monument

/ˈmɒnjumənt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmɑːnjumənt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmän-yə-mənt/ (ame, mw)

monument — noun

  • monumentsingular
  • monumentsplural

1. a structure built to keep alive the memory of a great person or a notable event

1.名詞B1
釋義

a structure built to keep alive the memory of a great person or a notable event

例句

A monument to the poet Rumi now stands in the main square of the old city.

monument + to + person (purpose)

The mayor unveiled a stone monument honouring the firefighters who died in the blaze.

同義詞
  • memorial

    often used for structures that specifically honour the dead; more sombre in tone

  • statue

    a carved or cast figure of a person or animal, which may or may not be commemorative

  • shrine

    a holy or sacred place linked to a religious figure; purpose is spiritual devotion rather than public honour

文法句型

monument + to + person/event

monument + for + event

monument + of + material

常見錯誤

❌I visited a monument of the president.
✅I visited a monument to the president.
💡Use 'to' (not 'of') when specifying who or what a monument honours.

2. a building, site, or area from the past that the government protects because of

2.名詞B1
釋義

a building, site, or area from the past that the government protects because of its value to the nation's history or culture

例句

The old castle on the hill is one of the most popular historic monuments in the region.

historic monument (common collocation)

Visitors must not touch the walls of the ancient monument inside the temple grounds.

同義詞
  • landmark

    an easily recognised feature of a landscape or city; may lack official protected status

  • historic site

    a place of historical importance, often covering a larger area than a single monument

  • ruin

    a monument that has been partly destroyed or fallen into decay

文法句型

historic/ancient/national + monument

monument + is + adjective + to be preserved

用法筆記

Frequently paired with adjectives like 'ancient', 'historic', 'national', or 'protected'. In British English, a 'scheduled monument' has specific legal protection.

常見錯誤

❌That cafe is a famous monument in our city.
✅That castle is a famous historic monument in our region.
💡'monument' implies cultural or historical importance; an ordinary building should not be called a monument.

3. something that continues to exist as a powerful example or reminder of a particu

3.名詞B2
釋義

something that continues to exist as a powerful example or reminder of a particular quality, achievement, or type of person

例句

Her collection of paintings is a monument to her lifelong love of Mexican folk art.

be a monument to + quality (figurative use)

The old railway station stands as a monument to the city's industrial history.

stands as a monument to (common figurative pattern)

同義詞
  • testament

    more abstract; often used for evidence of a quality rather than a physical thing ('a testament to her skill')

  • tribute

    can be an action or gift given to show respect, not necessarily a lasting thing

  • symbol

    broader in meaning; represents something by association rather than standing as its direct evidence

文法句型

be a monument to + abstract noun

stand as a monument to + abstract noun

remain a monument to + abstract noun

用法筆記

This figurative sense almost always appears with 'to' introducing an abstract quality or achievement. The subject is usually something that can be seen or experienced — a book, a building, a collection, a career.

常見錯誤

❌His expensive car is a monument to his wealth.
✅His scholarship fund is a monument to his generosity.
💡The figurative 'monument' should refer to something lasting and admirable, not a material possession.