kiwi

/ˈkiːwi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkiːwi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkē-(ˌ)wē/ (ame, mw) · /ˈkiː.wiː/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkiː.wiː/ (ame, ipa)

kiwi — noun

  • kiwisingular
  • kiwisplural

1. an oval fruit, roughly as big as a large egg. Its thin brown skin is fuzzy to th

1.名詞A2
釋義

an oval fruit, roughly as big as a large egg. Its thin brown skin is fuzzy to the touch, and the inside is vivid green with a ring of tiny black seeds. The taste is both sweet and a little tangy.

例句

Lan sliced a ripe kiwi into her morning bowl of yogurt and granola.

prep. 'into [dish]' for adding kiwi to food

Eleni peeled the kiwi before eating it because she did not like the fuzzy skin.

collocation: fuzzy skin / peel a kiwi

同義詞
  • kiwi fruit

    fuller name, used especially in formal or commercial contexts

  • kiwifruit

    originally a brand name, now the standard term on packaging and in grocery stores

文法句型

a kiwi

kiwis (plural)

用法筆記

Also called 'kiwi fruit' or 'kiwifruit'. The skin is edible but many people prefer to peel it because of the fuzzy texture.

常見錯誤

❌I bought two kiwifruits for dessert.
✅I bought two kiwis for dessert.
💡Both 'kiwi' and 'kiwifruit' are correct, but 'kiwi' is more common in everyday speech.
❌The kiwi vine grows in my garden.' (when referring to the plant)
✅The kiwi plant grows in my garden.
💡The plant itself is called a 'kiwi vine' or 'kiwi plant', but the fruit on it is simply 'kiwi'.

2. a flightless bird that lives in New Zealand, roughly the size of a chicken. It h

2.名詞B1
釋義

a flightless bird that lives in New Zealand, roughly the size of a chicken. It has a very long narrow beak, tiny wings that are hard to see, and grey-brown feathers that look like hair. New Zealanders consider this bird their national emblem, and it comes out at night to feed.

例句

The kiwi uses its long beak to probe the forest floor for insects and worms.

collocation: long beak; purpose clause 'to probe…'

Arjun learned that kiwis are nocturnal birds that come out only after dark.

同義詞
  • apteryx

    scientific genus name, used in biology contexts only

文法句型

a kiwi

kiwis (plural)

the kiwi (the species)

用法筆記

The kiwi is a national icon of New Zealand. New Zealanders often call themselves 'Kiwis' after this bird (see sense 3). The scientific name for the bird is Apteryx, but this is rarely used outside zoology.

常見錯誤

❌A kiwi lives in the trees and flies south for winter.
✅A kiwi lives on the forest floor and cannot fly.
💡The kiwi is a flightless, ground-dwelling bird.

3. an informal way to describe someone who comes from New Zealand. It has a friendl

3.名詞B1
釋義

an informal way to describe someone who comes from New Zealand. It has a friendly and positive tone, and many New Zealanders use this word to talk about themselves.

例句

Nellie is a proud Kiwi who always brings back local treats from her overseas trips.

collocation: proud Kiwi

The tour guide explained that many Kiwis live abroad but stay connected to their homeland.

同義詞
  • New Zealander

    the standard, neutral term used in all contexts including formal writing

  • NZer

    informal abbreviation, used in writing but not common in speech

文法句型

a Kiwi

Kiwis (plural)

用法筆記

Informal term — 'New Zealander' is the neutral, official term suitable for all registers. 'Kiwi' is broadly acceptable in everyday conversation and writing within New Zealand, but may be unfamiliar to some international audiences. Often capitalised when referring to a person (Kiwi) to distinguish it from the fruit or bird senses.

常見錯誤

❌She is a kiwi from Auckland.' (when meaning the person)
✅She is a Kiwi from Auckland.
💡When referring to a New Zealander, the word is usually capitalised to avoid confusion with the fruit.

kiwi — adjective