underworld
/ˈʌndəwɜːld/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈʌndərwɜːrld/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈən-dər-ˌwərld/ (ame, mw)
underworld — 名詞
1. a hidden network of people involved in illegal activities such as drug trading,
黑社會
從事非法活動的秘密犯罪網絡
a hidden network of people involved in illegal activities such as drug trading, stealing, and violence, often operating outside the reach of the law and government control
The city's underworld controlled most of the illegal gambling houses in the district.
這個城市的黑社會控制了該區大部分的非法賭場。
the + underworld as subject (acting entity)
A local journalist was killed for writing too openly about the criminal underworld.
一名當地記者因過於公開地報導犯罪黑社會而遭殺害。
writing about + the criminal underworld
Detectives spent three years gathering evidence against the underworld leaders.
警方花了三年時間蒐集黑社會首腦的證據。
Walid's novel tells the story of a teenager pulled into the criminal underworld.
Walid 的小說講述了一名青少年被拉進犯罪黑社會的故事。
Nia discovered that her uncle had deep connections to the Tokyo underworld.
Nia 發現她的叔叔與東京黑社會有深厚的關係。
- organized crime
broader term referring to the system itself rather than the people in it
- underbelly
metaphorical, focusing on the hidden, unpleasant side of society; less precise about criminal structure
- gangland
more specific to violent street gangs; less formal in tone
- mainstream society
the lawful, visible world that the underworld operates against
- establishment
official power structures such as government and courts
文法句型
the + underworld
the + criminal + underworld
underworld + [noun]
用法筆記
Almost always used with 'the' — 'the underworld.' Unlike 'underground' (which refers to a subculture or hidden scene), 'underworld' specifically denotes organized criminal networks.
常見錯誤
2. in ancient stories and religious beliefs, a dark underground world where dead so
冥界；陰間
傳說中死者靈魂居住的地下世界
in ancient stories and religious beliefs, a dark underground world where dead souls are said to dwell
In Greek mythology, the underworld was ruled by the god Hades.
在希臘神話中，冥界由黑帝斯神統治。
In [mythology], the underworld was… (mythological frame)
Ancient Egyptians believed the underworld was a place where the dead were judged.
古埃及人相信冥界是死者接受審判的地方。
believed + the underworld was (clause with belief verb)
The hero Orpheus traveled to the underworld to bring his wife back to life.
英雄 Orpheus 前往冥界將他的妻子帶回人間。
Baraka read a book about the underworld described in Norse mythology.
Baraka 讀了一本關於北歐神話中冥界的書。
Many ancient cultures describe the underworld as a quiet land of shadows.
許多古老文化將冥界描述為一個安靜的陰影國度。
- the afterlife
broader term covering any existence after death, not necessarily a physical place beneath the earth
- the next world
more general and neutral; does not specify a location under the earth
- hell
specifically a place of punishment; narrower and more judgmental than the neutral 'underworld'
- the living world
the realm of the living on the earth's surface
- the heavens
the sky realm where gods or blessed souls dwell, opposed to the underground realm of the dead
文法句型
the + underworld
[mythology name] + underworld
travel to + the underworld
用法筆記
Used with 'the.' In specific mythologies, the term may be capitalized (the Underworld) or replaced by a proper name such as Hades or Hel. Common in comparative religion and literature discussions.