A calorie is a unit of energy, primarily used to quantify the energy content of food and the energy expended by the body.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Calorie is a unit of energy, mainly for food.
- Used to track energy intake and expenditure.
- Common in health, diet, and fitness contexts.
Overview
卡路里（Calorie）是一个能量单位，在日常生活中最常用于衡量食物的能量值，也就是我们常说的“热量”。一个卡路里代表将一克水升高一度摄氏度的能量。在营养学和健康领域，我们通常指的是大卡（kcal），即1000卡路里，但口语中常直接说“卡路里”。它帮助我们了解摄入食物后身体能获得多少能量，以及消耗多少能量来维持基本生理功能和进行体育活动。
卡路里主要用于描述食物的能量含量，以及人体消耗的能量。例如，我们会说“这块蛋糕含有多少卡路里？”或者“跑步消耗了多少卡路里？”。在制定饮食计划或进行减肥时，人们会密切关注食物的卡路里摄入量和运动消耗的卡路里。
卡路里这个词最常出现在以下语境中：
**新闻报道和科普文章**：关于健康饮食、肥胖问题、能量平衡等内容。
与“卡路里”相似或相关的词语包括：“热量”、“焦耳”（Joule）。
- 热量：这是“卡路里”最常用的中文近义词，两者在日常语境中几乎可以互换使用，都指食物的能量值。
- 焦耳：焦耳是国际单位制（SI）中能量的单位。虽然卡路里也是能量单位，但在科学计量中，焦耳更为通用。1卡路里约等于4.184焦耳。在日常生活中，我们很少用焦耳来衡量食物能量，更多是在物理学和工程学中使用。
Examples
这块巧克力蛋糕含有大约500卡路里。
everydayThis chocolate cake contains approximately 500 calories.
根据营养指南，成年女性每日建议摄入1800至2000卡路里。
formalAccording to nutritional guidelines, adult women are recommended to consume 1800 to 2000 calories daily.
我今天走了好多路，应该消耗了不少卡路里吧！
informalI walked a lot today, I should have burned quite a few calories!
研究表明，长期摄入超过身体所需卡路里是导致肥胖的主要因素之一。
academicResearch indicates that long-term calorie intake exceeding the body's requirements is one of the primary factors contributing to obesity.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
低卡路里
low-calorie
高卡路里
high-calorie
卡路里计算
calorie counting
Often Confused With
In Chinese, '热量' (rèliàng) is the most common and direct translation for 'calorie' when referring to the energy content of food. While '卡路里' is the transliteration of 'calorie', '热量' is often used interchangeably in everyday conversation and contexts related to diet and nutrition.
Joule (焦耳) is the standard scientific unit of energy in the International System of Units (SI). Calorie is an older unit of energy. While they measure the same physical quantity, joules are preferred in scientific contexts, and 1 calorie is approximately equal to 4.184 joules.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
Calorie is a widely understood term, especially in contexts related to food, diet, and fitness. While '大卡' (kilocalorie) is technically more accurate for food energy, '卡路里' is commonly used colloquially. The term is neutral in formality, appearing in both casual chats and more formal health discussions.
Common Mistakes
Some learners might confuse '卡路里' (calorie) with '大卡' (kilocalorie), although in everyday Chinese, '卡路里' often implicitly refers to kilocalories. It's also important to remember that calorie is a unit of energy, not weight or volume.
Tips
Understand Your Food's Energy
Pay attention to calorie counts on food labels. It helps you make informed choices about your diet and manage your energy intake effectively.
Avoid Extreme Calorie Counting
While tracking calories can be helpful, don't become overly obsessive. Focus on a balanced diet and overall healthy lifestyle rather than just numbers.
Global Calorie Awareness
Calorie awareness is a global phenomenon, influencing dietary habits and health trends worldwide, though specific units and perceptions may vary slightly.
Word Origin
The word 'calorie' originates from the Latin word 'calor', meaning 'heat'. It was introduced in the 19th century as a unit to measure heat energy, and later adopted to measure the energy content of food.
Cultural Context
In many cultures, there's a growing awareness of calorie intake due to concerns about obesity and related health issues. This has led to widespread use of calorie information on food packaging and in fitness tracking apps.
Memory Tip
Think of 'Calorie' as the 'energy currency' your body uses. Eating food 'deposits' calories, and exercising 'spends' them.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions在营养学和日常生活中，我们常说的“卡路里”实际上指的是“大卡”（kcal）。1大卡等于1000卡路里。所以，食物标签上的卡路里数值通常是指大卡。
减肥的核心原理是能量负平衡，即摄入的能量小于消耗的能量。通过计算卡路里，可以帮助我们了解食物提供的能量，并控制总摄入量，从而达到减肥的目的。
卡路里也用来衡量人体活动消耗的能量。运动手表或健身APP会估算跑步、游泳等活动消耗的卡路里，帮助人们了解运动效果和能量平衡。
卡路里本身是中性的能量单位，没有绝对的好坏。关键在于摄入与消耗的平衡。过高会导致体重增加，过低则可能导致营养不良和能量不足。
Test Yourself
为了减肥，她开始严格控制每天摄入的______。
此处语境讨论的是能量摄入的控制，卡路里是衡量能量的单位。
以下哪个选项最能描述“卡路里”的含义？
卡路里是能量单位，尤其在食品领域广泛使用。
运动 / 消耗 / 很多 / 卡路里 / 今天
这是最符合中文语序和习惯的表达方式。
Score: /3
Summary
A calorie is a unit of energy, primarily used to quantify the energy content of food and the energy expended by the body.
- Calorie is a unit of energy, mainly for food.
- Used to track energy intake and expenditure.
- Common in health, diet, and fitness contexts.
Understand Your Food's Energy
Pay attention to calorie counts on food labels. It helps you make informed choices about your diet and manage your energy intake effectively.
Avoid Extreme Calorie Counting
While tracking calories can be helpful, don't become overly obsessive. Focus on a balanced diet and overall healthy lifestyle rather than just numbers.
Global Calorie Awareness
Calorie awareness is a global phenomenon, influencing dietary habits and health trends worldwide, though specific units and perceptions may vary slightly.
Examples
4 of 4这块巧克力蛋糕含有大约500卡路里。
This chocolate cake contains approximately 500 calories.
根据营养指南，成年女性每日建议摄入1800至2000卡路里。
According to nutritional guidelines, adult women are recommended to consume 1800 to 2000 calories daily.
我今天走了好多路，应该消耗了不少卡路里吧！
I walked a lot today, I should have burned quite a few calories!
研究表明，长期摄入超过身体所需卡路里是导致肥胖的主要因素之一。
Research indicates that long-term calorie intake exceeding the body's requirements is one of the primary factors contributing to obesity.
