sacred

sacred — adjective

1. believed to have a special link with a god or gods, and therefore treated with d

1.形容詞B2
釋義

believed to have a special link with a god or gods, and therefore treated with deep respect and awe

例句

After a long journey, Tomás finally reached the sacred temple hidden in the mountains.

sacred + noun (temple)

The elders said the forest was sacred and should be treated with respect.

be + sacred (predicative)

同義詞
  • holy

    stronger emphasis on pure moral and spiritual purity; often used for God or Christ directly (the Holy Spirit), while sacred is more about things set apart for religious use

  • divine

    directly from or relating to a god, rather than things merely dedicated to a god

  • hallowed

    more formal and poetic; implies something has been made holy through long tradition or religious dedication

  • consecrated

    formally declared sacred through a religious ceremony or blessing

反義詞
  • profane

    the opposite of sacred in religious contexts; showing disrespect for holy things

  • unholy

    not holy; sinful or wicked

文法句型

sacred + noun

be + sacred

sacred + to + someone

用法筆記

Often used before a noun (sacred object, sacred place) but also commonly follows the verb be (this land is sacred). The phrase sacred to + person/group is a fixed pattern indicating whose religion or culture considers it holy.

常見錯誤

❌The temple is holy and sacred in their religion.
✅The temple is sacred in their religion.
💡holy and sacred overlap in meaning; using both is redundant unless deliberately building emphasis.

2. relating to religion, worship, or religious ceremonies, as opposed to everyday o

2.形容詞B2
釋義

relating to religion, worship, or religious ceremonies, as opposed to everyday or non-religious life

例句

The choir performed sacred music during the evening service at the old cathedral.

collocation: sacred music

Yuna compared sacred writings from Buddhism and Christianity for her university class.

collocation: sacred writings / texts

同義詞
  • religious

    much broader; refers to anything connected with faith, belief, or organized religion, not just objects or practices set apart as holy

  • spiritual

    focuses on the inner, personal, or non-material aspects of faith rather than formal religious practices

反義詞
  • secular

    not connected with religious or spiritual matters

  • profane

    belonging to the ordinary world rather than the religious sphere

文法句型

sacred + noun

3. treated as so important or valuable that it must not be questioned, changed, or

3.形容詞B2
釋義

treated as so important or valuable that it must not be questioned, changed, or interfered with

例句

For the Okonkwo family, the tradition of sharing Sunday dinner together is a sacred custom.

collocation: sacred tradition

Freedom of speech is treated as a sacred principle in a democratic society.

collocation: sacred principle

同義詞
  • sacrosanct

    more formal; suggests something that must never be violated or questioned, especially principles or rights

  • inviolable

    formal; used especially of rights or laws that cannot be broken or disregarded

  • untouchable

    informal; conveys the idea that something cannot be criticized or changed

反義詞
  • negotiable

    open to discussion, change, or compromise

  • expendable

    considered not important enough to be kept or protected

文法句型

sacred + noun

be + sacred

be + sacred + to + someone

用法筆記

Used figuratively; the thing described is not literally connected to religion but is treated with the same seriousness and protection as something holy. Common with nouns such as tradition, principle, duty, promise, right, custom.

常見錯誤

❌My morning coffee is sacred to me.
✅The tradition of Sunday dinner is sacred to the family.
💡The figurative sense should describe something genuinely important, not a casual personal preference.