fake

Compared meaning: not natural, made or copied by people (adjective).

比较义项：并非天然形成，而是人工制造或仿制而成的（形容词）。

• artificial

  A neutral, general word for anything made by people rather than occurring in nature; used for everyday substitutes like flowers, limbs or sweeteners, with no suggestion of dishonesty.

  一个中性、笼统的词，指人工制造而非天然产生的东西；常用于日常替代品，如假花、假肢或人造甜味剂，不带欺骗的意味。

  The garden had artificial flowers that looked almost real.

  这个花园里摆着人造花，看起来几乎和真花一样。

• synthetic

  A more technical, still neutral word restricted to things manufactured by combining chemicals, typically materials, fabrics or drugs; narrower than artificial and never implies deception.

  一个更偏技术性、同样中性的词，专指通过化学合成制造出来的东西，通常用于材料、布料或药物；含义比 artificial 更窄，也绝不带欺骗的意味。

  This jacket is made from a synthetic material, not wool.

  这件夹克是用合成材料做的，不是羊毛。

• fake 本词

  Implies something is a dishonest copy made to pass as the genuine, often valuable, original; carries a negative, disapproving tone that artificial and synthetic lack.

  暗示某物是不诚实的仿制品，目的是冒充真品（通常是有价值的正品）；带有 artificial 和 synthetic 所没有的负面、贬斥的语气。

  The bracelet looked real, but it was actually a cheap fake.

  这只手镯看起来是真的，但其实是个廉价的假货。

Artificial, synthetic, and fake all describe something not natural, but the tone differs. Artificial is a neutral word for things people make, like flowers or sweeteners. Synthetic is more technical, for chemically manufactured materials or fabrics. Fake means a dishonest copy made to trick people.

这三个词都可以形容“非天然的东西”，但语气差别很大：artificial 和 synthetic 只是客观描述来源，没有欺骗的意思；fake 则带有明显的贬义，暗示有人想以假充真、蒙骗他人。

Compared meaning: a fake thing made to deceive people (noun).

比较义项：假货，用来欺骗人的假冒品（名词）。

• fake 本词

  Refers to a concrete counterfeit item that imitates a real one; common, neutral, everyday word, often used for objects like jewelry, bags, or documents.

  指模仿真品的具体仿冒物品；是常见、语气中性的词，常用于珠宝、包包、证件等实物。

  She bought a designer bag online, but it turned out to be a fake.

  她网购了一个名牌包，结果发现是假货。

• sham

  Emphasizes that something is a deceptive fraud at its core, often abstract or institutional (a scheme, marriage, trial); more formal and judgmental in tone than fake.

  强调某事物本质上是欺骗性的骗局，常用于抽象或制度性的事物（骗局、婚姻、审判）；语气比 fake 更正式、更带批判意味。

  Critics called the election a sham because the results were decided in advance.

  批评者称这场选举是一场骗局，因为结果早已内定。

Fake and sham both mean something made to deceive people. Fake refers to a copied object, like jewelry or a bag, and sounds neutral. Sham stresses that something is a fraud at its core, often abstract, like a scheme or marriage, and sounds more formal.

两词都指刻意用来骗人的假东西，但 sham 更强调这东西从根本上是骗局、名不副实，常用于抽象或制度性的骗局（如投资骗局、假婚姻）；fake 更常指具体物品的仿冒品，语气更日常、更中性。