creature

/ˈkriːtʃə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkriːtʃər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkrē-chər/ (ame, mw)

creature — 名詞

  • creaturesingular
  • creaturesplural

1. any being that moves on its own, for instance an animal, insect, or fish, unlike

1.名詞B1
釋義

生物

能獨立移動的生物

any being that moves on its own, for instance an animal, insect, or fish, unlike a plant

例句

The lake was home to many small creatures, including frogs and turtles.

這個湖是許多小型生物的家，包括青蛙和烏龜。

All living creatures need food and water to survive.

所有生物都需要食物和水才能生存。

collective reference: all living creatures

同義詞
  • animal

    more specific; usually excludes humans, insects, and sea life

  • living thing

    broader; includes plants but less common in everyday speech

  • being

    more formal; can include imaginary or spiritual entities

反義詞
  • plant

    plants cannot move independently

常見錯誤

❌Is a tree a creature?
✅No, trees are plants, not creatures.
💡'Creature' refers to living things that can move independently; plants and fungi are not creatures.
❌I saw a creature in the garden' (when you mean a normal bird or cat).
✅I saw a small creature in the garden.
💡'Creature' on its own can sound vague; add 'small', 'wild', or 'little' for clarity.

2. an imaginary or unusual being from stories, myths, or films — like a monster, al

2.名詞B1
釋義

想像生物

神話或科幻中的生物

an imaginary or unusual being from stories, myths, or films — like a monster, alien, or dragon

例句

The film tells the story of a strange creature that lives in the ocean.

這部電影講述了一個住在海裡的奇怪生物的故事。

adjective + creature + that-clause for description

Legends tell of a creature with a lion's head and a snake's body.

傳說中有一種生物擁有獅子的頭和蛇的身體。

同義詞
  • monster

    usually dangerous or frightening; more specific than creature

  • beast

    suggests a large, wild, or fierce animal; often used in fantasy

  • mythical being

    explicitly states the creature comes from mythology

用法筆記

Only sense that covers both imaginary (dragons, aliens) and real-but-unusual life forms (unknown deep-sea animals). Often appears in fiction, folklore, and speculative genres.

常見錯誤

❌I saw a creature in the garden' (when you mean a normal animal).
✅I saw a strange creature in the garden.
💡Use an adjective like 'strange', 'mysterious', or 'weird' to show the creature is unusual, not an everyday animal.

3. a person described in a way that shows the speaker's feelings, such as pity, aff

3.名詞B1
釋義

人；傢伙

帶有主觀情感的人

a person described in a way that shows the speaker's feelings, such as pity, affection, or disapproval

例句

The poor creature had nowhere to sleep on that cold winter night.

那可憐人在那個寒冷的冬夜無處可睡。

emotive adjective: poor creature (expressing pity)

Anjali is a gentle creature who would never hurt anyone.

Anjali 是個溫柔的人，從不會傷害任何人。

同義詞
  • soul

    more poetic; emphasises a person's inner nature or vulnerability

  • being

    more formal and neutral; lacks the emotional tone of 'creature'

  • person

    neutral and factual; no emotional colouring

文法句型

[adjective] + creature

用法筆記

Almost never used neutrally — always paired with an adjective or phrase that conveys the speaker's attitude (poor, lovely, strange, gentle, sweet, lonely). Without such a modifier the sentence sounds incomplete or odd.

常見錯誤

❌She is a creature.
✅She is a lovely creature.
💡Sense 3 almost always needs a descriptive adjective; a bare 'creature' without a modifier sounds unnatural.
❌He is a creature who works hard.
✅He is a hard-working man.
💡Use 'creature' for emotional description, not for neutral facts about a person.

4. a person or organisation that is completely controlled by another and acts only

4.名詞B2
釋義

傀儡；受控者

完全受他人控制的人或物

a person or organisation that is completely controlled by another and acts only according to their wishes

例句

After years in prison, he had become a creature of the system.

在監獄裡待了多年後，他變成了體制下的傀儡。

collocation: creature of [institution]

The director was a mere creature of the party, doing whatever he was told.

那位主任只是黨的傀儡，別人叫他做什麼他就做什麼。

同義詞
  • puppet

    more negative; emphasises being manipulated by another person

  • tool

    suggests being used for someone else's purposes; dehumanising

  • dependent

    neutral; focuses on reliance rather than control

反義詞

文法句型

creature + of + [institution/system/concept]

用法筆記

Frequently appears in the fixed phrase 'creature of habit' (someone who likes routine). The controlling entity is typically an institution, system, or abstract concept (state, party, habit, routine) rather than an individual person.

常見錯誤

❌He is a creature of his boss.
✅He is a creature of the state / of the system.
💡The entity that controls is usually an institution or system, not an individual.
❌She is a creature of studying.
✅She is a creature of habit who studies every morning.
💡Use 'creature of' with a system or concept (habit, routine, fashion), not with an activity verb.