fortune

/ˈfɔːtʃuːn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfɔːrtʃən/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfȯr-chən/ (ame, mw)

fortune — noun

  • fortunesingular
  • fortunesplural

1. Money or valuable property that adds up to a sum big enough to make someone rich

1.名詞B1
釋義

Money or valuable property that adds up to a sum big enough to make someone rich or to pay for an extremely costly purchase.

例句

After the company went public, Vikram made a fortune from his shares.

make a fortune — earn a large amount of money

The antique clock from my grandmother is worth a small fortune.

worth a small fortune — very valuable

同義詞
  • wealth

    broader and more neutral; describes a lasting state of riches rather than a specific large sum

  • riches

    more literary and concrete, often suggesting gold, jewellery, or treasure

  • prosperity

    focuses on the condition of doing well financially rather than a specific amount

反義詞
  • poverty

    the state of being very poor

文法句型

make a fortune

cost a fortune

worth a fortune

inherit a fortune

用法筆記

Unlike 'wealth', which describes a general state of having abundant resources, 'fortune' specifically refers to a single large sum or collection of assets, often life-changing in scale. Common in fixed expressions: 'make a fortune', 'cost a fortune', 'spend a fortune', 'inherit a fortune'.

常見錯誤

❌I spent a fortune on lunch today.
✅I spent a lot on lunch today.
💡'fortune' is too strong for small amounts; use 'a lot' or 'a ton' for ordinary expenses.

2. The force or principle that controls events in a person's life, especially when

2.名詞B2
釋義

The force or principle that controls events in a person's life, especially when those events are considered good or bad and happen without being planned.

例句

By a stroke of good fortune, Apinya found her lost wallet on the train platform.

a stroke of good fortune — a lucky unexpected event

The fortune of the Watanabe family changed completely after the earthquake.

fortune of — the overall life circumstances of

同義詞
  • luck

    more informal and everyday; usually refers to single events rather than long-term circumstances

  • fate

    stronger sense of inevitability and predetermined outcome; less about random chance

  • destiny

    suggests a grand, meaningful plan rather than neutral chance

文法句型

by fortune

good fortune / bad fortune

a stroke of fortune

fortune smiles on

用法筆記

Often appears in fixed phrases such as 'by fortune', 'good fortune', 'bad fortune', and 'a stroke of fortune'. Can be personified in literary contexts ('Fortune smiled on...'). Unlike 'fate', 'fortune' does not necessarily imply inevitability — it suggests random chance that can change over time.

3. A person's predicted future life events, especially those described by a fortune

3.名詞B2
釋義

A person's predicted future life events, especially those described by a fortune-teller after studying the palm of the hand, interpreting a deck of cards, or using other methods of divination.

例句

Lauren had her fortune told at the night market and left feeling both curious and uneasy.

have your fortune told — ask a fortune-teller for predictions

The fortune-teller studied Min's palm and described a fortune involving travel across the sea.

同義詞
  • prediction

    more general, used in any context (weather, sports, economics) without supernatural implications

  • prophecy

    more serious and religious in tone; suggests a divinely inspired message

文法句型

tell someone's fortune

read someone's fortune

have your fortune told

用法筆記

Almost always appears within the fixed expressions 'tell someone's fortune', 'read someone's fortune', or 'have your fortune told'. Rarely used as a standalone noun — you would not say 'my fortune is to move abroad' unless you were quoting a fortune-teller's exact prediction.

fortune — verb