Virile describes a man who has, or seems to have, the qualities English has traditionally filed under "manly": physical strength, energy, boldness, sexual vigour. The dictionary marks it as a word of approval, and that is broadly right — calling a man virile is calling him impressively male.

VirileVirile describes a man用來形容一個男人 who has, or seems to have擁有、或看起來擁有， the qualities English has traditionally filed under "manly"英文傳統上歸類為「manly」的那些特質： physical strength體力、 energy精力、 boldness膽識、 sexual vigour旺盛的性能力。 The dictionary字典 marks it as a word of approval把它標成一個帶有讚許意味的字， and而 that is broadly right這大致上是對的 — calling a man virile說一個男人 virile is calling him impressively male就是在說他有著令人印象深刻的男子氣概。

But listen to how it is actually used, because the word has drifted. Three things happen.

But但 listen to how it is actually used要注意它實際上是怎麼被使用的， because因為 the word has drifted這個字的意思已經漂移了。 Three things happen有三件事會發生。

First, it very often points at sexual capability specifically — advertisements for certain products lean on it, which has left the word a little sticky. Second, it is frequently used about *appearance* rather than fact: a virile-looking man in a photograph. Third, and most important now, plenty of speakers use it with a raised eyebrow, because the idea that strength and boldness are "male" qualities is exactly what a lot of people no longer take for granted.

First第一， it very often points at sexual capability specifically它常常特別指向性能力 — advertisements for certain products lean on it某些產品的廣告會靠這一點做文章， which has left the word a little sticky這也讓這個字有點曖昧、不太乾淨。 Second第二， it is frequently used about appearance rather than fact它常常是用在「看起來」而不是事實上： a virile-looking man in a photograph例如照片裡一個看起來很 virile 的男人。 Third第三， and most important now而且現在最重要的一點是， plenty of speakers use it with a raised eyebrow很多人講這個字的時候會帶著一點懷疑的眼神， because因為 the idea that strength and boldness are "male" qualities「力量和膽識是男性特質」這種想法， is exactly what a lot of people no longer take for granted正是現在很多人不再照單全收的。

So virile can read as sincere praise, as an advertisement's promise, or as gentle mockery of an old-fashioned image of manhood — and the surrounding words tell you which.

So所以 virilevirile can read as sincere praise可能讀起來是真心的讚美， as an advertisement's promise可能是廣告的承諾， or或者 as gentle mockery of an old-fashioned image of manhood也可能是對老派男子氣概形象的溫和調侃 — and而 the surrounding words tell you which要看哪一種就得靠上下文的其他字來判斷。

It also stretches beyond people: a virile performance, a virile piece of writing, a virile economy — meaning strong, forceful, full of energy. That use is common in criticism and journalism.

It它 also stretches beyond people也可以用在人以外的東西上： a virile performancea virile performance（充滿力道的表演）、 a virile piece of writinga virile piece of writing（強而有力的文章）、 a virile economya virile economy（生氣蓬勃的經濟） — meaning意思是 strong強勁、 forceful有力、 full of energy充滿活力。 That use這種用法 is common in criticism and journalism在文學評論和新聞寫作裡很常見。

It is a formal, written word. In everyday Taiwanese-classroom English you would say strong, tough, or manly instead.

It它 is a formal, written word是個正式的書面用字。 In everyday Taiwanese-classroom English在台灣課堂上教的日常英文裡， you你 would say strong, tough, or manly instead會改說 strong、tough，或 manly。