人工
Artificial means something made by people instead of occurring naturally.
Explanation at your level:
Artificial means 'not real' or 'made by people'. If you see a flower that is not a real plant, it is an artificial flower. It is not from nature. You can make things with your hands. That is artificial.
When something is artificial, it is made by humans. We use this word for things like artificial light in our rooms or artificial grass in a park. It is the opposite of natural things like trees or the sun.
The word artificial is used to describe objects that are manufactured. For example, artificial sweeteners are used in food instead of sugar. It helps us distinguish between natural products and those created in a laboratory or factory setting.
In B2 English, we use artificial to discuss complex topics like artificial intelligence or artificial limbs. It implies a technological intervention that mimics a natural function. It is a precise word for technical and medical discussions.
At the C1 level, you might use artificial to describe abstract concepts, such as an artificial barrier between groups of people or an artificial sense of calm. It suggests a constructed state that lacks organic development or genuine foundation.
Mastery of this word involves understanding its nuance in philosophy and sociology. We discuss the artificiality of social constructs or the artificial nature of modern urban environments. It reflects a deep awareness of how human-made systems shape our perception of reality.
30秒でわかる単語
- Means man-made
- Opposite of natural
- Used in science and daily life
- Can be neutral or negative
When we talk about something being artificial, we are highlighting that it is a product of human ingenuity. Think of it as the opposite of 'natural' or 'organic'. Whether it is an artificial lake created for a park or artificial intelligence powering your phone, the core concept is that a human designed it.
It is a fascinating word because it spans so many fields, from science and engineering to art and fashion. Using this word helps you draw a clear line between what nature provides and what we build to improve our lives. It is not always a negative term; while 'artificial' can sometimes imply 'fake,' in many technical contexts, it simply describes a man-made solution to a specific problem.
The concept of 'artificial' comes from the Latin artificium, which combines ars (art or skill) and facere (to make). Historically, it meant 'made by art' or 'made with skill.' It evolved from describing beautiful, crafted objects to describing anything manufactured by humans.
In early English, the word carried a sense of wonder, implying that humans were mimicking the divine work of nature. Over the centuries, as industrialization grew, the word took on more utilitarian meanings. Today, we use it to describe everything from synthetic fibers to complex algorithms, showing how our definition of 'human-made' has expanded alongside our technology.
You will find this word used frequently in scientific and professional settings. Common collocations include artificial intelligence, artificial light, and artificial sweeteners. It is a neutral, descriptive adjective that fits well in both academic papers and casual conversation.
Be careful with the tone! While it is neutral in science, calling someone's personality 'artificial' can be an insult, implying they are being insincere or fake. Always consider the context to ensure your meaning is clear and polite.
While 'artificial' is a technical adjective, it appears in several idiomatic contexts.
- Artificial intelligence (AI): The simulation of human intelligence by machines.
- Artificial life: A field of study exploring life-like systems.
- Artificial turf: A surface made of synthetic fibers to look like grass.
- Artificial insemination: A medical procedure for reproduction.
- Artificial respiration: A life-saving technique to help someone breathe.
As an adjective, 'artificial' does not change form for pluralization. It is placed before the noun it describes (e.g., an artificial flower). Pronounced /ˌɑːrtɪˈfɪʃəl/ in US English, it follows a standard stress pattern on the third syllable.
It is often used with the adverb 'purely' or 'completely' to emphasize the manufactured nature of the object. Remember that it is a gradable adjective, so you can describe something as very artificial if it is clearly not natural.
Fun Fact
The word originally had a positive connotation of craftsmanship.
Pronunciation Guide
Starts with a long 'ar', ends with a soft 'shul' sound.
Clear 'r' sound in the middle.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 'sh' sound
- Adding extra syllables
- Stressing the wrong syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to write
Easy to say
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
上級
Grammar to Know
Adjective placement
Artificial flower
Articles with adjectives
An artificial object
Adverb formation
Artificially made
Examples by Level
This is an artificial flower.
not a real plant
adjective before noun
The light is artificial.
not the sun
predicate adjective
It is not a real tree.
artificial tree
simple negation
She likes artificial colors.
man-made colors
plural noun
The grass is artificial.
made of plastic
describing a surface
Is it artificial?
is it made by humans?
question form
We use artificial light.
lamps at night
common collocation
He made an artificial bird.
a toy bird
transitive verb
The park has artificial lakes.
She prefers artificial sweeteners in her tea.
The robot has artificial skin.
They use artificial heat in winter.
This is an artificial material.
The flavor is artificial.
We avoid artificial ingredients.
The snow on the set was artificial.
Artificial intelligence is changing the world.
The athlete used an artificial limb.
The company produces artificial leather.
He built an artificial reef for fish.
The smile looked artificial to me.
They created an artificial environment for the plants.
The colors in the painting are artificial.
