cult
cult — 名詞
1. an organised group in which members hold unconventional religious views, often i
異教團體
信仰極端且脫離社會的宗教團體
an organised group in which members hold unconventional religious views, often isolating themselves from ordinary society and submitting to a dominant leader
Investigators found that the cult had controlled every aspect of its members' daily lives.
調查人員發現，這個異教團體控制了成員日常生活的每一個層面。
passive reporting structure with controlled + aspect of
After living in the cult for ten years, Tanvi struggled to adjust to life outside.
Tanvi 在那個異教團體生活了十年後，很努力才重新適應外面的世界。
Local authorities received reports about a new cult recruiting young people near the university.
地方當局接獲通報，指出有一個新興教派正在大學附近招募年輕人。
Many former members of the cult described the same pattern of isolation from their families.
許多該異教團體的前成員都描述了同樣的模式：與家人隔離。
The community worried when Ramón's sister joined an isolated cult in the mountains.
Ramón 的姊姊加入山上一個封閉的異教團體後，整個社區都很擔心。
- sect
less emotionally charged than cult; used for smaller groups that split from a larger religion
- religious group
completely neutral, no negative connotation
- movement
broader term that may or may not imply extreme beliefs
用法筆記
This sense carries a strongly negative judgment and is rarely used by members of the group themselves — they would call their group a church, a community, or a spiritual movement instead.
常見錯誤
2. the set of ceremonies, rituals, and forms of worship devoted to a single deity,
崇拜儀式
針對特定神祇的信仰與儀式體系
the set of ceremonies, rituals, and forms of worship devoted to a single deity, a group of ancestors, or a sacred concept within a particular religion
Students in the anthropology class studied the cult of the moon goddess in ancient Mesopotamia.
人類學課的學生研究了古美索不達米亞的月亮女神崇拜儀式。
collocation: cult of [deity] for religious-worship sense
The book examines how the cult of the emperor developed in the early Roman Empire.
這本書探討了羅馬帝國早期的皇帝崇拜制度是如何發展而成的。
Archaeologists discovered evidence of a sun cult practised by the pre-Columbian civilisation.
考古學家發現了前哥倫布文明實行太陽崇拜儀式的證據。
In many ancient societies, the cult of a local deity involved seasonal festivals and offerings.
在許多古代社會中，地方神祇的崇拜儀式包含季節性的節慶和獻祭。
Temples across the region were sites of an elaborate ancestor cult that lasted for centuries.
該地區的廟宇是長達數世紀的祖先崇拜儀式的重要場所。
文法句型
cult of + [deity/ruler/concept]
用法筆記
This is a neutral, scholarly use of the word. It describes traditional or historical religious practices — ancestor worship, imperial cults, mystery cults — without the negative judgment of sense 1. Commonly appears in anthropology, history, and religious studies texts.
3. a person, object, or concept that attracts intense and loyal interest among a sp
狂熱追捧
受到特定族群極度喜愛的人或事物
a person, object, or concept that attracts intense and loyal interest among a specific audience, remaining outside the mainstream of general popularity
The director's first film developed a cult following among science-fiction fans around the world.
這位導演的第一部電影在全球科幻迷中培養出一群狂熱追隨者。
collocation: develop a cult following
What started as a small cult of devoted readers grew into an international bestseller.
起初只是少數忠實讀者的狂熱追捧，後來竟成長為國際暢銷書。
That 1980s band still has a loyal cult audience that attends every reunion show.
那支 1980 年代的樂團至今仍有一群忠實的 cult 聽眾，每次復出演唱會都不缺席。
The book achieved cult status among teenagers, who pass copies to friends.
這本書在青少年之間取得了 cult 地位，大家互相傳閱。
Felipe's cooking blog never went mainstream but gained a cult audience among vegans.
Felipe 的料理部落格從未成為主流，但在純素者之間累積了一群狂熱讀者。
文法句型
cult of [person/thing]
cult following
cult status
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this meaning has a neutral or even positive tone — it describes passionate fans, not a controlling group. Common in phrases like 'cult film', 'cult classic', 'cult following', and 'cult of personality'.
常見錯誤
cult — 形容詞
1. referring to a film, book, TV programme, musician, or item that a small number o
小眾追捧的
受到少數忠實粉絲喜愛的
referring to a film, book, TV programme, musician, or item that a small number of people adore with lasting dedication, even though it never achieved wide recognition or commercial success
The 1990s film became a cult classic after fans started organising midnight screenings.
這部 1990 年代的電影在粉絲開始組織午夜場放映後，成了小眾經典。
collocation: cult classic
Rachel recommends a cult TV series from Japan that only fifty thousand people have seen.
Rachel 推薦一部來自日本的小眾影集，只有五萬人看過。
The game failed commercially at launch but gained a cult reputation among strategy gamers.
這款遊戲上市時商業表現不佳，但在策略遊戲玩家中贏得了 cult 級聲譽。
Élise's novels never appeared on bestseller lists, yet they have a dedicated cult readership.
Élise 的小說從未登上暢銷書排行榜，卻有一群忠誠的小眾讀者。
That cult sci-fi show from the 1970s still inspires fan conventions every year.
1970 年代那部小眾科幻影集至今每年仍吸引粉絲舉辦同人展。
- niche
focuses on the small audience size rather than their devotion
- underground
suggests something exists outside mainstream awareness, often with a rebellious edge
- alternative
broader term; describes anything outside the mainstream without implying intense loyalty
文法句型
cult + [noun]
用法筆記
This adjective is almost always placed directly before a noun (attributive use). Common combinations include 'cult film', 'cult classic', 'cult TV show', 'cult band', and 'cult following' (though 'following' is a noun, the adjective 'cult' modifies it).