canon

/ˈkænən/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkænən/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈka-nən/ (ame, mw)

canon — 名詞

1. a Christian priest who works as part of the group of clergy that serve a cathedr

1.名詞B2
釋義

法政牧師

在大教堂任職的基督教神職人員

a Christian priest who works as part of the group of clergy that serve a cathedral and may have special duties during services.

例句

Canon Thomas led the evening service at St. Paul's Cathedral.

Canon Thomas 在聖保羅大教堂主持了晚間禮拜。

title + name structure: Canon + [name]

The new canon was appointed to oversee the cathedral's music programme.

新任命的法政牧師負責管理大教堂的音樂事務。

countable noun with appointed to + role

同義詞
  • clergyman

    broader term for any male Christian priest; canon is a specific type

  • minister

    Protestant church equivalent; canon is typically used in Anglican and Catholic contexts

用法筆記

When used as a title before a name, 'Canon' is capitalized: Canon Wen. Do not confuse with the military rank 'colonel'.

2. a generally accepted standard or guideline that members of a profession, communi

2.名詞B2
釋義

規範；原則

特定領域公認的規則或標準

a generally accepted standard or guideline that members of a profession, community, or field use to shape their decisions and actions.

例句

The canons of journalism demand that reporters always check their sources.

新聞工作的規範要求記者務必查證消息來源。

canon of + [field] for professional standards

Leila's building design follows the classical canons of proportion and balance.

Leila 的建築設計遵循古典的比例與均衡原則。

classical canons of + [quality]

同義詞
  • principle

    broader and more common in everyday language; canon suggests formal or institutional authority

  • standard

    more general term for an expected level of quality; canon has a stronger sense of tradition

  • rule

    more concrete and enforceable; canon often refers to an accepted principle rather than a specific regulation

  • code

    a full system of rules; canon can be part of a code or the whole body of rules

用法筆記

Often used in plural form (canons) even when referring to a body of rules. In legal contexts, 'canon' may refer specifically to church law (canon law).

常見錯誤

❌This goes against the cannon of good taste.
✅This goes against the canons of good taste.
💡'cannon' (double n) means a large gun; 'canon' (single n) means a rule or principle.

3. the set of books, films, artworks, or other creative works that experts regard a

3.名詞B1
釋義

經典；正典

公認的重要作品全集或真作集

the set of books, films, artworks, or other creative works that experts regard as the genuine creations of a particular person or as the most important and worthy of study.

例句

Shakespeare's established canon includes 37 plays and over 150 poems.

莎士比亞的既定經典包括三十七部劇作與超過一百五十首詩。

[author]'s canon includes + [works]

The literary canon taught in schools has been debated for decades.

學校教授的文學經典幾十年來一直備受爭論。

the literary canon / the Western canon

同義詞
  • oeuvre

    refers to all works by one artist; canon adds the idea that some works are accepted as genuine or significant, while others may be excluded

  • corpus

    neutral term for a collection of works; canon implies selection and authority

  • classics

    emphasizes lasting quality and value; canon may include works that are important but not necessarily classic

反義詞
  • apocrypha

    works of doubtful authenticity, excluded from the canon

用法筆記

When referring to the biblical canon, the word is often capitalized (the Canon). In literary and cultural contexts, 'the canon' frequently appears with modifiers such as 'literary canon,' 'Western canon,' or 'film canon.'

常見錯誤

❌This novel is part of the cannon of English literature.
✅This novel is part of the canon of English literature.
💡'cannon' (military weapon) vs. 'canon' (accepted works) are easily confused.

4. a way of composing or singing where an initial tune is started by one voice or i

4.名詞C1
釋義

卡農；輪唱曲

聲部依次模仿同一旋律的樂曲形式

a way of composing or singing where an initial tune is started by one voice or instrument, then other performers join in one after another with the same tune while earlier parts keep going.

例句

The choir performed a four-part canon by Johann Pachelbel.

合唱團演唱了帕海貝爾創作的四部卡農。

[number]-part canon by + [composer]

The children sang a simple canon called 'Frère Jacques' in music class.

孩子們在音樂課上唱了一首名為《雅克兄弟》的簡單輪唱曲。

同義詞
  • round

    a simple, playful type of canon with exact repetition; canon is the broader, more formal term

用法筆記

A 'round' (such as 'Row, Row, Row Your Boat') is a simple type of canon where each part sings the same melody. In more complex canons, the melody may be transformed (inverted, slowed, or reversed) in later entries.