tale
tale — 名詞
- talesingular
- talesplural
1. A description of real or imaginary events, told to entertain or to make a point,
故事
真實或虛構的描述，常帶趣味或驚奇
A description of real or imaginary events, told to entertain or to make a point, and often including surprising or hard-to-believe details.
Grandpa told us a tale about a fox that could talk and trick the farmers.
爺爺以前常跟我們講一個關於會說話、會騙農夫的狐狸的故事。
collocation: tell a tale about [subject]
The book is a tale of adventure set in a small fishing village in Iceland.
這本書是一個冒險故事，背景設定在冰島一個小漁村。
tale of + noun (adventure, love, survival)
Rachid's tale of surviving three days in the desert sounded too strange to be true.
Rachid 講述自己在沙漠中存活三天的經歷，聽起來離奇得難以置信。
Every evening, Elena reads her children a fairy tale before they go to sleep.
每天晚上，Elena 在孩子睡前讀一個童話故事給他們聽。
tale as part of compound: fairy tale
Adaeze told a funny tale about her cat stuck in a tree and rescued by firefighters.
Adaeze 講了一個有趣的故事，說她的貓卡在樹上，最後由消防員救了下來。
- tell a tale
- weave a tale
- folk tale
- fairy tale
- cautionary tale
- tale of adventure
- story
more general and neutral in tone; tale often feels older, more imaginative or dramatic
- narrative
more formal and structured; describes the way a story is told rather than the content itself
- legend
a story passed down through generations, often about heroic figures; implies historical roots
- anecdote
a short, personal, often amusing account of a real incident
- fact
tales may be invented or exaggerated, whereas a fact is objectively true
文法句型
tale + of + noun phrase
tale + about + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often used in compounds (fairy tale, folk tale) and with adjectives that describe the type of story (cautionary tale, horror tale, love tale).
常見錯誤
2. A report or statement someone tells knowing it is not true, with the goal of tri
謊言；假話
明知不實、故意欺騙的說詞
A report or statement someone tells knowing it is not true, with the goal of tricking or misleading others.
The politician's tale about his war record was later proven to be completely false.
那位政治人物關於自己戰功的謊話，後來被證實全是假的。
tale about [subject] used to mean fabricated claim
Christopher told a tale about missing the bus, but I saw his car in the driveway.
Christopher 編了個謊話說自己錯過了公車，但我看到他的車還停在車道上。
The newspaper printed a sensational tale about the actress that was a complete invention.
那家報紙刊登了一篇關於那位女演員的煽情報導，結果發現完全是編造的。
Do not believe a word Lukas says — it is just a pack of tales.
Lukas 說的話一個字都別信——從頭到尾全是一堆謊話。
idiomatic: a pack of tales (a series of lies)
Zayd's excuse about the broken laptop was a tale to avoid getting into trouble.
Zayd 關於筆電壞掉的藉口只是為了避免惹麻煩而編造的謊話。
- tell tales
- a pack of tales
- fairy tale (figurative, meaning lie)
- lie
the direct, everyday word for a false statement; tale in this sense sounds more dramatic or dated
- falsehood
more formal than both tale and lie
- fabrication
emphasises that the story was deliberately invented
- truth
a statement that matches reality
文法句型
tale + about + noun phrase
a pack of tales
用法筆記
Frequently plural (tales) in the phrase 'tell tales', which can mean either telling lies or reporting someone's secrets. Context determines which meaning applies.
常見錯誤
old wives' tale
idiomA traditional belief or piece of advice that many people think is true but is actually false or unscientific.
無稽之談；沒有科學根據的傳統說法
Eating carrots helps you see in the dark — that is just an old wives' tale with no real science behind it.
My grandmother believed that walking under a ladder brings bad luck, but I am pretty sure it is an old wives' tale.
tell tales
idiomTo reveal someone's secrets or bad behaviour to a person in authority, often with the result of getting that person into trouble.
打小報告；告密
If you tell tales on your classmates, they will not want to work with you on group projects.
Vikram got into trouble for telling tales about his younger brother stealing cookies from the kitchen.
To survive a dangerous, difficult, or frightening experience and be able to describe it afterwards.
倖存下來（經歷危險後還能講述經過）
The hikers got caught in a snowstorm on the mountain, but they all lived to tell the tale.
Elena fell off her bike going down a steep hill, and although she was bruised, she lived to tell the tale.
To present information that contradicts what was previously said or expected.
呈現不同的事實；說明相反的情況
The government says the economy is growing, but the rising number of empty shops tells a different tale.
The company's advertising claims the product is safe, but customer reviews online tell a different tale.
a tale of woe
idiomA story or account full of problems, misfortunes, or troubles, often told to gain sympathy.
悲慘的故事；苦難的遭遇
Every time we meet, Benjamin treats us to a long tale of woe about his terrible landlord.
The letter from the charity was a tale of woe describing how the flood had destroyed the village school.
To survive a dangerous or difficult event and be able to describe it afterwards.
活著講述經歷
After the earthquake, the family lived to tell the tale.
Did the hiker survive the storm to tell the tale?
an old wives’ tale
idiomA traditional belief or story that is not based on scientific fact.
無稽之談
Eating carrots improves your eyesight is just an old wives' tale.
My grandmother believed that walking under a ladder brings bad luck, but that's an old wives' tale.
To provide information that contradicts what was previously thought or said.
說法不同
The company claimed success, but the sales figures told a different story.
His calm voice told a different tale from his worried eyes.
To reveal the truth about something without needing any explanation.
不言而喻
The empty wallet told its own story of his spending habits.
Her tear-streaked face told its own tale of sadness.
To report someone's bad behavior to a person in authority.
打小報告
Maya told tales on her brother for breaking the vase.
Don't tell tales about your classmates to the teacher.
同根字
- tell動詞A1
- storyteller名詞B1
- storytelling名詞B2
- telltale形容詞C1