fertile
/ˈfɜːtaɪl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfɜːrtl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfər-tᵊl chiefly British -ˌtī(-ə)l/ (ame, mw)
fertile — 形容詞
1. Describing land or soil that contains enough nutrients to grow large amounts of
肥沃的
土壤富含養分，作物生長良好
Describing land or soil that contains enough nutrients to grow large amounts of healthy crops or plants.
The farmers moved to the valley because the soil there is much more fertile.
農夫們搬到河谷，因為那裡的土壤肥沃得多。
fertile soil as a reason for relocation
After years of careful fertiliser use, the once-dry fields became fertile again.
經過多年小心使用肥料，那些曾經乾燥的田地再次變得肥沃。
result of fertiliser use on fields
Only the most fertile land near the river was used for growing rice and vegetables.
河邊最肥沃的土地只用來種植稻米和蔬菜。
Lien's family bought a small farm on a fertile hillside where fruit trees grow well.
Lien 家在一處肥沃的山坡上買了一座小農場，果樹長得很好。
This region has some of the most fertile farmland in the country.
這個地區擁有全國最肥沃的農田。
- productive
Focuses on the amount of output rather than the quality of the soil itself; used more broadly.
- rich
Less formal, often implies soil that is dark and full of organic matter.
- fruitful
Also describes land, but with a slightly more poetic or formal tone.
用法筆記
Commonly used to describe soil, land, fields, and the earth itself. When describing soil quality, this is the most frequent sense of the word.
常見錯誤
2. Able to produce babies, young animals, seeds, or fruit — describing a living thi
能生殖的
動物或植物具有繁殖能力
Able to produce babies, young animals, seeds, or fruit — describing a living thing that can reproduce successfully.
Not every female bird in the group is fertile; only the strongest ones lay eggs each spring.
並非鳥群中每隻雌鳥都有生育能力；只有最強壯的才會在每年春天產卵。
fertile with animals for reproduction
The doctor told the couple that they were both fertile and could expect to have children naturally.
醫生告訴這對夫妻他們兩人都有生育能力，可以自然懷孕。
fertile used for humans in medical context
Gardeners prefer fertile plants that produce fruit after only one season of growth.
園藝師喜歡那些只要生長一季就能結果的結果力強的植物。
Karim chose a breed of sheep known to stay fertile for many years even in cold climates.
Karim 選擇了一種即使在寒冷氣候中也能多年保持繁殖力的綿羊品種。
Some fish become fertile only after migrating to warmer waters far from their home river.
有些魚類只有在遷徙到離家鄉河流很遠的溫暖水域後才有繁殖能力。
- fecund
More formal and literary; usually describes animals or plants that produce abundantly.
- prolific
Emphasises high quantity of offspring or fruit produced over time.
- reproductive
A neutral, scientific term; focuses on the biological capacity rather than actual output.
用法筆記
Can apply to humans, animals, and plants, but for plants the meaning overlaps with sense 1 (good soil producing plants). To avoid confusion, use this sense specifically when the subject is the creature or plant itself, not the ground it grows in.
常見錯誤
3. Describing a seed, egg, cell, or sperm that is capable of developing into a new
可發育的
種子或卵能發育成新個體
Describing a seed, egg, cell, or sperm that is capable of developing into a new living organism under the right conditions.
Not every seed in the packet is fertile; some will simply never sprout.
這包種子並非每顆都有發芽能力；有些根本不會發芽。
fertile seeds that can sprout
A fertile egg shows a small dark spot when held up to a bright light.
一顆有發育能力的蛋在強光下會出現一個小黑點。
Meera examined the chicken eggs under a lamp to separate the fertile ones from the ones that would not hatch.
Meera 在燈下檢查雞蛋，將有發育能力的蛋和不會孵化的蛋分開。
Farmers store fertile seeds in cool, dry containers so they stay alive until the planting season arrives.
農夫將有發芽能力的種子存放在陰涼乾燥的容器中，讓它們保持活性直到栽種季節到來。
The biologist confirmed that the fish eggs were fertile after seeing tiny movements inside them under the microscope.
