blessing

/ˈblesɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈblesɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈble-siŋ/ (ame, mw)

blessing — 名詞

1. a prayer asking God to protect or help a person, group, or occasion, or the help

1.名詞
釋義

祝禱；賜福

向上帝求護佑的禱告或護佑

a prayer asking God to protect or help a person, group, or occasion, or the help believed to come from that prayer.

例句

The bishop gave a blessing before the new hospital opened.

主教在新醫院啟用前先做了祝禱。

give a blessing before + event

The family asked for God's blessing before leaving the village.

這家人在離開村子前祈求上帝賜福。

ask for God's blessing

同義詞
  • benediction

    more formal and strongly tied to church language

  • grace

    usually the short prayer said before a meal

  • prayer

    much broader; a blessing specifically asks for divine favor or protection

文法句型

say a blessing

ask for God's blessing on + person

give a blessing before + event

用法筆記

Often appears with verbs like give, say, ask for, or seek in religious settings. It can name either the spoken prayer itself or the divine protection people believe follows it.

常見錯誤

❌We said blessing before dinner.
✅We said a blessing before dinner.
💡when you mean one short prayer, this noun usually needs an article.

2. something unexpectedly good that keeps trouble away or makes life easier.

2.名詞
釋義

幸事；萬幸

帶來好結果的幸運事

something unexpectedly good that keeps trouble away or makes life easier.

例句

It was a blessing that the train stopped before the broken bridge.

火車在斷橋前停下來，真是萬幸。

it is a blessing that + clause

For Hana, the extra week at home was a blessing.

對 Hana 來說，多待在家一週是一件幸事。

同義詞
  • godsend

    stronger and more informal; suggests help arriving at exactly the right time

  • boon

    more formal; often used in writing for something very helpful

  • benefit

    broader and more neutral; not always tied to luck

反義詞
  • curse

    something that brings repeated trouble instead of relief

  • burden

    something that makes life harder rather than easier

文法句型

it is a blessing that + clause

be a blessing for + person

feel like a blessing

用法筆記

Common after danger, delay, illness, or another difficulty, especially in the pattern 'It was a blessing that ...'. Distinguish from sense 3, which is about someone's permission or support, not good luck.

常見錯誤

❌It was a blessing for no one to be hurt.
✅It was a blessing that no one was hurt.
💡English often uses a that-clause when the lucky part is a whole result.

3. someone's clear agreement that a plan, marriage, or decision may go ahead.

3.名詞
釋義

首肯；准許

對計畫或行動表示同意

someone's clear agreement that a plan, marriage, or decision may go ahead.

例句

The board gave its blessing to the museum expansion last night.

董事會昨晚首肯了博物館擴建案。

give your blessing to + plan

Without Aunt Rosa's blessing, Diego delayed the wedding plans.

沒有 Aunt Rosa 的同意，Diego 延後了婚禮安排。

同義詞
  • approval

    the broad everyday word; 'blessing' sounds warmer or more personal

  • consent

    more formal and often used when permission is required

  • backing

    stresses active support, not just permission

  • permission

    focuses on being allowed to act; 'blessing' often adds emotional support

反義詞
  • objection

    shows that someone does not want the action to happen

  • refusal

    clear decision not to allow or support something

文法句型

give your blessing to + plan

with someone's blessing

seek someone's blessing

用法筆記

Usually follows give, have, get, or seek, and the person or group giving approval is often named. Distinguish from sense 1: this use is secular permission or support, not a religious prayer.

常見錯誤

❌My parents blessed to the move.
✅My parents gave their blessing to the move.
💡for approval, English usually uses the noun phrase 'give your blessing to'.