1. to keep animals for the purpose of producing young animals
飼養（動物）以繁殖後代
He breeds champion racehorses on his farm.
他在自己的農場飼養冠軍賽馬。
They have been breeding dogs for over twenty years.
他們飼養狗已經超過二十年了。
Breed Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
breed
verb
快速理解
What does "Breed" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Breed"?
「breed」主要指動物繁殖，也引申為培育、導致等意思。
- 1
繁殖（動物）
EN: to keep animals for the purpose of producing young animals
翻譯: 飼養動物以繁殖後代
- 2
培育、養育
EN: to bring up or train someone in a particular way
翻譯: 以特定方式培養或訓練某人
- 3
導致、滋生
EN: to cause something to happen or develop
翻譯: 導致某事發生或發展
- 4
交配繁殖
EN: to produce young animals by sexual reproduction
翻譯: 透過有性生殖繁殖幼崽
小提醒：注意「breed」作名詞時指「品種」，如「a rare breed of dog」（一種稀有犬種），與動詞意思相關但詞性不同。
發音（How to Pronounce "Breed" in English）
How to pronounce "Breed" in English?"Breed" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Breed" from YouTube Videos
Hadyn Parry: Re-engineering mosquitos to fight disease
TED
“Well, there's two principle ways. The first way is that you use larvicides, You use chemicals, You put them into water where they breed.”
(1 out of 7)
Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Breed"?How does "Breed" change by context?
2. to produce young animals or plants
繁殖，生育
Rabbits breed very quickly.
兔子繁殖得非常快。
These tropical fish breed best in slightly acidic water.
這些熱帶魚在微酸性的水中繁殖得最好。
3. to cause a particular feeling or condition to develop
滋生，釀成（某種感覺或狀況）
Familiarity breeds contempt.
親密生侮慢。
Poverty can breed crime and social unrest.
貧窮可能滋生犯罪和社會動盪。
4. to bring up or educate in a particular way
養育，培育（以特定方式）
He was born and bred in the countryside.
他是在鄉下出生和長大的。
She is a well-bred young lady with excellent manners.
她是一位教養良好、舉止優雅的年輕女士。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Breed"?How to make natural sentences with "Breed"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| breed + noun (animal/plant) | 繁殖（某種動植物） | They breed rare horses on their farm. (他們在農場繁殖稀有馬匹。) |
| breed + noun (quality/feeling) | 滋生，造成（某種特質或感受） | Poverty can breed crime and desperation. (貧窮可能滋生犯罪與絕望。) |
| be bred + prepositional phrase (for/as) | 被培育（用於某目的或作為某用途） | These dogs are bred for companionship. (這些狗是被培育來作伴的。) |
| breed + together | 交配繁殖 | The two species can breed together in captivity. (這兩個物種在圈養環境下可以交配繁殖。) |
| breed like rabbits | 繁殖得很快（像兔子一樣） | Without predators, the mice began to breed like rabbits. (沒有天敵後，老鼠開始像兔子一樣快速繁殖。) |
用法說明
How is "Breed" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Breed"?
breed doing vs breed to do
- "breed doing" 通常用於描述一個持續的、習慣性的繁殖行為或過程，強調的是繁殖活動本身。
- "breed to do" 則常用於說明繁殖的特定目的或目標，例如為了獲得某種特質、功能，或為了達成某個目標而進行繁殖。
- 在表示「為了某個目的而繁殖」時，"breed to + 動詞" 是更常見且自然的結構。 EN: They breed these dogs herding sheep. 翻譯: 他們繁殖這些狗來牧羊。
EN:They breed these dogs to herd sheep.
翻譯:他們繁殖這些狗是為了讓牠們牧羊。
EN:This practice can breed animals having weaker immune systems.
翻譯:這種做法可能繁殖出免疫系統較弱的動物。
EN:This practice can breed animals to have weaker immune systems.
