real
real — noun
- realsingular
- realsplural
1. the official currency of Brazil, used for buying goods and services in that coun
the official currency of Brazil, used for buying goods and services in that country
Daichi exchanged his dollars for reais at the airport counter before his flight.
exchange + for + reais
A hotel room in São Paulo cost around three hundred reais per night.
cost + [number] + reais + per night
Rafael counted the reais in his wallet to see if he had enough for lunch.
When the real weakened against the US dollar, Brazilian goods became cheaper abroad.
Camille checked the real exchange rate online before booking her trip to Rio.
用法筆記
A countable noun. The plural is often written as 'reais' (from Portuguese) or occasionally 'reals' in English. The currency symbol is R$.
常見錯誤
real — adjective
- realpositive
- realercomparative
- realestsuperlative
1. If something is real, it actually exists as a physical object, event, or fact in
If something is real, it actually exists as a physical object, event, or fact in the world, rather than being only in someone's mind or imagination.
Ayesha asked whether the dragon in her storybook was real or made up.
predictive: be real — existence vs. imagination
The doctor confirmed the pain in her knee was real and needed treatment.
Climate change is a real danger for people who live along the coast.
Jenna could not tell if that dark shape was a real person or a shadow.
Scientists now have real proof that the ancient bird once lived in this area.
文法句型
real + noun
be real
it is real that…
用法筆記
This sense contrasts with 'imaginary', 'fake', or 'made-up'. Frequently used with 'it is real' or 'that is real' to assert that something is not imagined.
常見錯誤
2. In economics, 'real' describes a value or amount that has been adjusted to remov
In economics, 'real' describes a value or amount that has been adjusted to remove the effects of rising prices, so you can see the true purchasing power behind the number.
Real wages have not kept up with the rising cost of living in this city.
attributive: real wages — standard economic term
The real value of a dollar today is far lower than twenty years ago.
Diya learned how to calculate real GDP in her economics class this semester.
When you compare real income across different years, the picture changes a lot.
A real salary increase means your pay rises faster than the rate of inflation.
- inflation-adjusted
clearer for non-experts; explicit about what was adjusted
- nominal
not adjusted for inflation; the face-value number
文法句型
real + noun (economic measure)
用法筆記
Technical economic term used with specific nouns such as 'value', 'wages', 'income', 'GDP', 'interest rate'. Distinguished from sense 3 because 'real value' can stand alone as an economic label ('real wages') whereas sense 3 appears in the adverbial phrase 'in real terms'.
常見錯誤
3. The phrase 'in real terms' is used when talking about money or numbers after con
The phrase 'in real terms' is used when talking about money or numbers after considering how rising prices have changed what that money can buy — giving a fairer comparison across different time periods.
In real terms, the price of bread has stayed almost the same since 2010.
fixed phrase: in real terms — opening adverbial
Although her salary rose last year, her spending power in real terms barely changed.
The company's profits grew by four percent in real terms during the last financial year.
After adjusting for inflation, the cost of a university degree in real terms has dropped.
The real return on that savings account was under one percent after adjusting for inflation.
- after adjusting for inflation
explicit explanation, not a single-word synonym
- nominal
before adjusting for inflation
文法句型
in real terms
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'in real terms'. The phrase can open a sentence ('In real terms, …') or follow the number it modifies ('… grew 3% in real terms'). Distinguish from sense 2: sense 2 treats 'real' as an adjective before a noun ('real wages'), whereas sense 3 uses the adverbial phrase 'in real terms' to modify a whole statement about a number or amount.
常見錯誤
4. You use 'real' to describe the everyday world we live in, as opposed to what hap
You use 'real' to describe the everyday world we live in, as opposed to what happens in stories, films, dreams, or on the internet — the world of actual people and events.
In real life, superheroes do not have special powers like they do in the movies.
fixed phrase: in real life — contrast with fiction
Heather found it hard to make real friends after spending so much time online.
The characters in the novel felt so real that Nora forgot they were fictional.
Real relationships take time and patience, unlike quick connections on social media.
Paloma's online profile showed a very different person from the real Paloma in daily life.
文法句型
real + noun
be real
in real life
用法筆記
Often appears in 'in real life' to mark a contrast with fiction, games, or online experiences. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 asks whether something exists at all ('Is the dragon real?'), while sense 4 contrasts the actual world with mediated or imagined ones ('real life vs. on-screen').
常見錯誤
5. Something that is real is the authentic version of its kind and has not been pro
Something that is real is the authentic version of its kind and has not been produced as a cheap substitute or imitation intended to trick people.
Yara checked the handbag carefully to see if it was made of real leather.
attributive: real + material (leather, silk, gold)
The expert knew at once that the painting was a copy, not a real Picasso.
Sivan smiled with real joy when she spotted her brother in the crowd.
