fruit
/fruːt/ (bre, ipa) · /fruːt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfrüt/ (ame, mw)
fruit — 名詞
- fruitsingular
- fruitsplural
1. a type of food that grows on plants and trees, has seeds inside, and tastes swee
水果
植物可食用的含籽部分，通常味甜
a type of food that grows on plants and trees, has seeds inside, and tastes sweet — such as apples, oranges, and grapes.
Maeve bought some apples and oranges from the fruit stall at the market.
Maeve 在市場的水果攤買了一些蘋果和柳橙。
uncountable: fruit stall, some fruit
Apinya ate a bowl of mixed fruit after lunch every day.
Apinya 每天午餐後都會吃一碗綜合水果。
The shop sells many tropical fruits such as mangoes and papayas.
這家店賣很多種熱帶水果，例如芒果和木瓜。
Chiara poured herself a glass of fruit juice from the carton.
Chiara 從紙盒裡給自己倒了一杯果汁。
Yasmin bought some fresh fruit from the market and shared it with her friends.
Yasmin 在市場買了一些新鮮水果，和朋友一起分享。
文法句型
fruit (uncountable): general category
a fruit (countable): one type or piece
用法筆記
In everyday spoken English, 'fruit' is most often uncountable: 'I like fruit.' Use the countable form ('a fruit', 'fruits') when distinguishing between kinds: 'This tropical fruit has a strong smell.'
常見錯誤
2. the seed-bearing structure that grows from a flower after pollination and holds
果實
植物從花朵發育而成、內含種子的部位
the seed-bearing structure that grows from a flower after pollination and holds the seeds, whether or not it is sweet or edible
In biology class, Faisal learned how the fruit develops from the flower's ovary.
Faisal 在生物課上學到果實如何從子房發育而成。
the fruit develops from...
A tomato is botanically a fruit, though people treat it as a vegetable in cooking.
番茄在植物學上是果實，雖然人們把它當蔬菜來烹調。
botanical vs culinary classification
After the flowers withered, small green fruits began to appear on the vine.
花朵凋謝後，藤蔓上開始冒出綠色的小果實。
The fruit of the oak tree is the acorn, a hard nut that squirrels eat.
橡樹果實是橡實，一種松鼠會吃的堅硬種子。
文法句型
the fruit of [plant]
用法筆記
This botanical sense is broader than the everyday food sense — it includes nuts, pods, and capsules. A pea pod is a fruit in botanical terms, though nobody would call it 'fruit' at the dinner table.
3. a successful, pleasant, or valuable outcome that comes as a result of effort, wo
成果
努力或付出後得到的正面結果
a successful, pleasant, or valuable outcome that comes as a result of effort, work, or patience
Kian's promotion was the fruit of years of hard work and dedication.
Kian 的升遷是多年努力與付出的成果。
the fruit of + effort
The new community centre was the fruit of months of fundraising by local volunteers.
這座新的社區中心是當地志工數月募款的成果。
Mizuki enjoyed the fruits of her success after building her own business from scratch.
Mizuki 白手起家創立自己的事業後，享受到了成功的果實。
After two years of training, Rachel began to see the fruit of her efforts.
經過兩年的訓練，Rachel 開始看到自己努力的成果。
The team's victory was the sweet fruit of months of preparation and teamwork.
團隊的勝利是數月準備與團隊合作的甜美成果。
- result
neutral, works for any cause-effect situation; less emotive than 'fruit'
- outcome
focuses on the final state after a process; common for meetings or medical results
- reward
something given or received in return for effort, with a stronger sense of being deserved
- product
something created or produced by a specific process, not necessarily positive
文法句型
the fruit of [possessive noun]
the fruits of [possessive noun]
用法筆記
Typically used in the fixed pattern 'the fruit(s) of + noun phrase.' The singular form emphasises the overall result; the plural form ('the fruits of') suggests multiple benefits from one effort. Almost always positive — a negative outcome is not called 'fruit.'
