realism
realism — 名詞
1. an approach that centres on what is actually true and achievable, steering clear
務實態度
根據事實而非理想的處事方式
an approach that centres on what is actually true and achievable, steering clear of wishful thinking or unrealistic hopes.
Rodrigo showed realism when he chose a college program with strong job prospects.
Rodrigo 選擇就業前景好的科系時，展現了務實的態度。
collocation: show/display + realism (practical attitude)
The management team's realism helped them set sales targets that the staff could actually meet.
管理團隊的務實態度幫助他們設定了員工能夠達成的銷售目標。
Eleni admired her aunt's realism in saving money for emergencies instead of spending on luxuries.
Eleni 欣賞姑姑的務實態度，把錢存起來應急而非購買奢侈品。
A degree of realism is necessary when you draw up a household budget.
編列家庭預算時，需要一定程度的務實態度。
The mayor's realism about the town's financial problems earned her respect from voters.
市長對鎮上財務問題的務實態度，為她贏得了選民的尊敬。
- practicality
focuses on usefulness and efficiency rather than a general worldview
- pragmatism
a more formal term, often associated with a specific philosophical tradition
- level-headedness
emphasises calm judgement and emotional control more than fact-based thinking
文法句型
realism + about + noun phrase
realism + in + gerund clause
用法筆記
Commonly used with verbs like show, display, demonstrate, or call for. Frequently appears in business and political contexts to contrast a hard-headed approach with wishful thinking.
常見錯誤
2. the belief in philosophy and science that objects, events, and the physical worl
實在論
外在事物獨立於心智而存在的哲學觀點
the belief in philosophy and science that objects, events, and the physical world exist independently of whether any person is observing or thinking about them.
In philosophy class, the professor explained that realism claims a chair still exists in a room with nobody inside.
哲學課上，教授解釋實在論主張即使房間裡沒有人，椅子依然存在。
Abigail's essay compared idealism with realism by asking whether a falling tree makes a sound if no one hears it.
Abigail 的論文透過「無人聽見時，倒下的樹是否發出聲音」來比較唯心論與實在論。
contrast: realism vs idealism
Aarav struggled to grasp how realism differs from idealism in his first-year metaphysics course.
Aarav 在一年級的形上學課程中，很難理解實在論與唯心論的區別。
Many physicists adopt a form of realism, assuming that quarks and electrons are real objects whether measured or not.
許多物理學家採納某種形式的實在論，認為夸克和電子不論是否被測量都是真實存在的。
- objectivism
stresses that knowledge and truth exist independently of the knower; a broader epistemological position
- materialism
a narrower view that only physical matter is real, whereas realism also accepts non-physical objects
- idealism
the philosophical view that reality is fundamentally mental or constructed by the mind
文法句型
form of realism + that-clause
realism + about + noun phrase
用法筆記
Opposite of idealism in philosophy. Do not confuse this sense with sense 5 (ABSTRACT UNIVERSALS) — sense 2 concerns physical objects and the external world, whereas sense 5 concerns abstract concepts such as 'beauty' or 'justice'.
3. a style of painting, film, or writing that tries to show people and everyday lif
寫實主義
藝術與文學中如實呈現生活的風格
a style of painting, film, or writing that tries to show people and everyday life as they really are, without making them seem more attractive, heroic, or perfect.
The novel is a powerful example of realism, describing factory workers' lives without romanticising them.
這本小說是寫實主義的典範，不加美化地描寫工廠工人的生活。
example of realism in literature
Bao prefers realism in films, where characters speak and act like ordinary people rather than heroes.
Bao 喜歡電影裡的寫實主義，角色說話和行為都像普通人，而非英雄。
Nineteenth-century French realism focused on everyday scenes such as farm labour and street markets.
十九世紀法國寫實主義聚焦於農田勞動和街市等日常生活場景。
A painter of realism, Romi captured the wrinkles on farmers' faces and the mud on their boots.
