idol

idol — 名詞

1. a person — such as a singer, actor, or athlete — who is greatly loved, admired,

1.名詞B1
釋義

偶像

備受喜愛崇拜的公眾人物

a person — such as a singer, actor, or athlete — who is greatly loved, admired, and respected by many people, often to the point of being treated as a role model or object of devotion.

例句

As a teenager, Wren had posters of her idol all over her bedroom walls.

Wren 在青少年時期就把偶像的海報貼滿了臥室牆壁。

collocation: have posters of one's idol

The young singer became the idol of millions of fans across Southeast Asia.

這位年輕歌手成為東南亞數百萬粉絲的偶像。

pattern: idol of + [group of people]

同義詞
  • hero

    emphasizes courage, admirable qualities, or achievements — less tied to celebrity culture

  • role model

    focuses on the person's influence and example for others to follow

  • star

    more neutral term for a famous performer; does not carry the same emotional devotion as 'idol'

文法句型

idol + of + [group/nation/genre]

用法筆記

In modern contexts, this sense almost always refers to celebrities in entertainment or sports. The possessive form 'idol of' is common with groups ('idol of teenagers', 'idol of a generation').

常見錯誤

❌My idol is very famous and he has a lot of money.
✅My idol is a famous singer who inspires me to work hard.
💡'idol' emphasizes admiration and respect, not just fame or wealth.
❌She is an idol of me.
✅She is my idol.
💡Use the possessive 'my idol' instead of 'idol of me'.

2. a physical object — such as a picture, carved figure, statue, or symbol — that p

2.名詞B2
釋義

聖像

宗教祈禱所用的圖像或物品

a physical object — such as a picture, carved figure, statue, or symbol — that people use as a focus for prayer and devotion within their religious or spiritual practice.

例句

The worshippers knelt before the idol and offered flowers and incense.

信徒跪在神像前獻上鮮花和香。

verb collocation: kneel before an idol

Anjali's grandmother kept a small idol of Ganesha on a shelf in the kitchen.

Anjali 的祖母在廚房架子上放了一尊小小的象神像。

pattern: idol of + [deity name]

同義詞
  • icon

    specifically a painted religious image in Eastern Christian traditions; also used broadly for any symbol

  • effigy

    a three-dimensional representation of a person, often life-size; more formal and less common in everyday speech

  • statue

    a carved or cast figure of a person or animal; neutral term without religious connotations

文法句型

worship/pray to + an idol

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 3: sense 2 covers any religious object used in prayer (including pictures and symbols), while sense 3 refers specifically to a statue worshipped as a divine being. This sense is also the historical origin of the word's meaning.

常見錯誤

❌The tribe worshiped an idol of a rabbit as their god.
✅The tribe considered the rabbit a sacred animal.
💡Calling something an 'idol' implies a physical representation, not a living animal.

3. a statue, carving, or other sculpted representation that people treat as a divin

3.名詞B2
釋義

神像（雕像）

被當作神明崇拜的雕塑

a statue, carving, or other sculpted representation that people treat as a divine being and pray to as a god, believing it holds spiritual power or authority.

例句

The temple contained a golden idol that had been venerated for centuries.

廟裡有一尊受到數百年崇敬的金色神像。

passive: be venerated for [period]

Takeshi studied how ancient civilizations carved idols from stone and wood for their ceremonies.

Takeshi 研究古代文明如何在儀式中用石頭和木頭雕刻神像。

verb collocation: carve an idol

同義詞
  • effigy

    a representation of a person, often used in rituals; does not necessarily imply worship as a god

  • fetish

    an object believed to have magical powers; used in anthropology, not everyday speech

  • graven image

    a biblical term for an idol carved from stone or metal; very formal or literary register

文法句型

worship + [noun] as an idol

用法筆記

This sense is narrower than sense 2: it applies only to statues or effigies regarded as actual deities, not to pictures, symbols, or objects used as prayer aids. Common in discussions of ancient religions, biblical texts, and anthropological studies.

常見錯誤

❌She keeps an idol of her grandmother on the shelf.
✅She keeps a photo of her grandmother on the shelf.
💡'idol' implies religious worship as a divine being, not a sentimental keepsake.