synthetic

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 本词

  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

  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。