ripe

ripe — 形容詞

1. When fruit, vegetables, or grain are fully grown and at the best moment for pick

1.形容詞A2
釋義

成熟的

水果或作物完全長成，可食用或採收

When fruit, vegetables, or grain are fully grown and at the best moment for picking and eating — no more waiting is needed.

例句

Nellie picked a ripe banana from the bunch and peeled it for her little brother.

Nellie 從香蕉串上摘下一根熟透的香蕉，剝好皮給弟弟吃。

collocation: ripe + fruit noun (banana/apple/mango)

The tomatoes on the vine are finally ripe, so we can make sauce this weekend.

藤蔓上的番茄終於熟了，這個週末我們可以來做醬料。

predicative: be + ripe

同義詞
  • mature

    More formal; also describes people and animals, not just food.

  • ready

    Broader — can mean prepared in any way, not just for eating.

反義詞
  • unripe

    Direct opposite; not yet ready to eat.

  • green

    Describes fruit that has not ripened, often still hard and sour.

文法句型

ripe + noun

be + ripe

用法筆記

Most common for fruit and vegetables; can also describe grain, nuts, and seeds. Often paired with colour-change cues (e.g. 'turning yellow') to indicate readiness.

常見錯誤

❌The apple is very ripe — it is still hard and green.
✅The apple is unripe
💡it is still hard and green.' — 'Ripe' means ready to eat; 'unripe' is the opposite.

2. When cheese or other foods that are left to age develop a noticeably strong, ful

2.形容詞B1
釋義

熟成的

起司等食品經發酵或熟成，風味濃郁

When cheese or other foods that are left to age develop a noticeably strong, full taste because the natural process has run for a long time.

例句

Ritu served a plate of ripe Camembert with crackers at the party.

Ritu 在派對上端出一盤熟透的卡門貝爾起司搭配蘇打餅乾。

attributive: ripe + cheese name

This brie is not ripe enough — it still feels hard in the middle.

這個布利起司還不夠熟——中間摸起來還是硬的。

predicative with degree: not ripe enough

同義詞
  • mature

    More common than 'ripe' for cheddar and gouda in commercial labelling.

  • aged

    Describes the process rather than the resulting flavour.

  • strong

    Focuses on intensity of taste rather than readiness.

反義詞
  • mild

    Describes young cheese with a gentle flavour.

  • fresh

    Opposite of aged; has not undergone the aging process.

文法句型

ripe + cheese/food noun

be + ripe

用法筆記

Primarily describes cheese, but can extend to fermented foods like kimchi or cured meats. 'Ripe' here often pairs with pungent or earthy descriptions.

3. Having a very strong, often unpleasant odour — usually so intense that it draws

3.形容詞B2
釋義

濃烈的

氣味強烈且難聞

Having a very strong, often unpleasant odour — usually so intense that it draws attention the moment you step into the room or space.

例句

The air in the changing room was ripe with the smell of sweat after the match.

比賽結束後，更衣室裡充滿了濃烈的汗臭味。

predicative: ripe with + smell noun

A ripe odour of rotting fish came from the bin behind the restaurant.

餐廳後面的垃圾桶傳來一陣腐魚的惡臭。

attributive: ripe odour of + noun

同義詞
  • pungent

    Neutral — can be pleasant or unpleasant; sharper quality.

  • rank

    Stronger negative connotation; suggests disgust.

  • stinking

    More direct and informal; implies active rotting.

反義詞
  • fresh

    Clean, pleasant smell.

  • faint

    Weak, barely noticeable odour.

文法句型

ripe + smell/scent noun

be + ripe

用法筆記

Almost always negative — a 'ripe smell' is never pleasant. Use 'pungent' or 'strong' for neutral descriptions. Frequently used with 'with': 'ripe with the smell of...'

4. Language, jokes, or humour that contain sexual content or are deliberately indec

4.形容詞B2
釋義

粗鄙的

言語或笑話粗魯不雅，多帶情色內容

Language, jokes, or humour that contain sexual content or are deliberately indecent, often meant to shock or amuse adults.

例句

The comedian's ripe humour made some people in the front row blush.

那位喜劇演員的粗鄙笑話讓前排觀眾臉都紅了。

attributive: ripe + humour noun

Wei told a ripe joke at dinner, and his grandmother pretended not to understand.

Wei 在晚餐時講了一個黃色笑話，他奶奶假裝聽不懂。

attributive: ripe + joke noun

同義詞
  • raunchy

    More common in American English; focuses on sexual content.

