buddy

/ˈbʌdi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbʌdi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbə-dē/ (ame, mw)

buddy — noun

1. a person you know well, like, and enjoy spending time with.

1.名詞A2
釋義

a person you know well, like, and enjoy spending time with.

例句

Ravi met his old buddy for noodles after work.

old buddy

My camping buddies still laugh about the storm in Hualien.

plural: buddies

同義詞
  • friend

    more general and neutral; 'buddy' sounds warmer and more informal

  • pal

    also informal; often slightly old-fashioned or playful

  • mate

    common in British English; regional choice rather than a perfect American match

反義詞
  • enemy

    someone opposed to you rather than friendly

  • stranger

    someone you do not know, so there is no personal bond

用法筆記

Very common in informal American English. It often appears in compounds such as 'old buddy' or 'fishing buddy' that name the kind of friendship.

常見錯誤

❌He is my buddy worker.
✅He is my work buddy.
💡the activity or setting usually comes before 'buddy'.

2. a person who stays in touch with someone who is ill or having a hard time, givin

2.名詞B2
釋義

a person who stays in touch with someone who is ill or having a hard time, giving friendly support and practical help.

例句

Each sick child got a buddy from the local support group.

buddy from a support group

Nadia called her group buddy after a hard night at home.

同義詞
  • supporter

    broader; may help emotionally without regular personal contact

  • helper

    simple and general; does not always suggest friendship

  • mentor

    usually gives guidance or advice rather than day-to-day care

用法筆記

Often found in organized support programs and in the phrase 'buddy system'. The buddy is usually linked to one person rather than being just a general friend.

常見錯誤

❌The hospital gave each patient a friend buddy.
✅The hospital gave each patient a buddy.
💡this sense already includes the idea of friendly support.

3. someone who joins you for a regular sport, class task, or similar activity, with

3.名詞B1
釋義

someone who joins you for a regular sport, class task, or similar activity, with both of you giving each other help.

例句

Hana and I are study buddies before every history exam.

study buddy

The gym matched Yusuf with a running buddy for cold mornings.

running buddy

同義詞
  • partner

    more general; can be formal or official as well as friendly

  • teammate

    best when you belong to the same sports team or work team

  • companion

    more neutral or literary; less tied to one shared activity

反義詞
  • opponent

    someone you compete against instead of working with

用法筆記

Usually appears in compounds naming the shared activity, such as 'study buddy' or 'swim buddy'. Distinguish from sense 2, which is for support during illness or personal difficulty.

常見錯誤

❌She is my buddy for study.
✅She is my study buddy.
💡the shared activity usually comes before 'buddy'.

4. a word used to speak directly to a man, especially when you sound tough, annoyed

4.名詞B1
釋義

a word used to speak directly to a man, especially when you sound tough, annoyed, or too familiar.

例句

Move your truck, buddy, you're blocking the whole gate.

direct address in complaint

Easy there, buddy, nobody took your seat on the bus.

同義詞
  • pal

    also used in direct address, but often sounds more friendly than sharp

  • man

    common in casual speech; less likely to sound deliberately tough

  • friend

    can be ironic in the same way, but is slightly less colloquial

用法筆記

Only used directly to the person you are speaking to, usually in spoken English. Tone matters: it can sound friendly, but it can also sound confrontational.

常見錯誤

❌I wrote buddy at the start of the email to the bank clerk.
✅I wrote Dear Mr Lin at the start of the email.
💡this use is spoken and very informal, so it sounds wrong in formal writing.

5. a warm word an adult uses when speaking kindly to a small boy.

5.名詞A2
釋義

a warm word an adult uses when speaking kindly to a small boy.

例句

Nice catch, buddy, your dad saw the whole game.

kind address to a boy

Hold my hand, buddy, the road is wet here.

同義詞
  • kiddo

    similarly warm and informal; not limited to boys

  • champ

    friendly and encouraging, often said when praising a child

用法筆記

Typically said by a parent, teacher, doctor, or other adult to reassure a small boy. Distinguish from sense 4, which is more often used to an adult male and may sound sharp.

buddy — verb

buddy — adjective