1
a mirage of [sth]
of 后接幻象呈现的内容，如水面、绿洲等。
The mirage of an oasis made the hikers keep walking.
海市蜃楼中的绿洲让徒步者们继续往前走。
海市蜃楼；蜃景
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
海市蜃楼；蜃景
an optical illusion caused by hot air near the ground, often looking like a pool of water
The mirage of an oasis made the hikers keep walking.
海市蜃楼中的绿洲让徒步者们继续往前走。
海市蜃楼；光线经贴近地面的热空气折射,常产生水面的幻象。
An optical phenomenon in which light is refracted through a layer of hot air close to the ground, often giving the illusion of a body of water.
热空气层导致大气折射,使远处物体反射变形或倒置的光学幻景
an optical illusion in which atmospheric refraction by a layer of hot air distorts or inverts reflections of distant objects
幻象；幻觉。
An illusion.
虚幻且不可企及的事物
something illusory and unattainable
The shimmering water on the highway turned out to be a mirage caused by the heat.
高速公路上闪闪发光的水面原来是热浪造成的海市蜃楼。
For years, he chased the mirage of perfect happiness, only to find it unreachable.
多年来，他追逐着完美幸福的幻影，却只发现它遥不可及。
In the desert, travelers often mistake mirages for real lakes.
在沙漠中，旅行者常常把海市蜃楼误认为是真正的湖泊。
of 后接幻象呈现的内容，如水面、绿洲等。
The mirage of an oasis made the hikers keep walking.
海市蜃楼中的绿洲让徒步者们继续往前走。
也可用复数形式 see mirages。
Thirsty travelers often see a mirage in the desert.
口渴的旅行者常常在沙漠里看到海市蜃楼。
用于强调某事物完全虚幻，常含失望语气。
Their dreams of wealth proved to be no more than a mirage.
他们致富的梦想到头来不过是幻影。
Not this
We saw mirage in the desert.
Use this
We saw a mirage in the desert.
mirage 是可数名词，单数形式前面必须有 a/an/the 等限定词。中文“海市蜃楼”没有冠词概念，学习者容易漏掉 a，加上 a 后句子才完整。
Not this
There are many mirage near the lake.
Use this
There are many mirages near the lake.
mirage 的复数是 mirages。中文名词没有复数形式变化，受母语影响容易用单数形式表达复数；在 many 等复数语境中必须使用 mirages。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
一片水的幻景
The hot road ahead looked like a mirage of water.
前方灼热的公路看上去像是水的幻景。
看到海市蜃楼
In the desert, tired travelers often see a mirage.
在沙漠里，疲惫的旅行者常常看到海市蜃楼。
追逐幻影；追求虚幻之物
She realized she had spent years chasing a mirage.
她意识到自己多年来一直在追逐幻影。
地平线上的蜃景
The sailor saw a mirage on the horizon.
水手看到地平线上的蜃景。
像海市蜃楼一样消失
His hopes disappeared like a mirage.
他的希望像海市蜃楼一样消失了。
追逐幻影；追求无法实现的事物
They chased the mirage of a perfect life abroad, only to return disappointed.
他们追逐在国外过上完美生活的幻影，结果失望而归。
像海市蜃楼般消失；化为乌有
All her dreams of a peaceful retirement vanished like a mirage in the desert sun.
她对平静退休的所有梦想都像沙漠阳光下的海市蜃楼一样消失了。
Use mirage naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
看到词首的 mir 就联想到 mirror（镜子）：炎热地面像镜子一样折射光线，形成海市蜃楼般的幻象。
语域：neutral 常见场景：日常口语（比喻义）、书面描写（字面义） 该词指“海市蜃楼”等光学幻景，也常比喻虚幻或无法实现的事物。两种用法都比较常见，语气中性，口语和书面语均可用。
可数名词，常见搭配 mirage of sth.
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.