totem
/ˈtəʊtəm/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈotəm] /ˈtəʊtəm/ (ame, ipa) · [tˈotəm] /ˈtō-təm How to pronounce totem (audio)/ (ame, mw)
totem — 名詞
- totemsingular
- totemsplural
1. A special animal, plant, image, or similar natural sign that a community uses to
圖騰
受族群敬重的文化象徵物
A special animal, plant, image, or similar natural sign that a community uses to express shared identity or sacred belief.
At the museum, Emi sketched the raven totem from the village hall.
在博物館裡，Emi 描下了村會堂裡的烏鴉圖騰。
pattern: [animal] totem
The wooden pole showed each family's totem at the winter ceremony.
那根木柱在冬季儀式上展示各家的圖騰。
Grandfather explained why the whale was their clan's totem.
祖父解釋了為什麼鯨魚是他們氏族的圖騰。
Visitors learned that the eagle totem protected the fishing community.
訪客得知，鷹圖騰守護著這個捕魚社群。
Children painted their group's totem on flags for the cultural fair.
孩子們為文化園遊會在旗子上畫出自己族群的圖騰。
文法句型
[animal/object] totem
totem of [group]
用法筆記
Usually refers to a traditional cultural or religious symbol shared by a family, clan, or community rather than by one person alone.
常見錯誤
2. A person or thing that comes to stand for a larger value, belief, or way of life
象徵
被視為某種價值的代表
A person or thing that comes to stand for a larger value, belief, or way of life in people's minds.
For many fans, the old stadium remains a totem of local pride.
對許多球迷來說，那座老球場仍是地方自豪的象徵。
totem of [value]
The black umbrella became a totem of the protest movement.
那把黑傘成了抗爭運動的象徵。
In the debate, cheap fuel was treated as a totem of freedom.
在這場辯論裡，便宜燃料被當成自由的象徵。
Her grandmother's sewing box stayed a family totem of strength after loss.
她祖母的縫紉盒一直是家人面對失去時堅強的象徵。
After the strike, the red scarf turned into a totem for workers' unity.
罷工之後，紅圍巾成了工人團結的象徵。
文法句型
totem of [idea/value]
totem for [group/cause]
用法筆記
Common in cultural, political, and media writing. Unlike sense 1, this use does not describe a traditional sacred object; it highlights the symbolic weight people give to someone or something.
常見錯誤
3. A family, clan, or larger group whose members see themselves as connected throug
圖騰族群
以同一圖騰認親的家族或部族
A family, clan, or larger group whose members see themselves as connected through the same totem.
In the old records, each totem had its own marriage rules.
在舊紀錄中，每個圖騰族群都有自己的婚配規則。
each totem + singular verb
Children learned which totem their mother's family belonged to.
孩子們學著分辨母親家族屬於哪個圖騰族群。
The elders asked visitors which totem they came from.
長老會問來訪的人出自哪個圖騰族群。
A marriage between the same totem was not allowed.
同一圖騰族群之間不可以通婚。
At the meeting, three totems shared the fishing grounds peacefully.
會議上，三個圖騰族群和平地共享漁場。
文法句型
belong to [a] totem
the same totem
用法筆記
Used mainly in anthropology or history. Here the word names the people linked by the symbol, not the symbol itself.