  • blue

    Euphemistic; 'blue jokes' cover the same territory.

  • bawdy

    Old-fashioned; describes humour that is humorously indecent.

反義詞

文法句型

ripe + humour/language/joke noun

用法筆記

Chiefly British. In American English, 'raunchy' or 'blue' (as in 'blue humour') are more common. Not used for general swear words — 'ripe' implies playful or witty indecency, not just profanity.

常見錯誤

❌He used ripe words when he lost his temper.
✅He used foul language when he lost his temper.
💡'Ripe' is not used for angry swearing; it describes intentionally naughty or sexual jokes and stories.

5. In a state where conditions are exactly right for some event to take place, espe

5.形容詞B2
釋義

時機成熟的

條件適合，時機正好，適宜某事發生

In a state where conditions are exactly right for some event to take place, especially at a moment that has been eagerly awaited.

例句

The country is ripe for change after years of economic trouble.

經歷多年經濟困境後，這個國家改革的時機已經成熟。

be + ripe + for + noun

Sari decided the moment was ripe to ask her boss for a promotion.

Sari 認為時機成熟了，便向主管提出升職的要求。

the moment is + ripe + to-infinitive

同義詞
  • ready

    More general; does not carry the same sense of an anticipated perfect moment.

  • favourable

    More formal; describes conditions rather than timing.

反義詞

文法句型

be + ripe + for + noun/gerund

be + ripe + to-infinitive

time is + ripe + for

用法筆記

Always predicative (NOT 'a ripe opportunity' in this sense — 'a ripe opportunity' would mean the opportunity itself is ready, which is rare; instead 'the time is ripe'). The most common nouns after 'for' are change, reform, development, investment, picking, exploitation.

常見錯誤

❌This is a ripe time to start the project.
✅The time is ripe to start the project.
💡'Ripe' in this sense is almost always used predicatively with 'the time' or 'conditions' as the subject.

6. Describing a person who has lived to a very great age, especially one that is no

6.形容詞C1
釋義

高齡的

年紀極大之固定用法

Describing a person who has lived to a very great age, especially one that is notably advanced compared to the typical lifespan.

例句

Mateo's grandmother passed away at the ripe old age of ninety-seven.

Mateo 的祖母以九十七歲的高齡安詳離世。

collocation: ripe old age of + number

The village celebrated Hamza reaching a ripe old age with a big feast.

全村舉辦了一場盛大的宴會，慶祝 Hamza 活到高壽。

collocation: ripe old age (without number)

同義詞
  • advanced

    Neutral; can apply to years ('advanced years') without the admiring tone.

  • venerable

    Carries a sense of respect for age and wisdom.

反義詞
  • young

    Opposite end of the age scale.

  • tender

    Used for young age, especially in 'tender age' contrasts.

文法句型

ripe + old age

ripe age of + number

用法筆記

Almost always appears in the set phrase 'ripe old age' (often preceded by 'at the' + 'of'). Rarely used outside this collocation. The tone is usually admiring or affectionate, not clinical.

常見錯誤

❌She is ripe at 85.
✅She lived to the ripe old age of 85.
💡'Ripe' alone cannot describe a person; it must be part of the fixed phrase 'ripe old age'.

7. Having reached a high level of mental development, so that a person's understand

7.形容詞C1
釋義

練達的

知識、判斷力或理解力已臻成熟

Having reached a high level of mental development, so that a person's understanding, knowledge, or ability to make good decisions is fully formed.

例句

After years of travelling, Eshe had gained a ripe wisdom that her younger friends admired.

經過多年的旅行後，Eshe 擁有了一份連年輕朋友都佩服的練達智慧。

attributive: ripe + wisdom noun

The council valued his ripe judgment on difficult community matters.

議會很重視他在棘手社區事務上的練達判斷。

attributive: ripe + judgment noun

同義詞
  • mature

    More common and natural in modern English for describing judgment or wisdom.

  • seasoned

    Focuses on experience gained over time, especially in a profession.

反義詞
  • immature

    Lacking the development of good judgment.

  • raw

    New and inexperienced; the opposite of seasoned.

文法句型

ripe + wisdom/judgment/experience noun

用法筆記

Less common than 'mature' for this meaning; 'ripe' adds a slightly literary or biblical tone ('ripe in years and wisdom'). Typically modifies abstract nouns: wisdom, judgment, understanding, experience.