ferment

ferment — 動詞

1. When yeast or bacteria act on the sugars found in items such as fruit, milk, or

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

發酵

食物或飲料因酵母或細菌作用而產生化學變化

When yeast or bacteria act on the sugars found in items such as fruit, milk, or grain, the substance changes chemically — the sugars turn into alcohol or acids, and bubbles or heat often appear. People also ferment foods on purpose to make products such as wine, beer, yogurt, or kimchi.

例句

Hao left grape juice in a warm jar, where it fermented into wine within days.

Hao 把葡萄汁放在一個溫暖的罐子裡，幾天之內就發酵成了酒。

intransitive: ferment + into [product]

To make kimchi, Marta fermented the cabbage with salt and chili for several weeks.

為了做韓式泡菜，Marta 用鹽和辣椒將高麗菜發酵了好幾個星期。

transitive: ferment [food] with [ingredients]

同義詞
  • break down

    more general; does not specify the role of yeast or bacteria

  • sour

    narrower, usually describing milk or dairy spoiling

  • cultivate

    implies human intention to grow bacteria or yeast, not a natural process

反義詞
  • preserve

    keeping food fresh by stopping fermentation (e.g. pickling with vinegar or refrigeration)

文法句型

ferment (intransitive — food/drink changes chemically)

ferment + noun phrase (transitive — you cause the change)

用法筆記

Common in cooking, baking, and brewing contexts. The transitive form (you ferment something) is typical when describing a recipe or industrial process; the intransitive form (something ferments) describes a natural or spontaneous process.

常見錯誤

❌The fruit decayed in the sun.
✅The fruit fermented in the warm jar.
💡'ferment' is a controlled or natural chemical change that produces useful products (alcohol, yogurt, bread); 'decay' means rot and spoilage without a useful result.

2. If a situation or group of people ferments, feelings of anger, excitement, or di

2.動詞及物 / 不及物C1
釋義

騷動；醞釀

情緒或局勢動盪不安，逐漸醞釀改變

If a situation or group of people ferments, feelings of anger, excitement, or disagreement build up and grow stronger over time, often leading to change or conflict. To ferment something means to cause this kind of emotional or social unrest.

例句

Anthony noticed that the ideas fermenting among the workers could lead to a strike.

Anthony 注意到工人之間正在醞釀的想法，可能導致罷工。

intransitive: ideas / feelings ferment among [group]

Amani's speech about inequality fermented a wave of protest across the university.

Amani 關於不平等問題的演說，在大學裡激起了一波抗議浪潮。

transitive: speech / event fermented [response]

同義詞
  • foment

    only transitive; strongly implies deliberately causing unrest

  • seethe

    intransitive only; suggests a hidden, barely controlled anger

  • simmer

    intransitive only; suggests unrest building slowly below the surface

反義詞
  • calm

    when emotions or a situation calms down, the agitation subsides

  • subside

    to become less intense; the opposite of building up

文法句型

ferment (intransitive — situation/feelings become agitated)

ferment + noun phrase (transitive — cause agitation, e.g. ferment discontent)

用法筆記

Frequently found in formal writing about history, politics, or social movements. The intransitive form (discontent ferments) emphasises a slow, underground buildup; the transitive form (to ferment rebellion) is closer in meaning to 'foment'.

常見錯誤

❌The students were fermenting in the classroom.
✅The students' anger fermented over weeks of unfair treatment.
💡'ferment' as a verb of unrest needs an abstract subject (anger, ideas, discontent), not a person as the subject.

ferment — 名詞