underworld
/ˈʌndəwɜːld/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈʌndərwɜːrld/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈən-dər-ˌwərld/ (ame, mw)
underworld — noun
1. a hidden network of people involved in illegal activities such as drug trading,
a hidden network of people involved in illegal activities such as drug trading, stealing, and violence, often operating outside the reach of the law and government control
The city's underworld controlled most of the illegal gambling houses in the district.
the + underworld as subject (acting entity)
A local journalist was killed for writing too openly about the criminal underworld.
writing about + the criminal underworld
Detectives spent three years gathering evidence against the underworld leaders.
Walid's novel tells the story of a teenager pulled into the criminal underworld.
Nia discovered that her uncle had deep connections to the Tokyo underworld.
- organized crime
broader term referring to the system itself rather than the people in it
- underbelly
metaphorical, focusing on the hidden, unpleasant side of society; less precise about criminal structure
- gangland
more specific to violent street gangs; less formal in tone
- mainstream society
the lawful, visible world that the underworld operates against
- establishment
official power structures such as government and courts
文法句型
the + underworld
the + criminal + underworld
underworld + [noun]
用法筆記
Almost always used with 'the' — 'the underworld.' Unlike 'underground' (which refers to a subculture or hidden scene), 'underworld' specifically denotes organized criminal networks.
常見錯誤
2. in ancient stories and religious beliefs, a dark underground world where dead so
in ancient stories and religious beliefs, a dark underground world where dead souls are said to dwell
In Greek mythology, the underworld was ruled by the god Hades.
In [mythology], the underworld was… (mythological frame)
Ancient Egyptians believed the underworld was a place where the dead were judged.
believed + the underworld was (clause with belief verb)
The hero Orpheus traveled to the underworld to bring his wife back to life.
Baraka read a book about the underworld described in Norse mythology.
Many ancient cultures describe the underworld as a quiet land of shadows.
- the afterlife
broader term covering any existence after death, not necessarily a physical place beneath the earth
- the next world
more general and neutral; does not specify a location under the earth
- hell
specifically a place of punishment; narrower and more judgmental than the neutral 'underworld'
- the living world
the realm of the living on the earth's surface
- the heavens
the sky realm where gods or blessed souls dwell, opposed to the underground realm of the dead
文法句型
the + underworld
[mythology name] + underworld
travel to + the underworld
用法筆記
Used with 'the.' In specific mythologies, the term may be capitalized (the Underworld) or replaced by a proper name such as Hades or Hel. Common in comparative religion and literature discussions.