heroine
heroine — noun
- heroinesingular
- heroinesplural
1. A woman who is greatly admired because she has done something extremely brave, s
A woman who is greatly admired because she has done something extremely brave, such as risking her life to help others, or because she has achieved something remarkable in her field.
Aiko was called a national heroine after she pulled three children from a burning house.
collocation: national heroine
The young nurse became a wartime heroine for treating wounded soldiers under constant gunfire.
collocation: wartime heroine
Marie Curie is remembered as a scientific heroine whose discoveries changed medicine forever.
The villagers treated the librarian as a heroine for rebuilding the school after the flood.
In many countries, mothers raising children alone are seen as everyday heroines.
- role model
focuses on being an example to follow rather than on brave acts or achievements
- idol
more informal; suggests personal admiration that may be less based on actual heroic deeds
- champion
emphasises fighting for a cause or defending others
常見錯誤
2. The most important female character in a story, book, film, or play, who is usua
The most important female character in a story, book, film, or play, who is usually the one readers or viewers most strongly identify with and who drives the plot forward.
The novel's heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, is famous for her intelligence and independent spirit.
the novel's heroine = the main female character of a book
In the film, the heroine must decide whether to save her village or protect the ancient forest.
Young readers love this series because the heroine is a brave girl who solves mysteries on her own.
The movie's heroine is a quiet high-school student who discovers she has the power to control time.
Unlike typical adventure stories, this one has a heroine who uses clever thinking instead of physical strength.
- protagonist
gender-neutral term for the main character; used in more formal or academic writing
- lead
informal, often used in film and theatre; can refer to any gender
- female lead
specifies gender; common in entertainment industry contexts
- villain
the character who opposes the heroine
- antagonist
the character who works against the protagonist; gender-neutral
用法筆記
The word 'heroine' for a female protagonist is becoming less preferred by some writers, who now use 'hero' for characters of any gender. However, 'heroine' remains standard in publishing, criticism, and classroom settings.
常見錯誤
3. A woman who someone greatly admires because of a particular quality, talent, or
A woman who someone greatly admires because of a particular quality, talent, or skill she possesses, often in daily life or a specific field rather than through extraordinary bravery.
My grandma has always been my personal heroine because of her patience and kindness.
possessive: my personal heroine
Young tennis players around the world see Naomi Osaka as their sporting heroine.
collocation: sporting heroine
When I become a doctor, I hope to help people the way my heroine Dr. Okafor does.
For many food lovers, the chef is a culinary heroine who changed the way people cook at home.
The teacher called her old professor her academic heroine and said she owed her career to her guidance.
- idol
stronger personal admiration; may feel more intense and less grounded in real personal connection
- inspiration
emphasises the effect the person has on you rather than your feeling toward her
- role model
a person whose behaviour is imitated by others; more focused on example-setting
文法句型
possessive + heroine
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense does not require a brave act or a major achievement — the admiration may be personal and private. In writing, a possessive determiner (my, her, our) is very common with this sense.