heritage
/ˈherɪtɪdʒ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈherɪtɪdʒ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈher-ə-tij ˈhe-rə-/ (ame, mw) · /ˈher.ɪ.tɪdʒ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈher.ɪ.t̬ɪdʒ/ (ame, ipa)
heritage — noun
- heritagesingular
- heritagesplural
1. The traditions, buildings, art, and language that a society keeps from earlier t
The traditions, buildings, art, and language that a society keeps from earlier times and cares about as part of what makes it special.
The old city of Kyoto is famous for its rich cultural heritage and beautiful temples.
collocation: cultural heritage
Amani is learning traditional drumming from her grandmother to help preserve her family's heritage.
The government set aside money to protect the country's architectural heritage.
Teachers in the village show children old photographs so they understand their local heritage.
- legacy
focuses on what is left behind by past generations, often including money or property as well as culture
- tradition
narrower — refers specifically to customs and beliefs rather than the full set of cultural assets
- inheritance
can refer to culture, but more commonly used for property or money received from family
文法句型
[possessive] + heritage
heritage + of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Almost always used as an uncountable noun. Common with possessive determiners (our heritage, the country's heritage).
常見錯誤
2. A person's family background — for instance, the country, culture, religion, or
A person's family background — for instance, the country, culture, religion, or ethnic group that their parents and grandparents came from.
Tuan's Vietnamese heritage influences the way he celebrates the Lunar New Year.
possessive + heritage for personal background
On the form, candidates can select more than one option for their ethnic heritage.
collocation: ethnic heritage
Soraya takes pride in her Persian heritage and shares stories from her grandparents.
The exhibition at the museum explores the African heritage of many communities in Brazil.
- background
more general; can also include education and life experience
- ancestry
focuses specifically on the line of ancestors rather than cultural identity
- roots
more informal and emotional, suggesting a strong personal connection to one's place of origin
文法句型
[possessive] + heritage
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 refers to a whole society's shared cultural assets; sense 2 refers to an individual's inherited identity.
常見錯誤
3. Customs, skills, and ways of thinking that are passed from older people to young
Customs, skills, and ways of thinking that are passed from older people to younger people within a group, often for many generations.
The islanders have a strong heritage of storytelling that goes back hundreds of years.
heritage + of + gerund
Bilal's family heritage of woodworking has been passed down for five generations.
This region's musical heritage is clearly heard in the songs sung at every local festival.
The community's farming heritage means the land is cared for with methods learned from elders.
文法句型
heritage + of + [activity]
用法筆記
Often combines with a field or activity — musical heritage, literary heritage, farming heritage — to describe long-standing practices within a domain.
常見錯誤
heritage — adjective
- heritagepositive
- more heritagecomparative
- most heritagesuperlative
1. Describing buildings, places, or works of art that are officially recognised as
Describing buildings, places, or works of art that are officially recognised as historically important and are protected by law.
The city council voted to place the old theatre on the heritage list.
heritage + noun (list, site, area)
Visitors can explore several heritage sites within walking distance of the hotel.
The heritage area of the town is protected by strict rules about new buildings.
A heritage plaque on the wall explains what happened in this house during the war.
- historic
broader — can describe any place or object of historical interest, not just officially protected ones
- listed
specifically British — means the building is on the official national list of protected structures
- conservation
used to describe zones or policies aimed at preserving historic character
文法句型
heritage + noun
用法筆記
Used only before a noun (attributive). In British English, a 'heritage site' or 'heritage building' has official legal protection. American English more commonly uses 'historic' for the same meaning.
常見錯誤
2. Describing a type of fruit, vegetable, seed, or farm animal that was commonly gr
Describing a type of fruit, vegetable, seed, or farm animal that was commonly grown or raised in the past but is now rare because of modern farming methods.
Farmers in the region still grow heritage apples that are rarely seen in supermarkets.
heritage + noun for plant varieties
The garden centre sells heritage seeds for tomatoes that taste like the old-fashioned kind.
Amelia keeps heritage chickens that lay eggs with pale blue and green shells.
Heritage breeds of pigs are harder to find but taste much richer than modern ones.
- heirloom
more common for plant varieties, especially vegetables and flowers; 'heritage' is also used for animals
- traditional
broader — does not specifically imply rarity or old-fashioned status
文法句型
heritage + noun (plant/animal/food variety)
用法筆記
Commonly used with nouns for plants (heritage tomato, heritage apple) or animals (heritage breed, heritage chicken). These varieties are valued for their flavour, appearance, or genetic diversity rather than for high productivity.