millennium

millennium — 名詞

1. a length of time equal to one thousand years, used especially when talking about

1.名詞B2
釋義

千年

長達一千年的時間跨度

a length of time equal to one thousand years, used especially when talking about history, archaeology, or the distant past

例句

The Great Pyramid of Giza has stood for nearly five millennia.

吉薩大金字塔已經屹立了近五千年。

plural form 'millennia' for long time spans

Archaeologists uncovered pottery from a settlement that disappeared more than three millennia ago.

考古學家挖出了三千多年前消失的一個聚落留下的陶器。

同義詞
  • thousand years

    the everyday equivalent; less formal and more literal than 'millennium'

  • century

    a period of 100 years, not 1,000; used where 'millennium' would be too large a unit

用法筆記

The plural form 'millennia' (from Latin) is the standard in academic and formal writing. 'Millenniums' is accepted in less formal contexts but is far less common.

常見錯誤

❌Two millenniums have passed since the last Ice Age
✅Two millennia have passed since the last Ice Age
💡The standard Latin plural is 'millennia', not 'millenniums'.
❌The company has existed for a millennium' (used for 50 years)
✅The company has existed for half a century
💡A millennium is exactly 1,000 years, not a loose synonym for 'a very long time.'

2. the year 2000 and the widespread celebrations, cultural changes, and preparation

2.名詞B1
釋義

千禧年

西元2000年的到來及相關活動

the year 2000 and the widespread celebrations, cultural changes, and preparations that surrounded it, marking the end of the second millennium and the start of the third

例句

Huge crowds gathered in London to welcome the millennium with fireworks and street parties.

大批群眾聚集在倫敦，以煙火和街頭派對迎接千禧年。

welcome the millennium = celebrate the year 2000

The government spent billions fixing computers before the millennium to avoid the Y2K bug.

政府在千禧年前花費數十億修復電腦，以避免千禧蟲問題。

同義詞
  • Y2K

    informal abbreviation for the year 2000, often referring to the computer bug scare

  • turn of the century

    broader term; can refer to any century change, not specifically the year 2000

用法筆記

Often preceded by 'the' ('the millennium') to refer specifically to the year 2000 transition. The capitalised form 'Millennium' was common in media at the time but has since become less frequent.

常見錯誤

❌The new millennium starts in 2001
✅Most people celebrated the new millennium in 2000
💡Although the third millennium technically began on 1 January 2001, public celebrations worldwide took place on 31 December 1999.

3. in Christian theology, a future thousand-year period when Christ is expected to

3.名詞C1
釋義

千年國度

基督將統治世界的一千年

in Christian theology, a future thousand-year period when Christ is expected to rule the earth in peace and justice, based on a prophecy found in the Bible's final book

例句

The pastor's sermon explored different views on the millennium found in the Book of Revelation.

牧師的講道探討了《啟示錄》中關於千年國度的不同觀點。

the millennium in a religious/theological context

Some early Christian groups believed the millennium would begin within their own lifetimes.

有些早期基督徒團體相信千年國度在他們有生之年就會降臨。

同義詞

用法筆記

Typically used with 'the' and often capitalised ('the Millennium') in theological writing. Distinguish from sense 2 (YEAR 2000): this sense refers to a prophesied future reign, not a historical calendar event.

常見錯誤

❌The millennium party at church celebrated the year 2000' (when discussing theology)
✅The church held a conference on the millennium described in Revelation.
💡The religious sense is about a future reign of Christ, not the year 2000 celebration.

4. a celebration or ceremony held to mark the date exactly one thousand years after

4.名詞B2
釋義

千週年

一千週年紀念活動

a celebration or ceremony held to mark the date exactly one thousand years after the founding of a city, institution, or other significant event

例句

The city of Oxford is preparing for its millennium with a series of events in 2027.

牛津市正籌劃在 2027 年以一系列活動慶祝建市千週年。

city/institution + millennium = 1000th anniversary

A special postage stamp was issued for the town's millennium celebration.

鎮上為千週年慶典發行了一款特別郵票。

同義詞

用法筆記

Followed by a possessive noun or 'of' phrase ('the city's millennium', 'the millennium of the founding') to specify whose anniversary is being marked.

常見錯誤

❌We celebrated the company's millennium with a dinner' (for a 50th anniversary)
✅We celebrated the company's 50th anniversary with a dinner.
💡A millennium is 1,000 years, not just a fancy word for 'anniversary.'