pagan
pagan — 形容詞
1. connected with an older religion outside the main world faiths, often one with s
異教的
屬於古代多神教等非主流宗教的
connected with an older religion outside the main world faiths, often one with several gods.
The museum displayed pagan statues from ancient Greece beside Roman coins.
博物館展出了來自古希臘的異教雕像，旁邊還陳列著羅馬錢幣。
collocation: pagan statues
Local farmers kept some pagan spring customs after the empire became Christian.
帝國改信基督教後，當地農民仍保留了一些異教的春季習俗。
The textbook explains how pagan gods shaped early northern stories.
課本解釋了異教諸神如何影響北方早期故事。
A stone pagan temple once stood on the hill above town.
城鎮上方的山丘上曾經立著一座石造的異教神殿。
The play shows pagan priests praying before the battle begins.
這齣戲演出異教祭司在戰鬥開始前祈禱的情景。
- polytheistic
more precise when the focus is belief in many gods
- pre-Christian
stresses that the religion existed before Christianity spread
- heathen
older and often disapproving, unlike the more neutral historical use of 'pagan'
- monotheistic
describes religions centered on one god
文法句型
pagan + noun
pagan gods/temples/rituals
用法筆記
Common in history, literature, and discussion of older religions. Distinguish from adjective sense 2, which refers to present-day belief groups rather than ancient ones.
常見錯誤
2. connected with a present-day religion outside the main world faiths, often cente
新異教的
屬於現代自然崇拜等新異教信仰的
connected with a present-day religion outside the main world faiths, often centered on nature.
The shop sells pagan candles, herbs, and books about moon rituals.
那家店販售新異教用的蠟燭、藥草和介紹月亮儀式的書。
modern pagan objects and practice
Lena joined a pagan group that meets in the forest monthly.
Lena 加入了一個每月在森林裡聚會的新異教團體。
pattern: pagan group
The radio host interviewed pagan leaders at the summer gathering.
那位廣播主持人在夏季聚會上訪問了新異教領袖。
Their pagan wedding included flowers, songs, and a circle in the garden.
他們的新異教婚禮有花朵、歌曲，還在花園裡圍成一個圈。
The website lists pagan events for people interested in nature worship.
那個網站列出新異教活動，供對自然崇拜有興趣的人參考。
- neo-pagan
a more exact label for modern forms of pagan belief
- nature-based
describes the focus on nature but is broader than 'pagan'
- earth-centered
highlights respect for nature and seasonal practice
文法句型
pagan + noun
pagan group/festival/wedding
用法筆記
Usually refers to present-day groups, events, and beliefs, and some followers write it with an uppercase P. Distinguish from adjective sense 1, which is mainly about older religions in history.
常見錯誤
pagan — 名詞
1. someone who follows an older religion outside the main world faiths, often one w
異教徒
信奉古代多神教等非主流宗教的人
someone who follows an older religion outside the main world faiths, often one with several gods.
The soldier refused baptism because he was still a pagan.
那名士兵拒絕受洗，因為他仍是一名異教徒。
pattern: a pagan
In the novel, a pagan hides his wooden gods from soldiers.
小說裡，一名異教徒把自己的木製神像藏起來，不讓士兵發現。
historical believer in many gods
The bishop preached against pagans living beyond the city walls.
主教宣講時反對住在城牆外的異教徒。
Marcus played a pagan who prayed to Mars before battle.
Marcus 飾演一名在戰前向 Mars 祈禱的異教徒。
Village elders feared the pagan from the hills would reject church law.
村裡的長者擔心那名來自山上的異教徒會拒絕接受教會法。
- polytheist
more precise and neutral when the person believes in many gods
- heathen
older and often insulting, especially in modern use
- idolater
strongly disapproving and focused on image worship
- monotheist
someone who believes in one god
文法句型
a pagan
pagans + plural verb
用法筆記
Common in writing about ancient Rome, Greece, and early Christianity. In older Christian language it could also mean a person outside Christianity, and that use may sound judgmental today; compare noun 3 for present-day self-identification.
常見錯誤
2. someone who does not follow or believe in any religion.
無信仰者
沒有任何宗教信仰的人
someone who does not follow or believe in any religion.
At dinner, Eva laughed and called herself a pagan, not a believer.
晚餐時，Eva 笑著說自己是個無信仰者，不是信徒。
used for someone with no religion
Grandpa joked that Max was a pagan because he never entered church.
爺爺開玩笑說 Max 是個無信仰者，因為他從不進教堂。
pattern: call someone a pagan
Neighbors sometimes call Ben a pagan because he says prayer means nothing.
鄰居有時會說 Ben 是無信仰者，因為他說祈禱毫無意義。
Some church members called the new mayor a pagan because he rejected all religion.
一些教會成員稱新市長是無信仰者，因為他拒絕一切宗教。
Her aunt says the whole family are pagans after years away from worship.
她的阿姨說這一家人多年不做禮拜，現在全成了無信仰者。
- atheist
more exact for someone who does not believe in any god
- unbeliever
often means a person without the speaker's faith
- nonbeliever
broader and usually less old-fashioned than this sense of 'pagan'
- believer
someone who has religious faith
- worshipper
someone who actively takes part in worship
文法句型
a pagan
call someone a pagan
用法筆記
Often used loosely, jokingly, or from a religious point of view rather than as a careful label. Distinguish from noun 1 and noun 3, both of which describe people who do follow a religion.
常見錯誤
3. someone who follows a present-day religion outside the main world faiths, often
新異教徒
信奉現代新異教或自然崇拜的人
someone who follows a present-day religion outside the main world faiths, often one that honors nature.
Mia became a pagan after joining a group that honors the seasons.
Mia 加入一個尊重四季循環的團體後，成了新異教徒。
modern self-identification
Several pagans met at sunrise to welcome the longest day.
幾位新異教徒在日出時集合，迎接一年中白天最長的一天。
modern seasonal practice
The festival invited local pagans to lead a nature prayer.
那場節慶邀請本地新異教徒帶領大家向大自然祈禱。
Ethan's sister is a pagan and keeps herbs by the window.
Ethan 的姊姊是一名新異教徒，會把藥草放在窗邊。
Two pagans from Taichung taught children about herbs and moon signs.
兩位來自台中的新異教徒教孩子認識藥草和月亮符號。
- neo-pagan
the most exact term for a follower of modern paganism
- Wiccan
a narrower word for one specific modern pagan religion
- nature worshipper
descriptive, but broader and less exact than 'pagan'
文法句型
a pagan
pagans + plural verb
用法筆記
Often used by present-day followers as a self-description, sometimes written with an uppercase P. Distinguish from noun 1, which usually points to older religions in historical settings.