翻譯:這種做法可能為了特定目的而繁殖出免疫系統較弱的動物。
總結建議
當強調繁殖的「目的」時，使用 "breed to do" 結構會比 "breed doing" 更為清晰準確。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Breed" and similar words?How to choose "Breed" vs alternatives?
breed vs raise
breed 強調有計劃地繁殖特定品種的動植物；raise 則泛指飼養或種植，範圍較廣。
breed vs reproduce
breed 指有意識、有控制地繁殖；reproduce 則是生物自然的生殖過程。
breed vs cultivate
breed 主要用於動物繁殖；cultivate 主要用於植物種植或技能培養。
口語用法
How is "Breed" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Breed"?
引述
在口語中，常用來引述或轉述他人對某種行為或現象的評論，帶有輕微的批判或觀察意味。 EN: People always say that inbreeding can breed health problems. 翻譯: 人們總說近親繁殖會滋生健康問題。
EN:That's exactly what the article was talking about—how negativity breeds more negativity.
翻譯:那篇文章講的就是這個——負面情緒如何滋生更多負面情緒。
語氣強調
在對話中，有時會用誇張或強調的語氣來凸顯某種因果關係的必然性或快速性。 EN: If you keep ignoring the team's concerns, you're just going to breed resentment. 翻譯: 如果你繼續無視團隊的擔憂，那只會滋生怨恨。
EN:One careless comment online can breed a huge controversy overnight.
翻譯:網路上一個不經意的評論，一夜之間就能滋生巨大的爭議。
停頓填充
在組織思緒或尋找合適詞語時，可能會用 "breed" 相關的短語作為填充，使對話聽起來更流暢。 EN: It's a situation that... breeds a lot of uncertainty, you know? 翻譯: 這是一種...會滋生很多不確定性的情況，你懂吧？
EN:The lack of clear rules... well, it breeds confusion, to be honest.
翻譯:缺乏明確的規則...老實說，這會滋生混亂。
正式寫作注意：在正式或學術寫作中，應避免使用上述口語化的引述或填充結構。建議使用更精確、客觀的動詞（如 "cause", "generate", "lead to", "foster"）來替代口語中較隨意的 "breed" 用法，並保持句子結構完整。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Breed"?What fixed phrases with "Breed" should I remember?
breed animals
breed + [animals]
飼養、繁殖動物
breed contempt
breed + contempt
滋生輕蔑、招致鄙視
breed trouble
breed + [negative noun]
滋生麻煩、引發問題
well-bred
well-bred (adjective)
有教養的、品種優良的
breed in
breed in + [location/condition]
在...環境中繁殖/培育
breed for
breed for + [purpose/trait]
為特定目的/特質而培育
breed out
breed out + [trait]
透過育種消除（某特質）
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Breed"?Which "Breed" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×They breeded the dogs for hunting.
✓They bred the dogs for hunting.
The past tense and past participle of 'breed' is 'bred', not 'breeded'. This is an irregular verb form.
×This environment is breeding mosquitoes.
✓This environment breeds mosquitoes.
When describing a general fact or habitual action, use the simple present tense 'breeds', not the present continuous 'is breeding', unless referring to an ongoing process at this very moment.
×He breeds his cat with the neighbor's cat.
✓He breeds his cat with the neighbor's cat.
The sentence is grammatically correct but conceptually misleading. 'Breed' is typically used by professionals (breeders) for controlled reproduction to produce offspring with specific traits. For casual animal mating, verbs like 'mate' are more common. Using 'breed' can sound overly technical or imply a deliberate breeding program.
×Poverty can breed crime.
✓Poverty can breed crime.
The sentence is correct. This is included as a reminder that 'breed' can be used metaphorically (to cause something to develop) and is not limited to biological reproduction. Learners sometimes miss this common figurative usage.
×What breed is this dog?
✓What breed is this dog?
The sentence is correct. This is a reminder that 'breed' is also a common noun. Learners focusing on the verb might forget this. The noun form refers to a specific type of animal within a species.
×They are breeding a new generation of scientists.
✓They are training/educating/nurturing a new generation of scientists.
While 'breed' can be used figuratively for people (e.g., 'bred for leadership'), using it in an active, progressive sense for professions like 'scientists' or 'engineers' can sound dehumanizing or overly deterministic. More appropriate verbs like 'train', 'educate', or 'nurture' are preferred.
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Breed"?What are tense/participle forms of "Breed"?
breeds(3rd_singular)breeding(present_participle)bred(past)bred(past_participle)