real
real — 形容詞
1. actually present in the world or in events that have happened, rather than only
真實的；真的
實際存在的，非想像或虛構
actually present in the world or in events that have happened, rather than only in someone's mind, in a dream, or in a story.
Nikos was relieved to learn the strange noises in the attic came from a real animal, not a ghost.
得知閣樓裡的怪聲是真實的動物，不是鬼，Nikos 鬆了一口氣。
real + noun (contrast with imagined entity)
After the long flight, the sunlight on her face made the trip to Tokyo finally feel real to Adina.
經過長途飛行，陽光打在臉上的那一刻，這趟東京之旅對 Adina 來說才終於變得真實。
feel + real (subjective realness)
The dragon in the children's book is not real, but the castle on the cover stands in Wales.
童書裡的那條龍不是真的，但封面上的那座城堡真的座落在威爾斯。
Are these footprints in the snow real, or did Caleb make them with a stick to trick us?
雪地上的這些腳印是真的嗎？還是 Caleb 用樹枝弄出來騙我們的？
Roya could not tell if the tears in the film were real or just water from a small bottle.
Roya 分不出片中演員流的眼淚是真的，還是只是用小瓶裝的水。
文法句型
real + noun
be + real
用法筆記
Often paired with a contrasting word such as 'imaginary', 'pretend', 'fake', or 'a dream' to make the contrast clear. Distinguish from sense 2 (real = genuine, not false), which contrasts with counterfeit or imitation rather than with imaginary.
常見錯誤
2. made of the true material it is sold as, or being the true version of something
真品的；真的
真材實料、非仿冒或人造的
made of the true material it is sold as, or being the true version of something rather than a copy or imitation made to look the same.
The market sold cheap copies, but Christopher's grandmother insisted on a wallet made of real leather.
市場上賣的多半是仿品，但 Christopher 的奶奶堅持要一個真皮做的皮夾。
real + material (leather)
The flowers on the table looked perfect, yet only the white roses in the corner were real.
桌上的花看起來毫無瑕疵，但只有角落那幾朵白玫瑰是真花。
real (vs artificial flowers)
Paul checked the ring under a strong light to make sure the stone was a real diamond.
Paul 把戒指放在強光下檢查，確認那顆寶石是真鑽。
The author writes under a false name; her real name is printed only inside the back cover.
這位作者使用筆名寫作，她真正的本名只印在書封內頁。
The painting looked like a Monet, but experts in Paris confirmed it was not a real one.
那幅畫看起來像莫內的作品，但巴黎的專家確認它不是真品。
- fake
informal; covers any imitation made to deceive
- artificial
made by people to copy something natural
- imitation
a copy, often legally sold as such
文法句型
real + concrete noun (e.g., gold, leather, name)
用法筆記
Subject is usually a concrete object whose value depends on its material or origin: jewellery, leather, gold, fur, flowers, paintings, signatures, names. Distinguish from sense 1 (real = exists in fact, contrast with imaginary); sense 2 contrasts with 'fake', 'false', 'artificial', or 'imitation', not with 'imaginary'.
常見錯誤
3. describing the everyday world we all live in, used as a contrast with stories, f
現實的
日常實際生活，相對於故事或網路
describing the everyday world we all live in, used as a contrast with stories, films, online spaces, or daydreams.
After three years of online classes, João finally met his study group in the real world.
上了三年的線上課之後，João 終於在現實生活中見到他的讀書會夥伴。
the real world (vs online)
In real life, fixing a broken car takes hours, not the two minutes shown on television.
在現實生活裡，修一輛壞掉的車要花好幾個小時，不是電視上演的那兩分鐘。
in real life (vs fiction)
Lakan's gaming friends were great online, but in the real world he had never spoken to any of them.
Lakan 的遊戲朋友在線上互動很好，但他在現實世界裡從沒和他們任何一個人說過話。
Sade said the novel was beautiful, but real life rarely had such tidy endings.
Sade 說那本小說很美，但現實生活很少有那麼工整的結局。
Children eventually learn that the rules of cartoons do not work in the real world.
孩子們最後都會學到，卡通裡的規則在現實世界裡是行不通的。
文法句型
the real world
real life
in real life
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed phrases 'the real world', 'real life', or 'in real life' (often shortened to 'IRL' online). Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 asks whether one specific thing exists, while sense 3 contrasts the whole everyday world with imagined or virtual spaces.