常見錯誤
4. a deeply insulting, outdated slang word referring to a homosexual male — never a
同性戀(貶)
對男同性戀者的侮辱性陳舊用詞
a deeply insulting, outdated slang word referring to a homosexual male — never appropriate in modern speech.
The old novel used the word 'fruit' as a slur, which shocked modern readers.
那本舊小說中用 fruit 這個字作為侮辱用語，讓現代讀者感到震驚。
dated, offensive — do not use
Jessica told her class that calling someone a 'fruit' is deeply insulting.
Jessica 告訴班上同學，稱呼別人 fruit 是極具冒犯性的話。
Minh found the word 'fruit' listed as a derogatory term in an old slang dictionary.
Minh 在一本舊俚語詞典中發現 fruit 被列為侮辱性用語。
Historians note that 'fruit' was a common homophobic insult in mid-century American bars.
歷史學家指出，在二十世紀中葉的美國酒吧裡，fruit 是常見的恐同侮辱詞。
文法句型
used as a derogatory term for a person
用法筆記
This sense originated in early 20th-century American slang and is now widely recognised as a homophobic slur. Even in historical discussions, use quotation marks to distance yourself from the term. Most native speakers under 50 consider this word unacceptable in any context.
常見錯誤
❌ Using this sense at all — even jokingly. The term is deeply offensive and should be avoided completely.
fruit — 動詞
- fruitpresent simple I / you / we / they
- fruits3rd person singular
- fruiting-ing form
- fruitedpast simple
1. when a plant or tree produces fruit, especially at a particular time of year or
結果
植物長出果實
when a plant or tree produces fruit, especially at a particular time of year or under specific conditions
The apple trees in Ife's garden fruit every autumn without fail.
Ife 花園裡的蘋果樹每年秋天都會結果，從不例外。
intransitive: [tree] fruits + [time]
Young mango trees often take five years before they start to fruit.
年輕的芒果樹通常要五年才開始結果。
The lemon plant fruited heavily after the rainy season ended.
雨季結束後，那棵檸檬樹結了很多果實。
If the soil is too dry, the strawberry plants will not fruit well.
如果土壤太乾，草莓的結果情況就不會好。
- produce fruit
a more common, everyday alternative in conversation
- bear fruit
slightly more formal; also used metaphorically
文法句型
[plant/tree] fruits
[plant/tree] fruits + [time expression]
用法筆記
This verb is most common in gardening, farming, and botany contexts. It is less frequent in everyday conversation — people usually say 'produce fruit' or 'grow fruit' instead. It follows the same conjugation pattern as regular verbs: fruit / fruited / fruited.
2. to treat or manage a plant in a way that makes it produce fruit, for example by
使結果
透過管理促使植物長出果實
to treat or manage a plant in a way that makes it produce fruit, for example by pruning, feeding, or controlling its environment
Asher learned how to fruit his fig tree by pruning it at the right time.
Asher 學會了在適當時間修剪無花果樹來讓它結果。
transitive: fruit + [tree]
The nursery uses special lighting to fruit the plants during winter.
苗圃使用特殊燈光讓植物在冬季也能結果。
Gardeners can fruit a citrus tree by applying the correct fertilizer in spring.
園丁可以在春天施用正確的肥料，讓柑橘樹結果。
Warm greenhouse conditions helped fruit the young pepper plants ahead of schedule.
溫室裡的溫暖環境幫助年輕的辣椒植株提前結果。
- bring to fruit
an alternative phrasing, also used in horticulture
- make fruit
an informal but clearer option for learners
文法句型
fruit + [plant/tree]
用法筆記
This transitive sense is rare and mostly appears in horticulture manuals. In everyday English, speakers use phrases like 'make the tree fruit' or 'get the plant to produce fruit' instead. 'Cause to bear fruit' is a more common formal equivalent.