mythological

/ˌmɪθəˈlɒdʒɪkl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌmɪθəˈlɑːdʒɪkl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌmi-thə-ˈlä-ji-kəl/ (ame, mw)

mythological — 形容詞

  • mythologicalpositive
  • more mythologicalcomparative
  • most mythologicalsuperlative

1. Describing characters, places, events, or beliefs that come from the traditional

1.形容詞B2
釋義

神話的

與古代神話故事有關的

Describing characters, places, events, or beliefs that come from the traditional stories a culture tells about its gods, heroes, and the origins of the world.

例句

Hana loved reading about mythological creatures like the phoenix in Chinese folk tales.

Hana 很喜歡閱讀中國民間故事裡像鳳凰這樣的神話生物。

collocation: mythological creatures

Christopher's art project showed scenes from several ancient mythological traditions around the world.

Christopher 的藝術作品展現了來自世界各地多種古老神話傳統的場景。

collocation: mythological traditions

同義詞
  • mythical

    More common in everyday speech; 'mythical' can also mean 'imaginary,' while 'mythological' stays closer to 'from ancient stories.'

  • legendary

    Often describes heroes or events from more recent or semi-historical traditions, not necessarily involving gods.

  • folkloric

    Focuses on the oral tradition and customs of ordinary people rather than formal myths about gods.

  • fabled

    Carries a literary or old-fashioned tone; often used for creatures or places that are famous in stories ('fabled city of gold').

反義詞
  • historical

    Based on recorded facts rather than traditional stories.

  • factual

    Supported by evidence rather than cultural tradition.

文法句型

mythological + noun describing a story, being, or place

be + mythological

用法筆記

Most often used before a noun (attributive position) to describe traditional tales and the beings within them. When used predicatively, as in 'these stories are mythological,' the emphasis is on the cultural origin rather than on factual truth.

常見錯誤

❌I read a mythological novel about a dragon' (when the story is a modern fantasy, not from an ancient tradition).
✅I read a mythological story about the dragon in Chinese folklore.
💡'Mythological' refers to stories from ancient cultural traditions, not all fiction with fantastic elements.
❌The mythological story is not true, so nobody cares about it.
✅The mythological story is still studied because it reveals the values of the ancient society.
💡A story can be mythological and still be culturally valuable regardless of factual accuracy.

2. Used to describe a claim, belief, or idea that people repeat or accept even thou

2.形容詞C1
釋義

虛構的

缺乏事實根據的

Used to describe a claim, belief, or idea that people repeat or accept even though it has no basis in facts or evidence.

例句

Yael dismissed the mythological story about the haunted house after she saw the hidden wires.

Yael 看到隱藏的電線後，就不相信那棟鬼屋的虛構說法。

critical use: mythological story with no evidence

The mythological promise of instant wealth convinced many people to invest their savings.

那份一夜致富的虛構承諾，說服了許多人投入積蓄。

同義詞
  • mythical

    More frequent than 'mythological' in this meaning; 'mythical' is the usual choice for everyday dismissal of a claim.

  • imaginary

    Focuses on the invention in someone's mind rather than on the spread of a shared false belief.

  • fictional

    Neutral and factual; implies something was deliberately invented as a story, not necessarily believed.

  • unfounded

    More formal; suggests a claim lacks evidence without implying it originated from storytelling.

反義詞
  • real

    Based on actual existence rather than invention.

  • factual

    Supported by verifiable evidence.

  • authenticated

    Officially confirmed as genuine or true.

文法句型

mythological + abstract noun (claim, promise, tale)

be + mythological

用法筆記

This sense often carries a skeptical or dismissive tone — the speaker is distancing themselves from an idea they consider unsupported. Common in journalism and debate. Distinguish from Sense 1 (ANCIENT STORIES): if the topic is about actual ancient cultural traditions, use Sense 1; if it is about a modern belief or rumour with no evidence, use this sense.

常見錯誤

❌The Greek mythological gods lived on Mount Olympus.' (when describing actual ancient beliefs).
✅The Greek mythological gods lived on Mount Olympus.
💡This is correct for Sense 1. But a learner should not use this sense (NOT REAL) when talking about actual cultural traditions. ❌ 'Zeus is a mythological god, so he never existed.' — While true for Sense 2, it misses the cultural importance that Sense 1 captures.