常見錯誤
4. describing a person, feeling, or behaviour that is honest and natural, with no a
真誠的
人或情感發自內心、沒有假裝的
describing a person, feeling, or behaviour that is honest and natural, with no acting or pretending hidden underneath.
Gabriel cried at the funeral, and you could tell his sadness was real.
Gabriel 在喪禮上哭了，看得出他的悲傷是真的。
predicative: feeling + be real
Hoa liked her new manager because he was a warm, real person, not a polished salesman.
Hoa 喜歡她的新主管，因為他是個溫暖、真誠的人，不像那種愛講場面話的業務員。
attributive: a real person (not pretending)
Behind the cheerful smile on stage, the singer's real feelings were lonely and tired.
舞台上掛著開朗的笑容，但這位歌手真實的心情其實是孤單又疲憊。
Try to be real with your friends instead of acting cool all the time.
對朋友坦誠做自己，不要整天裝酷。
Liang's apology sounded scripted, so nobody believed it was real.
Liang 的道歉聽起來像照稿念的，所以沒人覺得那是真心的。
文法句型
a real + noun
be real
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (GENUINE NOT FAKE), which is about materials or objects (real leather, real gold). This sense is about people's character, feelings, or behaviour being honest rather than acted.
常見錯誤
5. describing the most important part or the true cause of something, as opposed to
真正的
表面之下，最關鍵或最根本的那個
describing the most important part or the true cause of something, as opposed to the surface explanation that people first notice.
Money was just an excuse; the real reason Shanti quit was her rude boss.
錢只是藉口，Shanti 辭職真正的原因是主管很沒禮貌。
the real reason for X
The real problem with the old bridge is the rusted steel underneath, not the cracked paint.
舊橋真正的問題在於底下生鏽的鋼筋，不是表面剝落的油漆。
the real problem (vs. surface symptom)
Élise smiled for the cameras, but the real winner of the debate was her quieter opponent.
Élise 對著鏡頭笑得燦爛，但這場辯論真正的贏家是她那位安靜的對手。
Cheap rent is nice, but the real benefit of this flat is being two minutes from the train.
房租便宜是不錯，但這間公寓真正的好處是離車站只要兩分鐘。
Tendai realised the real cost of the trip was missing her sister's wedding.
Tendai 才意識到這趟旅行真正的代價是錯過妹妹的婚禮。
- main
neutral; same idea without the 'hidden vs. surface' contrast
- actual
stresses 'this is what is truly the case', similar pattern
- underlying
more formal; specifically suggests something hidden beneath the surface
文法句型
the real + noun
用法筆記
Used attributively only — 'the real X', never '*the X is real' in this sense. Almost always preceded by 'the'. Common nouns following: reason, problem, cause, issue, winner, cost, benefit, story.
常見錯誤
6. used before a noun to emphasise that something or someone is a complete or extre
十足的；超級
口語強調：完完全全就是這樣的
used before a noun to emphasise that something or someone is a complete or extreme example of that thing, often in admiration, complaint, or surprise.
Christopher fixed the leaking pipe in ten minutes — he is a real lifesaver.
Christopher 十分鐘就把漏水的水管修好——他真的是救星。
a real + positive noun (admiration)
Cleaning chewing gum off the carpet was a real nightmare.
把口香糖從地毯上清掉真的是一場惡夢。
a real + negative noun (complaint)
Beatrix scored four goals in the second half — the match turned into a real spectacle.
Beatrix 在下半場踢進四球——比賽變成一場精彩到不行的好戲。
The crowded train at rush hour was a real challenge for Mateo with his suitcase.
對拖著行李箱的 Mateo 來說，尖峰時段擠爆的列車真的是一大挑戰。
Salma's grandmother told the story so well that listening felt like a real treat.
Salma 的奶奶故事說得太好，光是聽就像難得的享受。
文法句型
a real + noun
用法筆記
Always attributive ('a real X'), never predicative in this sense — '*the nightmare was real' shifts to sense 1 (actually existing). The noun that follows usually carries strong positive (lifesaver, treat, hero) or negative (nightmare, mess, disaster) feeling on its own; 'real' just turns the volume up.