She is studying artificial life forms.
The artificial barrier caused a lot of tension.
His apology felt completely artificial.
The artificial insemination process was successful.
We live in an increasingly artificial world.
The artificial lighting in the studio was perfect.
He has an artificial way of speaking.
The artificial scarcity drove up the prices.
They are testing an artificial heart.
The artificial divide between the two departments hindered progress.
She maintained an artificial sense of composure during the crisis.
The city is an artificial construct of modern planning.
They criticized the artificial nature of the competition.
The artificiality of the performance was evident to everyone.
He warned against the dangers of artificial social norms.
The artificial enhancement of the image was subtle.
The debate focused on the ethics of artificial enhancements.
The philosopher questioned the artificial distinction between mind and body.
Modern life is characterized by an artificial separation from nature.
The artificiality of the digital realm is a growing concern.
They sought to transcend the artificial constraints of the era.
The artificial synthesis of the compound was a major breakthrough.
He explored the artificiality of human emotions in his novel.
The artificial preservation of the site was controversial.
They debated the artificial evolution of human capabilities.
よく使う組み合わせ
Idioms & Expressions
"Artificial intelligence"
Computer systems mimicking human thought.
AI is transforming healthcare.
neutral"Artificial life"
Computer simulations of biological life.
Researchers are studying artificial life.
formal"Artificial insemination"
Medical reproduction assistance.
They opted for artificial insemination.
formal"Artificial respiration"
Manual help with breathing.
He provided artificial respiration.
formal"Artificial turf"
Fake grass surface.
The game is on artificial turf.
neutralEasily Confused
Similar meaning
Synthetic is more industrial.
Synthetic rubber.
Both mean not real
Fake implies deception.
Fake news.
Similar sound
Artistic relates to art.
Artistic talent.
Same meaning
Man-made is more common.
Man-made lake.
Sentence Patterns
It is + artificial + noun
It is an artificial light.
The + noun + is + artificial
The grass is artificial.
Subject + uses + artificial + noun
She uses artificial sweeteners.
Artificial + noun + can + verb
Artificial intelligence can learn.
The + artificiality + of + noun
The artificiality of the situation was clear.
語族
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
関連
How to Use It
8
Formality Scale
よくある間違い
Artificial usually refers to materials or systems, not just a lie.
They sound similar but have different roots.
Artificial can sound too technical for personality.
It is an adjective and needs a noun.
Variety improves writing style.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a robot (artificial) in your kitchen.
When Native Speakers Use It
Use it when talking about food ingredients.
Cultural Insight
We value 'natural' more than 'artificial' in food.
Grammar Shortcut
Always put it before the noun.
Say It Right
Focus on the 'sh' sound.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't say 'artificially' when you mean 'artificial'.
Did You Know?
Artificial intelligence is a huge field today.
Study Smart
Read food labels to see the word.
Context Matters
Be careful when describing people.
Adverb Form
Use 'artificially' to describe how something is made.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
ART-i-ficial: Art is made by humans.
Visual Association
A plastic flower next to a real one.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Find 5 things in your room that are artificial.
語源
Latin
Original meaning: Made by skill
文化的な背景
Can be offensive if used to describe a person's character.
Commonly used in science, food labels, and sports.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At the grocery store
- artificial flavors
- artificial colors
- no artificial ingredients
In technology
- artificial intelligence
- artificial neural networks
- artificial life
In medicine
- artificial limb
- artificial heart
- artificial respiration
In landscaping
- artificial turf
- artificial lake
- artificial plants
Conversation Starters
"Do you think artificial intelligence is good?"
"Do you prefer artificial or natural light?"
"Have you ever seen artificial grass?"
"Is it okay to use artificial colors in food?"
"What is the best artificial invention?"
Journal Prompts
Describe something artificial in your house.
Why do we make things artificial?
Is artificial intelligence scary?
Write about a future with artificial trees.
よくある質問
8 問No, it just means man-made.
Only if you mean their personality is fake.
Natural.
No, it is an adjective.
Ar-ti-fish-ul.
It is neutral.
Artificiality.
Yes, for materials.
自分をテスト
The flower is not real, it is ___.
Artificial means not real.
Which is an example of artificial light?
Lightbulbs are man-made.
Artificial sweeteners are found in nature.
They are man-made.
Word
意味
Definitions match.
Subject-Verb-Adjective-Noun.
スコア： /5
Summary
Artificial means something created by humans, not nature.
- Means man-made
- Opposite of natural
- Used in science and daily life
- Can be neutral or negative
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a robot (artificial) in your kitchen.
When Native Speakers Use It
Use it when talking about food ingredients.
Cultural Insight
We value 'natural' more than 'artificial' in food.
Grammar Shortcut
Always put it before the noun.
例文
这朵花是人工制作的，看起来很逼真。
