odyssey
/ˈɒdəsi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɑːdəsi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈä-də-sē/ (ame, mw)
odyssey — noun
- odysseysingular
- odysseysplural
1. a long trip or period of life filled with twists, hardships, and meaningful expe
a long trip or period of life filled with twists, hardships, and meaningful experiences — used for both real travel, like a refugee's flight across borders, and inner journeys, like years of searching for one's identity.
Marco's six-month odyssey across South America began with a one-way bus ticket to Lima.
pattern: [name]'s + [duration] + odyssey + across [place]
Anya's recovery from the car crash became a painful odyssey of surgery and physical therapy.
figurative: odyssey of [hardship + growth]
The Tran family's escape from the war zone was a terrifying odyssey through three countries.
Writing his first novel turned into a ten-year odyssey of doubt, rewrites, and small victories.
Mei calls her move from rural Taitung to Tokyo a personal odyssey.
- journey
neutral and general; 'odyssey' adds drama, length, and emotional weight
- quest
emphasises a clear goal being pursued; 'odyssey' emphasises the eventful path itself
- pilgrimage
carries spiritual or devotional purpose; 'odyssey' is broader and need not be religious
- adventure
highlights excitement and risk; 'odyssey' is longer and often life-changing
- errand
a short, routine task — opposite in length and significance
文法句型
a/an + (adjective) + odyssey
odyssey + through/across/of
用法筆記
Mildly literary and slightly formal — common in journalism, memoir, and biography rather than everyday speech. Tone is usually positive even when the journey is hard: it suggests the experience was meaningful and shaped the person. Avoid for short or routine trips.