kernel

/ˈkɜːnl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkɜːrnl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkər-nᵊl/ (ame, mw)

kernel — 名詞

  • kernelsingular
  • kernelsplural

1. the soft edible centre found inside a nut's hard shell or inside a seed's outer

1.名詞B2
釋義

果仁；籽仁

堅果殼內或種子內部可食用的軟質部分

the soft edible centre found inside a nut's hard shell or inside a seed's outer coat

例句

Yara cracked open the pistachio shell and ate the small green kernel inside.

Yara 敲開開心果殼，吃掉了裡面那顆小小的綠色果仁。

kernel inside a nutshell

The recipe calls for pine kernels, which add a rich, buttery flavour to the sauce.

這道食譜需要用到松子仁，它們能為醬汁增添濃郁的奶油風味。

pine kernels as ingredient

同義詞
  • nut meat

    less formal; refers specifically to the edible part of a nut, not seeds or fruit stones

  • meat

    informal shortening of 'nut meat'; avoid in formal writing

反義詞
  • shell

    the hard outer covering that must be removed to reach the kernel

  • husk

    the dry outer layer of seeds or grains

文法句型

kernel + of + noun phrase

常見錯誤

❌He was a kernel in the army.
✅He was a colonel in the army.
💡'kernel' and 'colonel' sound the same but 'colonel' is a military rank.

2. a complete seed from a grain plant such as corn, wheat, or rice, usually with it

2.名詞B2
釋義

穀粒

玉米、小麥等穀物植物的完整種子

a complete seed from a grain plant such as corn, wheat, or rice, usually with its outer layer still attached

例句

The farmer held a single kernel of wheat between his thumb and finger.

農夫用拇指和食指捏起一粒小麥穀粒。

single kernel of wheat

Popcorn is made by heating each maize kernel until it bursts into a white puff.

爆米花是將每粒玉米加熱，直到它爆成白色蓬鬆的團塊。

maize kernel for popcorn

同義詞
  • grain

    broader term; can refer to the whole cereal plant or a mass of kernels

  • seed

    more general; refers to any small reproductive part of a plant, not just cereals

文法句型

single kernel + of + cereal type

用法筆記

This sense is most common in agricultural and food-production contexts when referring to raw, unprocessed grains.

3. the central or most essential part of an argument, idea, or system, without whic

3.名詞C1
釋義

核心

思想、論點或系統中最關鍵、最重要的部分

the central or most essential part of an argument, idea, or system, without which the rest would have little meaning or value

例句

The kernel of her argument was that education alone cannot solve poverty.

她論點的核心在於教育本身無法解決貧窮問題。

kernel of + abstract argument

After hours of debate, Rohan finally identified the kernel of the problem.

經過數小時的辯論後，Rohan 終於找出了問題的核心。

同義詞
  • core

    very similar in meaning but more common in everyday English; 'core' often implies a physical center, while 'kernel' is more abstract

  • essence

    emphasises the fundamental nature or quality of something; slightly more philosophical than 'kernel'

  • heart

    more emotional and less academic; good for personal or narrative contexts

  • nub

    informal synonym for the central point of an argument; less precise than 'kernel'

反義詞
  • surface

    the superficial or outer aspect of an idea, as opposed to its essential core

  • triviality

    an unimportant detail, the opposite of an essential kernel

文法句型

the kernel + of + noun phrase

用法筆記

Frequently used in the fixed phrase 'kernel of truth', which means a small piece of truth inside a larger claim that may be exaggerated or false.

常見錯誤

❌The kernel of my weekend was relaxing.
✅The heart of my weekend was relaxing.
💡For casual everyday contexts, 'heart' or 'core' sounds more natural than 'kernel', which is formal or literary.