incarnation
/ˌɪnkɑːˈneɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɪnkɑːrˈneɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌin-(ˌ)kär-ˈnā-shən/ (ame, mw)
incarnation — 名詞
- incarnationsingular
- incarnationsplural
1. In religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism, each separate life a soul passes thr
轉世；前世
靈魂在輪迴中的某一世
In religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism, each separate life a soul passes through on its journey from birth to death and on to another birth.
In Hindu belief, each incarnation brings the soul closer to final freedom.
根據印度教信仰，每一次轉世都讓靈魂更接近最終的解脫。
each + incarnation + bring + closer to [goal]
Deepa's grandmother spoke calmly about her past incarnation as a village healer in northern India.
Deepa 的祖母平靜地談論她前世在印度北部當鄉村治療師的事。
past incarnation + as + role
Some Buddhists believe that kind actions in one incarnation lead to a better next life.
有些佛教徒相信，善良的行為會讓下一世變得更好。
According to the teacher, a soul may pass through many incarnations before reaching peace.
根據老師的說法，靈魂在達到平靜之前可能需要經歷多次轉世。
The old monk described his previous incarnation as a farmer who helped travellers.
那位老僧人描述他前世曾是一名幫助旅人的農夫。
- death
an incarnation ends with death, which leads to the next incarnation
文法句型
someone's + incarnation
in a previous/next incarnation
用法筆記
Often used with a possessive pronoun or adjective (my / his / her / its / previous / next incarnation). Most common in discussions of Eastern religious traditions.
常見錯誤
2. A particular physical form or version that something takes as it develops, chang
形態；版本
事物發展變化中的具體形式
A particular physical form or version that something takes as it develops, changes, or appears in new circumstances — for example, the latest version of an app, or a building that has been remodelled several times.
The latest incarnation of the app includes a much faster search tool.
這款應用程式的最新版本配備了更快速的搜尋工具。
latest incarnation + of [product]
This café is a modern incarnation of the tea house my grandfather ran in Kyoto.
這家咖啡廳是我祖父在京都經營的茶館的現代化身。
In its current incarnation, the park has a wide lake and several bicycle paths.
目前這個公園的樣貌擁有一個大湖和幾條自行車道。
Wei's art project is a digital incarnation of a folk tale about dragons and rivers.
Wei 的藝術作品是關於龍與河流的民間故事的數位化身。
The school's new incarnation as a science academy brought more lab equipment and computers.
該校轉型為科學學院後，增添了更多實驗設備和電腦。
- version
more neutral and common; less tied to creative or conceptual change
- form
simpler and broader; works for any shape or arrangement
- manifestation
more formal; emphasises that something abstract becomes visible
文法句型
[adjective] + incarnation + of + [noun phrase]
用法筆記
Frequently appears with adjectives such as 'latest', 'current', 'modern', 'new', or 'original'. The focus is on something that has changed form but keeps its core identity.
常見錯誤
3. A person who seems to be the perfect or extreme example of a particular quality
典型；化身
某種品質或行為的極致展現
A person who seems to be the perfect or extreme example of a particular quality or type of behaviour — for instance, calling someone the incarnation of kindness, cruelty, or evil.
To her old students, Ms. Hana was the very incarnation of patience and good humour.
在昔日學生眼中，Hana 老師就是耐心與幽默的最佳化身。
the very incarnation + of + [quality]
In the novel, the factory owner is a terrifying incarnation of greed and cruelty.
在這本小說中，工廠老闆是貪婪與殘酷的可怕化身。
Critics called the dictator the living incarnation of tyranny and oppression.
評論家稱那位獨裁者是暴政與壓迫的活生生的化身。
For the neighbourhood children, old Pablo was the incarnation of warmth, always sharing homemade sweets.
對鄰居的孩子們來說，老 Pablo 就是溫暖的化身，總是分享自製的糖果。
The young activist became the incarnation of hope for villagers fighting for clean water.
那位年輕的活動家成為村民為潔淨用水奮鬥的希望化身。
- embodiment
the closest synonym; slightly less dramatic
- personification
emphasises that an abstract idea is represented as a person
- epitome
more formal; suggests a perfect example of a type
- quintessence
very formal; the purest form of a quality
- antithesis
the exact opposite — e.g. 'the antithesis of kindness'
文法句型
the (very/living) incarnation + of + [quality]
用法筆記
Almost always preceded by 'the very', 'the living', or simply 'the' for emphasis. The quality named is usually abstract and emotionally strong (beauty, evil, kindness, greed).
常見錯誤
4. In Christian theology, the act of God appearing on earth as a human being in the
道成肉身；化身
神以人類形象出現（基督教）
In Christian theology, the act of God appearing on earth as a human being in the person of Jesus Christ.
The incarnation of Christ is a central belief in Christian churches around the world.
基督的道成肉身是全世界基督教會的核心信仰。
the incarnation + of + [divine being]
Many Christmas hymns celebrate the incarnation as a moment of divine love and sacrifice.
許多聖誕詩歌頌揚道成肉身是神聖之愛與犧牲的時刻。
The priest explained the meaning of the incarnation to the children during Sunday school.
牧師在主日學向孩子們解釋道成肉身的意義。
Scholars have debated the theological implications of the incarnation for many centuries.
數百年來，學者們一直在辯論道成肉身的神學含義。
Rosa studied the doctrine of the incarnation in her university course on world religions.
Rosa 在大學的世界宗教課程中研究了道成肉身的教義。
- embodiment
general term for a spirit or quality taking physical form
- enfleshment
rare, theological synonym specific to Christian doctrine
- humanation
very rare, academic synonym for God becoming human
文法句型
the Incarnation
incarnation of [deity] + in/as + [human form]
用法筆記
Often capitalised as 'the Incarnation' when referring specifically to the Christian event. In broader religious studies, lowercase 'incarnation' can refer to any deity taking human form.