fancy
/ˈfænsi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfænsi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfan(t)-sē/ (ame, mw) · /ˈfæn.si/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfæn.si/ (ame, ipa)
fancy — 動詞
- fancypresent simple I / you / we / they
- fancieshe / she / it
- fanciedpast simple
- fancying-ing form
1. to feel that you would like to have something or to take part in a particular ac
想要；渴望
想要擁有某物或做某事
to feel that you would like to have something or to take part in a particular activity
Do you fancy a cup of tea after that long walk, Jin?
Jin，走這麼久之後你想喝杯茶嗎？
fancy + noun phrase for wanting something
Christopher fancies going to the beach this weekend if the weather stays warm.
Christopher 想週末去海灘，如果天氣持續溫暖的話。
fancy + -ing verb for wanting to do
I do not fancy getting caught in the rain without an umbrella tonight.
我今晚可不想沒帶雨傘就被雨淋到。
What do you fancy for dinner, Mira — Italian food or something lighter?
Mira，你晚餐想吃什麼——義大利菜還是清淡一點的？
The children fancied a trip to the aquarium after seeing the advertisement on television.
孩子們在電視上看到廣告後，就很想去水族館玩。
- dislike
direct opposite; to not want something
文法句型
fancy + noun phrase
fancy + -ing verb
用法筆記
This sense is common in British English but rare in American English, where 'feel like' or 'want' is preferred.
常見錯誤
2. to find someone sexually or romantically attractive
迷戀；喜歡
對某人有性吸引力或好感
to find someone sexually or romantically attractive
Tariq fancies Meera, but he has been too shy to tell her how he feels.
Tariq 喜歡 Meera，但他太害羞了，不敢告訴她自己的感覺。
fancy + person for romantic attraction
Gabriela could tell that Felix fancied her from the way he kept smiling at her across the room.
Gabriela 看得出來 Felix 喜歡她，因為他一直隔著房間對她微笑。
Do you actually fancy him, or are you just enjoying the attention he gives you?
你到底是喜歡他，還是只是享受他給你的關注？
Amani admitted she had fancied her classmate for months before finally speaking to him.
Amani 承認她喜歡她的同學好幾個月了，才終於開口跟他說話。
- like
more common in American English; less direct about sexual attraction
- have a crush on
more playful and often used by younger speakers
- be attracted to
more formal and precise
文法句型
fancy + noun phrase (person)
用法筆記
Used informally in British English. In American English, 'like' or 'have a crush on' are more common for this meaning.
常見錯誤
3. to believe, often with too much confidence, that you are a particular type of pe
自以為；自認
過度高估自己的才能或形象
to believe, often with too much confidence, that you are a particular type of person or have a particular skill or quality
Michael really fancies himself a talented singer, though nobody else agrees with that opinion.
Michael 還真以為自己是個有天賦的歌手，雖然沒有人同意他的看法。
fancy + oneself + noun for self-image
Eshe fancied herself as a fashion designer and spent all her savings on fabric and sewing classes.
Eshe 自認是時裝設計師，把所有的積蓄都花在布料和縫紉課上。
fancy + oneself + as + noun
The young man fancied himself a poet and wrote verses every evening by candlelight.
那個年輕人自以為是詩人，每天傍晚都點著蠟燭寫詩。
Dewi fancies herself a great cook, but her family quietly orders takeaway when she is not looking.
Dewi 自認是了不起的廚師，但她的家人總在她不注意時偷偷叫外送。
- think of oneself as
more neutral; does not imply the belief is wrong
- see oneself as
similar to 'think of oneself as', neutral in tone
- consider oneself
more formal and less judgemental
- underestimate oneself
the opposite of having an inflated self-opinion
文法句型
fancy + oneself + noun
fancy + oneself + as + noun
用法筆記
Almost always followed by a reflexive pronoun (oneself). Often carries a mildly critical or amused tone, suggesting the person's self-assessment is not accurate.
常見錯誤
4. to picture something in your mind or hold an idea about it, often without being
想像；猜想
在腦海中想像或認為某事屬實
to picture something in your mind or hold an idea about it, often without being fully sure that it is true or real
Can you fancy living in a tiny mountain village with no shops or internet connection?
你能否想像住在一個沒有商店也沒有網路的小山村裡？
fancy + noun phrase + -ing for imagining a situation
Eve fancied she heard footsteps behind her on the dark street, but it was only the wind.
Eve 覺得自己聽到黑暗的街道上有腳步聲跟著她，但那只是風聲。
Quan fancied the painting in the attic might be valuable, but the expert said it was worthless.
