legend

legend — 名詞

1. an old story, often about heroes, magical creatures, or important events, that h

1.名詞B1
釋義

傳說；傳奇

古老且未必真實的故事

an old story, often about heroes, magical creatures, or important events, that has been passed down through many generations and may not be historically accurate

例句

Leila's grandfather told her the legend of a giant turtle that carries the world.

Leila 的祖父告訴她一個關於巨龜承載世界的傳說。

legend of [something] — names the story's subject

According to legend, a brave warrior once defeated a dragon in these mountains.

根據傳說，一位勇敢的戰士曾在這些山中擊敗一條巨龍。

according to legend — fixed phrase for introducing a traditional story

同義詞
  • myth

    emphasises supernatural beings and explanations of natural phenomena; more strongly implies fiction

  • folklore

    broader term for the entire body of traditional beliefs, stories, and customs of a community

  • tale

    general word for a story, often fictional; less weighty than 'legend'

  • saga

    a long story of heroic achievement, especially from Norse or Icelandic tradition

反義詞
  • fact

    a piece of verified information, the opposite of a traditional unverified story

  • history

    a factual record of past events, as opposed to legendary accounts

文法句型

legend + of + subject

legend + about + subject

according to legend

用法筆記

Frequently paired with 'according to' and followed by 'of' to name the story's subject. Works as both a count noun ('an old Greek legend') and a non-count noun ('figures from ancient legend').

常見錯誤

❌The legend of the lost city is a proven historical fact.
✅The legend of the lost city is a traditional story that may contain some truth.
💡Legends are traditional narratives that are not verified as historical facts.

2. a person who is extremely famous and deeply admired for extraordinary achievemen

2.名詞B1
釋義

傳奇人物

極為出名且受敬仰的人

a person who is extremely famous and deeply admired for extraordinary achievements, talent, or influence within a specific domain

例句

To jazz fans worldwide, singer Esme is a legend who defined an entire era.

對全世界的爵士樂迷來說，歌手 Esme 是一位定義了整個時代的傳奇人物。

legend + in/of + [field] — specifies the area of fame

After winning three Olympic gold medals, Diego became a true legend in competitive swimming.

在贏得三面奧運金牌後，Diego 成了競技游泳界名副其實的傳奇。

同義詞
  • icon

    emphasises symbolic or representative status; slightly more formal

  • star

    focuses on fame in entertainment or sports; can be less permanent

  • celebrity

    emphasises media attention and public recognition; may lack the admiration element

  • luminary

    more formal; often used for intellectual or scientific figures

反義詞
  • nobody

    informal; someone who is not famous at all

  • unknown

    a person who has no public recognition

文法句型

legend + in/of + field

a + adjective + legend

living legend

用法筆記

Subject is usually followed by 'of' or 'in' to specify the field ('a legend of jazz', 'a legend in basketball'). The adjective 'living' is a common modifier meaning the person is still alive. 'True legend' can also be used for emphasis. Avoid using this sense for someone who is merely temporarily famous — the word implies lasting admiration.

常見錯誤

❌He is a legend in our office, but nobody outside has heard of him.
✅He is a legend in the world of classical music.
💡A legend implies widespread, lasting fame, not just local or temporary recognition.

3. the written information on a map, chart, diagram, or coin that explains what the

3.名詞B2
釋義

圖例；說明

地圖圖表上的符號說明

the written information on a map, chart, diagram, or coin that explains what the symbols, colours, or markings mean

例句

Theo studied the map's legend to find hiking trails in the national park.

Theo 查看了地圖的圖例，尋找國家公園內的健行步道。

map's legend / map legend — paired noun

The chart legend on page twelve shows that blue areas represent high rainfall levels.

第十二頁的圖表圖例顯示藍色區域代表降雨量較高。

同義詞
  • key

    more common for digital maps and software; more conversational

  • caption

    refers to text under or beside an image, not a symbol key

  • inscription

    specifically for writing on coins, medals, or monuments

文法句型

legend + of + map/chart/diagram

the + noun + legend

用法筆記

Distinguish from the 'famous person' sense — this meaning is specific to cartography, design, and numismatics. The synonym 'key' is more common for interactive digital maps and software diagrams. On coins, the term specifically refers to the inscription around the edge.

常見錯誤

❌Please write a legend for your painting.
✅Please add a legend to your map explaining the symbols.
💡In this sense, legend refers specifically to explanatory text on maps, charts, and diagrams, not to a general caption or title for artwork.