常見錯誤
7. describing food or drink that is made the old way, using simple ingredients and
傳統手工的
用傳統方法製作、不加人工添加物
describing food or drink that is made the old way, using simple ingredients and no chemical additives, rather than mass-produced in a factory.
The pub on the corner serves real ale brewed in small barrels by a family in Yorkshire.
街角那間酒吧供應由 Yorkshire 一戶人家用小酒桶釀造的傳統手工啤酒。
real ale (British tradition)
Adina drove to a farm outside the city to buy real bread baked in a wood oven each morning.
Adina 開車到城外的農場，買每天清晨用柴燒爐烤出來的傳統手工麵包。
real bread (artisan)
The cheese counter only sells real cheese made from raw milk on small French farms.
這個起司櫃只賣由法國小農場用生乳製作的傳統手工起司。
After tasting the real Italian gelato in Florence, Brooke could no longer enjoy supermarket ice cream.
在佛羅倫斯吃過道地的義式 gelato 之後，Brooke 再也吃不下超市買的冰淇淋了。
- traditional
neutral; stresses the old method
- artisan
stresses small-scale, hand-made production
- proper
British, informal; close in feel to 'real' for food
文法句型
real + food/drink noun
用法筆記
Mainly British; common in food and drink writing, organic markets, and pub culture (especially the fixed phrase 'real ale'). The unspoken contrast is with industrial, mass-produced versions of the same food. Subject is usually a single food or drink word: ale, bread, cheese, butter, coffee.
常見錯誤
8. describing an economic figure — money, growth, or other measurement — that has b
實質的
經濟學中扣除通膨後的實際數字
describing an economic figure — money, growth, or other measurement — that has been corrected for the rise in prices over time, so the number reflects what it can actually buy or how much truly changed.
Although Yan's salary went up by three percent, his real wages fell because grocery prices rose much faster.
雖然 Yan 的薪水調漲了百分之三，但因為食品物價漲得更快，他的實質薪資反而下降了。
real wages (money figure adjusted for inflation)
The report shows that real earnings for nurses have dropped over the last ten years across the country.
報告顯示，過去十年全國護理師的實質收入持續下滑。
real earnings + time period
The shop's sales looked higher this year, but real growth was only one percent once Élise removed inflation.
店裡今年的銷售看起來變高，但 Élise 把通膨扣掉之後，實質成長只有百分之一。
The country reported six percent expansion, but real GDP, after price changes, rose closer to two.
該國公布的擴張率是百分之六，但扣除物價變動後，實質 GDP 的成長更接近百分之二。
In real terms, the price of a loaf of bread is similar to what it was twenty years ago.
以實質物價來看，一條麵包的價格和二十年前差不多。
- inflation-adjusted
more explicit and technical; common in tables and footnotes
- adjusted
neutral and clear; works in tables and headlines
- nominal
the standard economics opposite; the unadjusted, headline figure
文法句型
real + economic noun (wages, income, GDP, growth, terms)
用法筆記
Sits before an economic noun (wages, income, earnings, GDP, growth, terms). The opposite is 'nominal' — the headline figure before inflation is taken out. Common in news articles, government reports, and economics classes; not used in casual conversation.
常見錯誤
real — 副詞
1. placed in front of an adjective or another adverb to make its meaning stronger,
很；非常
口語中放在形容詞或副詞前加強語氣
placed in front of an adjective or another adverb to make its meaning stronger, the same way 'really' or 'very' does in casual speech.
Ritu said the apple pie at the diner was real good.
Ritu 說那家小餐館的蘋果派非常好吃。
real + adjective in informal American speech
After the long hike up the canyon, Dario felt real tired.
走完那條長長的峽谷步道後，Dario 覺得非常累。
real before a predicative adjective
Be real careful on the icy steps behind the barn.
穀倉後面那幾級結冰的台階，要很小心地走。
Yara drives real slow whenever the kids are riding in the back.
只要孩子坐在後座，Yara 開車就開得很慢。
That was a real nice thing to say to your grandmother, Henry.
Henry，你剛才對奶奶說的那句話真的很貼心。
文法句型
real + adjective
real + adverb
用法筆記
Informal North American usage only; in formal writing or British English, replace with 'really' or 'very'. Distinguish from the adjective senses (e.g. 'a real diamond'): the adverb 'real' sits before another adjective or adverb, never directly before a noun on its own.