Quan 猜想閣樓那幅畫可能很值錢，但專家說那幅畫一文不值。
I fancy I have seen that woman somewhere before, though I cannot recall exactly where or when.
我覺得我以前在哪裡見過那個女人，但想不起來確切的地點和時間。
- imagine
more common in everyday English; broader in meaning
- suppose
suggests a tentative belief rather than a vivid mental picture
- conceive of
more formal; used especially in abstract or creative contexts
文法句型
fancy + that-clause
fancy + noun phrase + -ing
fancy + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is somewhat old-fashioned or literary in modern usage. 'Imagine' or 'suppose' are more common alternatives in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
5. used to express strong surprise or shock at something that has happened or been
真想不到
表達驚訝或意外的感嘆語
used to express strong surprise or shock at something that has happened or been said
Fancy meeting you here in Rome — I thought you were still working in Tokyo!
真想不到會在羅馬這裡遇見你——我以為你還在東京工作呢！
Fancy + -ing — fixed exclamation of surprise
Élise shook her head and said, 'Fancy that!' when she heard about the surprise award.
Élise 聽到驚喜獎項的消息時搖搖頭說：「真想不到！」
Fancy him winning the marathon after all those years of training with no coach.
真想不到他在沒有教練的情況下訓練了這麼多年，竟然贏得了馬拉松賽。
'Fancy that!' the old woman muttered as she read the letter from her long-lost brother.
「真想不到！」老太太一邊喃喃自語，一邊讀著失散多年的弟弟寄來的信。
- imagine that
similar meaning but less exclamatory
- can you believe it
more modern and conversational
文法句型
Fancy + that!
Fancy + noun phrase + -ing!
Fancy + -ing!
用法筆記
This is a fixed exclamatory use. It is somewhat old-fashioned and more common in older British speakers. The structure 'Fancy + -ing' or 'Fancy + noun + -ing' is typical.
常見錯誤
fancy — 形容詞
- fancypositive
- fanciercomparative
- fanciestsuperlative
1. decorated with many details or special touches, often to a degree that feels exc
華麗
裝飾複雜、細節豐富的
decorated with many details or special touches, often to a degree that feels excessive or showy
The hotel lobby was decorated with fancy chandeliers and gold-trimmed mirrors.
飯店大廳裝飾著華麗的水晶吊燈和鑲金邊的鏡子。
fancy + noun for decorative objects
Ritu wore a fancy dress covered in sequins and lace to the New Year celebration.
Ritu 穿了一件綴滿亮片和蕾絲的華麗洋裝去參加新年慶祝活動。
The menu offered fancy dishes with ingredients that nobody at the table could pronounce.
菜單上提供精緻的菜餚，使用的食材桌上沒有人唸得出名字。
Felix prefers simple furniture that is comfortable over fancy designs with too many details.
Felix 喜歡舒適的簡約家具，勝過細節過於繁複的華麗設計。
The invitation was printed on fancy paper with gold letters and floral borders.
邀請函印在精美的紙上，有金色字體和花卉邊框。
常見錯誤
2. costing a lot of money, especially more than is really necessary for something b
高級
花費高昂、價格不菲的
costing a lot of money, especially more than is really necessary for something basic
Kasia and her husband stayed at a fancy hotel near the beach that charged over five hundred dollars a night.
他們住在一間海邊的高檔飯店，每晚收費超過五百美元。
fancy + hotel for expensive accommodation
Tunde took Salma to a fancy French restaurant for their anniversary dinner.
Tunde 帶 Salma 去一間高級法式餐廳慶祝他們的週年晚餐。
Sayaka bought a fancy handbag that cost her three months of part-time work wages.
Sayaka 買了一個花了她三個月兼職薪水的名牌包包。
The wedding reception was held at a fancy venue with a stunning view of the ocean.
婚宴在一個可欣賞絕美海景的高級場地舉行。
- luxury
emphasises high quality and comfort as well as cost
- posh
informal British English; describes places and products associated with upper-class taste
- high-class
focuses on quality and social status
用法筆記
This sense overlaps with ELABORATE; something fancy is both decorative and expensive. The difference is emphasis — here the focus is on cost and luxury rather than decorative detail.
常見錯誤
fancy — 名詞
1. a short-lived interest in or liking for something or someone that does not last
一時興趣
對某事或某人的短暫愛好
a short-lived interest in or liking for something or someone that does not last long
Jin has developed a sudden fancy for classical music after attending a single concert.
Jin 在聽了一場音樂會之後，突然對古典音樂產生了短暫的興趣。
a fancy for + something — sudden interest
Joon's passion for photography was just a passing fancy that lasted only two weeks.