身為寫實主義畫家，Romi 捕捉了農民臉上的皺紋和靴子上的泥巴。
Lara's art teacher encouraged her to master realism before experimenting with abstract or surreal styles.
Lara 的美術老師鼓勵她先掌握寫實主義，再嘗試抽象或超現實風格。
- naturalism
a more extreme form of realism that applies scientific determinism to characters
- verisimilitude
the appearance of being true or real; focuses on effect rather than an artistic movement
- idealism
in art, representing things as they ought to be rather than as they are
- abstraction
art that does not attempt to represent external reality accurately
文法句型
[adjective] + realism
school of realism
用法筆記
Often modified by a preceding adjective naming a sub-genre (e.g. magical realism, social realism, kitchen-sink realism). Compare with naturalism, which is a more extreme form that treats characters as products of their environment.
常見錯誤
4. the quality of looking, sounding, or feeling very similar to real life, especial
逼真
酷似真實生活的效果或特質
the quality of looking, sounding, or feeling very similar to real life, especially in a creative work, performance, or imitation.
The realism of the film's special effects made the audience gasp as the building collapsed on screen.
電影特效的逼真程度讓觀眾在大樓倒塌的一幕倒抽一口氣。
the realism of + [technical element]
Rachid was impressed by the realism of the wax figures at the history museum.
Rachid 對歷史博物館中蠟像的逼真程度印象深刻。
The video game's sound design added greatly to the realism of the thunderstorm scene.
這款電玩遊戲的音效大大增添了雷雨場景的逼真感。
Élise praised the sculpture for its realism, noting the veins on the old fisherman's hands.
Élise 讚賞那尊雕塑的逼真，連老漁夫手上的血管都刻劃了出來。
- lifelikeness
a simpler, more direct synonym
- authenticity
emphasises truthfulness to a subject rather than visual accuracy
- verisimilitude
more formal and literary; the appearance of being true
- artificiality
the quality of looking fake or manufactured
- stylisation
deliberate simplification or exaggeration of features for artistic effect
文法句型
the realism of + [noun]
added to the realism
用法筆記
Unlike sense 3 (ART & LITERATURE), this sense describes a measurable quality of verisimilitude rather than a named artistic movement. You can say 'the realism of the CGI was impressive' but not 'the CGI was an example of realism' (which would imply movement membership).
常見錯誤
5. the philosophical theory that general ideas or categories — such as 'beauty', 'j
共相實在論
抽象概念真實存在的哲學學說
the philosophical theory that general ideas or categories — such as 'beauty', 'justice', or 'redness' — exist as real entities outside of human thought, rather than being merely names or labels that humans invent.
Medieval philosophers debated whether realism about concepts like 'goodness' could be logically defended.
中世紀哲學家爭論關於「善」這類概念的共相實在論是否能被邏輯地辯護。
realism about + [abstract philosophical concept]
Sade wrote her thesis on the difference between realism and nominalism in medieval scholastic thought.
Sade 的論文探討中世紀經院哲學中，共相實在論與唯名論之間的差異。
contrast: realism vs nominalism
According to philosophical realism, the idea of 'justice' exists as a real thing, not merely a convenient word.
根據哲學上的共相實在論，「正義」這個概念是真實存在的，而不只是一個方便的字詞。
Zayd found the realism debate challenging because it questions whether abstract ideas have an existence of their own.
Zayd 覺得共相實在論的辯論很有挑戰性，因為它質疑抽象概念是否擁有獨立的存在。
- Platonism
a specific form of realism about universals derived from Plato's theory of Forms
- nominalism
the view that universal concepts are merely names or labels with no independent reality
文法句型
realism about + [abstract concept]
用法筆記
This is a technical sense within metaphysics, often contrasted with nominalism. Do not confuse with sense 2 (PHILOSOPHICAL EXISTENCE) — sense 2 concerns physical objects, whereas this sense concerns abstract universals like properties and categories. The two philosophies are historically related but logically distinct.