Brave and full of fight, especially when the person is small, young, or in a weak position and stands up anyway. That is the heart of it: a spunky child answers back to a bully; a spunky little team plays hard against a much stronger one.

Brave and full of fight有膽識、很有鬥志，especially when the person is small, young, or in a weak position and stands up anyway尤其是這個人弱小、年輕或處於弱勢卻還是挺身而出的時候。That is the heart of it這就是這個字的核心：a spunky child answers back to a bully一個有骨氣的小孩會頂撞霸凌他的人；a spunky little team plays hard against a much stronger one一支不服輸的小隊伍會拚命對抗強得多的對手。

The tone is warm and approving, but it looks slightly downward — you would praise a child, a young employee or an underdog as spunky, not your boss or a general. Old films often use it of a lively young woman, which is why it can sound a bit dated and even patronising today.

The tone語氣is warm and approving是溫暖、讚賞的，but看起來稍微是由上往下看it looks slightly downward——you would praise a child, a young employee or an underdog as spunky你會用spunky稱讚一個小孩、年輕員工或處於劣勢的一方，not your boss or a general而不會這樣稱讚你老闆或將軍。Old films老電影often use it of a lively young woman常用這個字形容活潑的年輕女性，which is why這也是為什麼it can sound a bit dated and even patronising today這個字今天聽起來有點過時、甚至帶點居高臨下的味道。

One warning worth knowing: in British and Australian slang 'spunk' also has a crude sexual meaning (and in Australia 'a spunk' means an attractive person), so 'spunky' can raise eyebrows there. In American English it is innocent.

One warning worth knowing有件事值得提醒：in British and Australian slang在英式和澳式俚語裡'spunk'spunk也has a crude sexual meaning帶有粗俗的性暗示意思（and而in Australia在澳洲'a spunk'a spunk means an attractive person指有魅力的人），so所以'spunky'spunky can raise eyebrows there在那些地方可能會讓人皺眉。In American English在美式英文裡it is innocent這個字就完全無害。