Joon 對攝影的熱情只是一時興起，只維持了兩個星期。
a passing fancy — temporary interest
Children often have a fancy for something new and then lose interest just as quickly.
小孩常常對新事物產生興趣，然後很快又失去興趣。
Michael's fancy for spicy food disappeared completely after he bit into a very hot pepper.
Michael 對辣食的興趣在他咬了一口超辣的辣椒之後完全消失了。
- whim
a sudden, impulsive desire; even more temporary
- passing interest
more neutral; less emotional intensity
- inclination
more formal and suggests a longer-lasting tendency
文法句型
a fancy for + noun phrase
have a fancy for
用法筆記
Often used in the phrase 'a passing fancy' to emphasise the temporary nature of the interest.
常見錯誤
2. a strong, often sudden liking for someone or something, expressed in the phrase
喜愛上；迷上
突然開始非常喜歡某人或某事
a strong, often sudden liking for someone or something, expressed in the phrase 'take a fancy to'
The little girl took a fancy to the stray kitten and begged her mother to let her keep it.
那個小女孩迷上了那隻流浪小貓，懇求媽媽讓牠留下來。
took a fancy to + something — sudden liking
Quan has taken a fancy to learning calligraphy and now practises for two hours every day.
Quan 喜歡上了書法，現在每天練習兩個小時。
Salma took a fancy to the old bookstore near the station and visited it every weekend after work.
Salma 愛上了車站附近那家舊書店，每週末下班後都會去。
Emily's grandfather took a fancy to gardening after he retired and now grows all his own vegetables.
Emily 的爺爺退休後愛上了園藝，現在自己種所有的蔬菜。
- take a liking to
more neutral; does not suggest suddenness
- develop a fondness for
more formal and gradual in tone
文法句型
take a fancy to + noun phrase/pronoun
用法筆記
This sense is always used within the fixed phrase 'take a fancy to' or 'taken a fancy to'. It describes the beginning of a liking, not a temporary interest.
常見錯誤
3. the quality of being appealing or attractive to someone, used in the phrases 'ta
合心意；中意
某事物吸引你、讓你想要
the quality of being appealing or attractive to someone, used in the phrases 'take your fancy' or 'tickle your fancy'
Look through the menu and order whatever takes your fancy, Christopher — it is my treat tonight.
Christopher，看看菜單，點任何你喜歡的——今晚我請客。
whatever takes your fancy — whatever appeals to you
None of the dresses in the shop really took my fancy, so I left the store empty-handed.
店裡沒有一件洋裝真正合我的心意，所以我兩手空空地離開了。
Just pick a book that tickles your fancy from the shelf and settle into a comfortable chair.
從書架上挑一本你感興趣的書，然後找張舒服的椅子坐下來。
The job advertisement in the newspaper took Mira's fancy, and she sent in her application the same day.
報紙上的那則徵才廣告引起了 Mira 的興趣，她當天就寄出了申請函。
- appeal to
a direct verb; the reverse is 'I appeal to someone'
- catch one's eye
less idiomatic for objects; more focused on visual appeal
文法句型
something takes your fancy
something tickles your fancy
用法筆記
This sense appears only in the fixed phrases 'take your fancy' and 'tickle your fancy'. The subject is the thing that appeals to you, not the person.
常見錯誤
4. the power of the mind to create pictures, ideas, or stories that are not based o
幻想；想像力
不受現實約束的心靈創造力
the power of the mind to create pictures, ideas, or stories that are not based on real experience or fact
The tale of the haunted castle was merely a product of childish fancy, not a true story.
那個鬼屋傳說只是兒時幻想的產物，並非真實故事。
product of fancy — imagination at work
In her lively fancy, Meera pictured herself exploring ancient temples in a faraway land.
在她活潑的想像中，Meera 想像自己在遙遠的國度探索古老神廟。
The poet's work is full of romantic fancy, with talking animals and magical forests.
那位詩人的作品充滿浪漫幻想，有會說話的動物和魔法森林。
Eshe dismissed the rumour as idle fancy, since nobody could provide any real evidence for it.
Eshe 認為那個傳聞只是無根據的幻想，因為沒有人能提供任何真實證據。
- imagination
more common in everyday English; broader and more neutral
- fantasy
strongly emphasises unreality and daydreaming
- whimsy
playful, light-hearted imagination
用法筆記
This sense is more formal and literary than the everyday word 'imagination'. It often suggests creativity that is playful, unrealistic, or whimsical rather than practical.