grown-up
/ˌɡrəʊn ˈʌp/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɡrəʊn ˈʌp/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgrōn-ˌəp/ (ame, mw) · /ˈɡrəʊn ʌp/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɡrəʊn ʌp/ (ame, ipa)
grown-up — 形容詞
1. behaving like a sensible adult, especially by being responsible and showing good
成熟的
行為像成人、有責任感的
behaving like a sensible adult, especially by being responsible and showing good judgment rather than acting childishly; also used to describe someone who is old enough to be considered an adult.
At just twelve years old, Yumi was already a very grown-up girl who helped her younger brother with his reading.
才十二歲的Yumi已經是個很成熟的女孩子，她會幫弟弟練習閱讀。
be + very grown-up (predicative after linking verb)
The head teacher described the Year Six class as sensible and grown-up during the school assembly.
校長在學校集會上稱讚六年級班級既懂事又成熟。
described as + grown-up (predicative)
Kwame felt very grown-up when his parents let him walk to school by himself for the first time.
Kwame覺得自己長大了，因為爸媽第一次讓他獨自走路去上學。
Omar's older sister trusted him to look after the house because he was so grown-up and reliable.
Omar的姊姊很信任他，讓他負責看家，因為他很成熟又可靠。
- mature
more formal; used in both spoken and written English for emotional or intellectual development
- responsible
narrower — focuses on reliability and duty rather than general maturity
文法句型
be grown-up
feel grown-up
act grown-up
用法筆記
Most common after linking verbs (be, feel, seem, act). Occasionally appears before a noun with an intensifier like 'very' (e.g. a very grown-up girl), though this attributive use is less frequent than the 'for adults' sense. Compare sense 2.
常見錯誤
2. designed or intended for people who are no longer children, or suitable for adul
成人的
適合或專為成人設計的
designed or intended for people who are no longer children, or suitable for adults because of serious, complex, or mature content.
The librarian told Wei that the horror novel was a grown-up book and not suitable for young children.
圖書館員告訴Wei，那本恐怖小說是成人書籍，不適合年幼兒童閱讀。
grown-up book (attributive, describing content restriction)
Sophie bought a complicated board game about business and money that was clearly a grown-up game.
Sophie買了一款規則複雜、關於商業和金錢的成人桌遊。
a grown-up game (attributive, describing complexity)
The TV channel shows grown-up programmes after nine o'clock, when most children are in bed.
那家電視頻道在晚上九點後播放成人節目，那時大多數孩子都已經上床睡覺了。
Amara chose a grown-up menu for the dinner party instead of serving chicken nuggets and chips.
Amara為晚宴選擇了一份成人菜單，而不是供應雞塊和薯條。
- children's
made for or suitable for children
- childish
too simple or immature for adults
文法句型
grown-up + noun
用法筆記
Attributive only — this sense appears before a noun (a grown-up film, grown-up topics). It is informal; in formal writing, adult or for adults is preferred.
常見錯誤
grown-up — 名詞
1. a person who is fully grown and no longer a child, used especially when speaking
大人
成年人（尤其用於對兒童說話時）
a person who is fully grown and no longer a child, used especially when speaking to or about children, or in everyday family conversations.
Emma asked the grown-ups to explain the rules of the card game so the children could join in.
Emma請大人解釋撲克牌的規則，這樣孩子們才能一起玩。
the grown-ups (contrasted with children in same sentence)
The little boy looked up at Noam and said, 'When I am a grown-up, I want to be a firefighter.'
小男孩抬頭看著Noam說：「我長大後要當消防員。」
a grown-up (used in child's speech about future)
All the grown-ups sat in the living room talking while the children played outside in the garden.
所有大人都坐在客廳聊天，而孩子們在外面花園玩耍。
Anika was the only grown-up at the birthday party who agreed to sit at the children's table.
Anika是壽宴上唯一一位願意坐在兒童桌的大人。
- adult
more formal; standard in writing and official contexts
- grown-up person
slightly redundant but used in child-directed speech
文法句型
a grown-up
the grown-ups
grow up to be a grown-up
用法筆記
Common in child-directed speech and everyday conversation. Adult is more formal and preferred in official documents, news reports, and academic writing.