笑容。

collocation: false smile / false laughter / false tears

Her words of comfort sounded false to everyone who knew she disliked the family.

她的安慰話聽起來很虛偽，因為大家都知道她不喜歡那個家庭。

同義詞
  • insincere

    direct synonym; the standard word for fake emotions

  • fake

    more informal, used in everyday speech

  • pretended

    focuses on the act of pretending

  • hollow

    suggests empty words without real feeling

反義詞

文法句型

false + noun (emotion, display)

be false

用法筆記

Often describes visible expressions (smile, tears, laughter) or socially expected behaviour (modesty, sympathy, compliments). The closest everyday synonym is 'fake', which is more informal and covers a broader range.

常見錯誤

❌Her apology sounded false, so nobody forgave her.
✅Her apology sounded insincere, so nobody forgave her.
💡Both work, but 'insincere' is the more specific word for dishonest emotions; 'false' is slightly more general.

6. Describes a person who appears to be a friend or supporter but secretly acts aga

6.形容詞B1
釋義

不忠的

不可信任的，不忠誠的

Describes a person who appears to be a friend or supporter but secretly acts against you, showing no loyalty when it matters.

例句

Anjali learned that her close colleague was a false friend and had been spreading rumours behind her back.

Anjali 得知她那位親近的同事其實是個假朋友，一直在背後散播謠言。

In the novel, a false friend betrays the prince to seize the throne for himself.

在小說中，王子被一位不忠的朋友出賣，那個人私下想奪取王位。

collocation: false friend — disloyal person

同義詞
  • disloyal

    direct synonym; the standard word

  • unfaithful

    often used for romantic relationships

  • treacherous

    stronger, implies dangerous betrayal

  • two-faced

    informal, describes someone who acts friendly but isn't

反義詞

文法句型

false + noun (friend, lover)

用法筆記

This sense is most commonly found in the fixed noun phrase 'false friend', which describes a person. Note that 'false friend' has a completely different meaning in linguistics (a word in another language that looks like one in your language but means something different).

常見錯誤

❌My brother was false when he borrowed money and never returned it.
✅My brother was a false friend when he borrowed money and never returned it.
💡'False' describing a person directly (without 'friend') sounds unnatural; use 'false friend' or 'disloyal'.

false — 副詞