feral
/ˈferəl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈferəl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfir-əl ˈfer-; ˈfe-rəl/ (ame, mw)
feral — 形容詞
- feralpositive
- more feralcomparative
- most feralsuperlative
1. describes a creature whose ancestors were once cared for or kept by people, but
野生的
原為家養後回歸野外的
describes a creature whose ancestors were once cared for or kept by people, but that now lives completely on its own outdoors — for instance, a kitten born in a forest whose parents were once someone's pets.
Hana's grandmother keeps a bowl of water on the porch for the feral cats in the alley.
Hana 的奶奶在門廊上放了一碗水給巷子裡的野貓喝。
feral + animal noun for formerly domesticated species
Volunteers in Chiang Mai trap feral dogs and take them to the clinic for vaccination.
清邁的志工捕捉野狗，將牠們帶到診所注射疫苗。
feral + specific location adds concrete context
A colony of feral rabbits has dug burrows under the railway tracks near Sven's farm.
一群野兔在 Sven 農場附近的鐵軌下方挖了洞穴。
After five generations born in the woods, the pigs were completely feral and avoided humans.
在樹林裡出生五代之後，這些豬變得完全野化，會躲避人類。
The park service paid hunters to shoot feral goats that were destroying native plants.
國家公園管理處僱用獵人射殺正在破壞原生植物的野山羊。
- wild
broader term — covers any animal not living with humans, regardless of history
- undomesticated
more technical; describes a species that has never been tamed by people
用法筆記
Most commonly placed before nouns that name mammal species people keep as pets or livestock — cats, dogs, goats, pigs, horses, pigeons. The animal or its recent ancestors were once tame or lived alongside humans before returning to a wild state.
常見錯誤
2. behaving, looking, or sounding in a frighteningly wild and uncontrolled way that
野蠻的
像野獸般兇猛失控的
behaving, looking, or sounding in a frighteningly wild and uncontrolled way that makes you think of a dangerous animal rather than a reasonable person.
The child's feral behaviour — biting, kicking, and screaming — worried the kindergarten teachers.
那名孩子又咬又踢又尖叫的野蠻行為，讓幼兒園老師十分擔憂。
feral + behaviour for human conduct
When the guards cut off the water supply, a feral rage spread through the prison block.
警衛切斷供水之後，一股野蠻的怒火在監獄牢房區蔓延開來。
feral + rage / anger for intense emotion
Omar's feral grin during the argument made his colleagues slowly back away from the table.
Omar 在爭論中露出猙獰的笑容，讓同事們紛紛從桌邊往後退。
Eyewitnesses described the attack as feral, with the suspect biting and clawing wildly.
目擊者形容那場攻擊極為野蠻，嫌犯又咬又抓毫不留情。
Chandra had a feral look in her eyes that made the night nurse call for security.
Chandra 眼裡那股野獸般的神情，讓值夜班的護士呼叫了警衛。
用法筆記
Describes observable behaviour, sounds, or appearance that feel animal-like in their ferocity. Frequently modifies nouns such as scream, grin, look, rage, behaviour, attack. Not used for internal feelings — someone cannot feel feral inside, but they can let out a feral shout.