This restaurant serves real Italian pasta made from fresh eggs and flour.
A real friend tells you the truth even when it is hard to hear.
文法句型
real + noun
be real
用法筆記
Common before nouns that describe materials ('real leather', 'real gold', 'real silk'), artworks ('a real Picasso'), emotions ('real joy', 'real love'), and personal qualities ('a real friend', 'a real hero'). Frequently substituted by 'genuine' in formal contexts.
常見錯誤
6. For food and drink, 'real' means made in a traditional way using natural ingredi
For food and drink, 'real' means made in a traditional way using natural ingredients, without artificial chemicals, substitutes, or shortcuts that change the taste or quality.
Folake only buys real cheese made from milk, not processed cheese products.
attributive: real + food — traditional vs. processed
The farmers' market sells real yogurt made on a local farm without any additives.
Dewi prefers real vanilla extract from beans rather than the artificial kind.
In many European countries, real bread is made with only flour, water, yeast, and salt.
This brand of real butter contains just one ingredient: cream from grass-fed cows.
- natural
broader; also covers non-food contexts
- traditional
emphasises the method rather than the ingredients
- artisanal
suggests small-batch, handmade production
- processed
chemically or industrially altered
- artificial
made with synthetic ingredients
文法句型
real + food noun
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively before nouns for specific foods: cheese, yogurt, butter, bread, chocolate, vanilla, maple syrup, ice cream. Often appears on food packaging and menus to contrast with processed or industrial versions.
常見錯誤
7. used to describe a person's behavior, feelings, or way of presenting themselves
used to describe a person's behavior, feelings, or way of presenting themselves that is honest and not pretended or put on only for other people
Camila told her friend she appreciated how real he was being about the problem.
real + about [topic] — honest and direct
The audience could tell that the speaker's emotions were real, not rehearsed for the stage.
Faisal's real laugh filled the room when his cousin told the funny story.
For a politician, her speech sounded surprisingly real and down-to-earth.
What Sumin loved about her grandmother was how real and caring she always was.
- genuine
more formal and widely used; 'a genuine apology' focuses on sincerity, while 'real' is more about the person's nature
- sincere
focuses on honesty of feeling; 'a sincere compliment' rather than describing the person's overall manner
- authentic
more formal; often describes art, food, or culture; 'authentic' feels less personal than 'real' in this sense
用法筆記
Used especially in informal conversation to praise someone who is open and direct rather than polite but distant. Frequently paired with words like 'person', 'laugh', 'smile', 'feelings'.
常見錯誤
8. the most important or main aspect of a situation, problem, or goal, especially a
the most important or main aspect of a situation, problem, or goal, especially after other less important things have been noticed or dealt with
The real challenge for the team was finding enough time to prepare for the match.
the real + [noun] + was [that-clause/noun phrase] — highlights the main issue
Tamar's real reason for leaving her job was that she wanted to travel around Asia.
After years of training, the real test came on the morning of the competition.
The real cost of the renovation included hidden fees for plumbing and electrical work.
Nadia asked herself what her real goal in life was after years of chasing money.
常見錯誤
9. used before a noun to emphasize that someone or something is a very strong or co
used before a noun to emphasize that someone or something is a very strong or complete example of that type, especially when the quality is very noticeable
Getting lost in the old town was a real adventure for the two young children.
a real + [noun] — emphasizes the extent or degree
Heather's new job running the restaurant turned out to be a real challenge.
The storm caused real damage to the coastal village and its fishing boats.
That small restaurant on the corner serves real food, not the frozen stuff from a box.
Emre's uncle is a real genius when it comes to fixing old bicycles and cars.
用法筆記
Only used before a noun, never after a linking verb ('Her smile was real' belongs to sense 7). The emphasized noun can be positive ('a real treat'), negative ('a real mess'), or neutral ('a real surprise').
常見錯誤
real — adverb
1. used before an adjective, adverb, or verb to add force to its meaning, especiall
used before an adjective, adverb, or verb to add force to its meaning, especially in informal US English speech — for example, saying a film was 'real good' or that someone ran 'real fast'.
Nadia's new job is real stressful, so she goes to yoga every weekend to unwind.
real + adjective (stressful)
Wei drove real slow through the narrow old town streets, looking for the inn.
real + adverb (slow)
That pasta sauce was real good — Sven asked for the recipe before leaving.
The kids had a real hard time finishing homework before the power went out.
Lakshmi felt real sorry for the neighbor's dog after it got soaked in the storm.
文法句型
real + adjective/adverb
real + verb
用法筆記
Considered non-standard in formal writing. In everyday US conversation, 'real' is common as an intensifier; in British English, 'really' is preferred in both registers. Not used before past participles (write 'really tired', not 'real tired').