生物學家在顯微鏡下觀察到魚卵內有微小的動靜後，確認那些魚卵是可以發育的。
- viable
The closest synonym in scientific contexts; emphasises that development is possible under suitable conditions.
- germinable
Technical term used only for seeds; means capable of sprouting.
- infertile
Of a seed or egg that cannot develop.
- non-viable
Medical or scientific term; cannot survive or develop.
用法筆記
This sense focuses on the potential for development in a single seed, egg, or reproductive cell — not on the adult organism's overall ability to reproduce (which is sense 2). Frequently used in agriculture, gardening, and laboratory contexts.
4. Having a mind or imagination that is full of creative ideas and constantly produ
富創造力的
頭腦或想像力源源不絕地產生新點子
Having a mind or imagination that is full of creative ideas and constantly produces new, original thoughts or solutions.
Sora's fertile imagination turned every walk through the park into an exciting adventure story.
Sora 豐富的想像力把每一次公園散步都變成刺激的冒險故事。
fertile imagination + creative storytelling
Rafael's fertile mind turned a broken bicycle chain into a working garden tool over one weekend.
Rafael 豐富的創造力在一個週末內把一條壞掉的腳踏車鏈條變成了好用的園藝工具。
The workshop was designed to help artists develop a more fertile approach to solving design problems.
這個工作坊旨在幫助藝術家在解決設計問題時培養更豐富的創造力。
Gabriela's fertile brain produced three different marketing plans before the rest of the team had even finished their coffee.
Gabriela 靈感豐富的大腦在團隊其他人還沒喝完咖啡之前，就已經想出了三個不同的行銷方案。
Children often have more fertile imaginations than adults because they are not afraid to ask 'what if'.
兒童的想像力通常比成人更豐富，因為他們不怕問「如果……會怎樣」。
- creative
More general; describes the ability to make new things. 'Fertile' adds the nuance of constant, abundant production.
- inventive
Focuses on practical or technical originality, while 'fertile' includes artistic and playful ideas.
- imaginative
Very close in meaning; 'fertile' emphasises the quantity and continuous nature of idea generation.
- barren
Metaphorically describes a mind that produces few or no ideas.
- uninspired
Lacking creative energy or fresh ideas; milder than 'barren'.
用法筆記
Nearly always used with the nouns 'mind' or 'imagination'. Less common with 'brain' in informal contexts. Not used for ordinary thinking or problem-solving — it specifically implies a rich, continuous flow of original ideas.
常見錯誤
5. Providing many opportunities for progress, development, or good results — descri
潛力豐厚的
環境或條件提供許多發展機會
Providing many opportunities for progress, development, or good results — describing a situation, environment, or topic that encourages growth.
The city's growing tech industry created a fertile environment for new business start-ups.
這座城市不斷成長的科技產業為新創公司創造了肥沃的土壤。
fertile environment for growth
Historical conflicts often provide fertile ground for novelists who want to write about war and peace.
歷史衝突往往為想書寫戰爭與和平的小說家提供豐富的題材。
Yasmin found that the university's research library was a fertile source of ideas for her thesis.
Yasmin 發現大學的研究圖書館是她論文的靈感寶庫。
Political instability became fertile ground for the spread of misinformation across social media.
政治不穩定成了假訊息在社群媒體上蔓延的溫床。
The open discussion format at the conference proved to be fertile for unexpected collaborations between scientists from different fields.
會議中開放的討論形式，促成了來自不同領域的科學家之間意想不到的合作契機。
- promising
Focuses on the likelihood of future success; 'fertile' emphasises that conditions actively support growth.
- productive
Describes what actually produces results; 'fertile' describes the potential or conditions for results.
- conducive
More formal; typically used with 'to' (conducive to growth). 'Fertile' is more vivid and metaphorical.
- barren
Figuratively describes a situation that produces no results.
- unpromising
A situation that offers little hope of positive development.
用法筆記
Very commonly used in the fixed phrase 'fertile ground for [something]', meaning a situation that allows a particular activity or development to happen easily. Also found in 'fertile source' and 'fertile environment'. This sense is always figurative and never describes physical soil.