venerable

/ˈven.ər.ə.bəl/ (bre, ipa) · [vˈɛnɚəbəl] /ˈven.ər.ə.bəl/ (ame, ipa) · [vˈɛnɚəbəl] /ˈve-nər(-ə)-bəl ˈven-rə-bəl/ (ame, mw)

venerable — 形容詞

  • venerablepositive
  • more venerablecomparative
  • most venerablesuperlative

1. earning deep respect from others because the person, place, or institution has r

1.形容詞C1
釋義

德高望重的

因年資、地位或歷史而受人崇敬

earning deep respect from others because the person, place, or institution has reached a great age, holds a high position, or carries strong religious or historical weight.

例句

Niran led us into the venerable temple at the edge of the village.

Niran 帶我們走進村子邊那座德高望重的古老寺廟。

attributive use before a concrete noun (building / institution)

Roya inherited a venerable wooden desk that had been in her family for six generations.

Roya 繼承了一張歷經六代的德高望重木製書桌。

同義詞
  • esteemed

    broader and more neutral; works for living professionals without requiring age

  • revered

    stronger devotion or awe, often religious; venerable is more about earned dignity than worship

  • august

    very formal, emphasises grandeur and noble bearing; less tied to age than venerable

反義詞
  • disreputable

    implies a damaged reputation, the opposite of earned respect

用法筆記

Almost always attributive — placed directly before the noun (venerable + person/place/object/tradition). Subjects are typically things people associate with long history: institutions, buildings, traditions, family members of high standing. Rare in everyday speech; common in journalism, formal writing, and ceremonial contexts.

常見錯誤

❌Yuki is venerable.
✅Yuki is highly respected.
💡venerable does not work as a simple compliment for someone you respect; reserve it for figures whose age, rank, or historical weight commands awe.
❌The new building is venerable.
✅The old stone library is venerable.
💡venerable requires age or long history; a brand-new thing cannot be venerable.

2. a formal Anglican title placed before an archdeacon's name and written with a ca

2.形容詞C2
釋義

會吏長閣下

英國國教副主教（會吏長）的尊稱

a formal Anglican title placed before an archdeacon's name and written with a capital V; specific to senior clergy of that rank in the English national church.

例句

The service was led by the Venerable Asher Greene, archdeacon of the diocese.

這場禮拜由教區會吏長閣下 Asher Greene 主持。

title pattern: the Venerable + first name + last name

Renata sent a polite letter addressed to the Venerable James Holloway.

Renata 寄了一封措辭客氣的信給會吏長閣下 James Holloway。

同義詞
  • Reverend

    more general clerical title; the Venerable is specifically for archdeacons

文法句型

the Venerable + name

用法筆記

Distinct from sense 1: this is a title, capitalised and placed before a personal name, never used predicatively. Only applies to Anglican archdeacons. Do not confuse with sense 3 (Catholic) or sense 4 (Buddhist), which are separate religious titles.

常見錯誤

❌venerable Asher Greene
✅the Venerable Asher Greene
💡the title needs a capital V and the definite article 'the' when placed before a personal name.

3. a formal Catholic title granted after death to someone whose life of holiness ha

3.形容詞C2
釋義

可敬者

天主教冊封聖人過程中的稱號

a formal Catholic title granted after death to someone whose life of holiness has been officially recognised by Rome, marking the first stage on the path toward canonisation.

例句

Chiara wrote her thesis about the life of the Venerable Matt Talbot, an Irish labourer.

Chiara 寫的論文是關於愛爾蘭勞工可敬者 Matt Talbot 的一生。

title pattern: the Venerable + first name + last name

The bishop spoke about the Venerable Fulton Sheen during the morning homily.

主教在晨間講道時談到可敬者 Fulton Sheen。

同義詞
  • Servant of God

    the stage before Venerable in the Catholic canonisation process

文法句型

the Venerable + name

用法筆記

Distinct from sense 2 (Anglican archdeacon, living) — sense 3 is given posthumously by the Catholic Church as the first formal step in the canonisation process. The person has not yet been beatified or canonised. Always capitalised and preceded by 'the'.

常見錯誤

❌She is the Venerable Maria.' (of a living person)
✅The Venerable Maria was declared so after her death.
💡the Catholic title is granted only after death.

4. used as a formal title placed before the monastic name of a Buddhist monk or nun

4.形容詞C2
釋義

尊者

佛教中對僧尼的敬稱

used as a formal title placed before the monastic name of a Buddhist monk or nun to show respect for their ordained status.

例句

Jessica bowed as the Venerable Thich Quang entered the meditation hall.

Jessica 在尊者釋廣走進禪堂時恭敬地行禮。

title pattern: Venerable + monastic name

The Venerable Ajahn Sumedho gave a short talk on patience after the morning chanting.

尊者阿姜蘇美多在早課之後簡短地開示了關於忍耐的法語。

同義詞
  • Bhante

    Pali honorific used in Theravada Buddhism; Venerable is the English equivalent

文法句型

Venerable + monastic name

用法筆記

Distinct from senses 2 and 3 — this is the standard English rendering of monastic respect titles such as Bhante / Ven. / Ayya. Often abbreviated 'Ven.' in writing. Used of living monks and nuns, unlike the Catholic sense 3 which is posthumous.

常見錯誤

❌I met venerable Thich Nhat Hanh.
✅I met the Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh.
💡the title needs the definite article 'the' and a capital V when placed before a monastic name.