1
bastion of sth
后常接抽象名词，如 free speech、democracy、tradition，指在某一原则或价值观上的坚定堡垒。
The university has long been a bastion of free speech.
这所大学长期以来一直是言论自由的坚定捍卫者。
中坚力量；坚定捍卫者
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
中坚力量；坚定捍卫者
a person, group, or thing that strongly defends a principle or belief
The university has long been a bastion of free speech.
这所大学长期以来一直是言论自由的坚定捍卫者。
壁垒或其他防御工事的突出部分。
A projecting part of a rampart or other fortification.
防御坚固的位置；要塞或堡垒。
A well-fortified position; a stronghold or citadel.
坚决捍卫某项原则的人、群体或事物。
A person, group, or thing, that strongly defends some principle.
大型突出物；形状类似堡垒的东西。
Any large prominence; something that resembles a bastion in size and form.
The ancient castle's bastion offered a strategic vantage point against invaders.
这座古堡的棱堡为抵御入侵者提供了战略制高点。
This university has long been a bastion of academic freedom.
这所大学长期以来一直是学术自由的堡垒。
The mountain village served as a bastion for refugees during the war.
战争期间，这个山村成了难民的安全堡垒。
后常接抽象名词，如 free speech、democracy、tradition，指在某一原则或价值观上的坚定堡垒。
The university has long been a bastion of free speech.
这所大学长期以来一直是言论自由的坚定捍卫者。
against 后接威胁或敌人，表示防御对象；也可用于比喻，如 a bastion against corruption（反腐的中坚力量）。
The old fortress was a bastion against foreign invaders.
这座古老的堡垒是抵御外敌入侵的要塞。
Not this
This university is bastion of academic freedom.
Use this
This university is a bastion of academic freedom.
bastion 是可数名词，单数形式前需加 a/an；中文没有冠词概念，学习者容易漏掉冠词，因此应写 a bastion。
Not this
We should bastion our traditional values.
Use this
We should be a bastion of our traditional values.
bastion 是名词，不能直接作动词带宾语；表达“捍卫”可用动词 defend 或名词短语 be a bastion of，因此要改为 be a bastion of our traditional values。
Not this
He is a bastion of our basketball team.
Use this
He is a mainstay of our basketball team.
bastion 指坚定捍卫某项原则、信仰的人或物；表示球队中的核心队员应用 mainstay，不能因词典译法“中坚力量”而混用。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
民主堡垒；民主的中坚力量
The country was seen as a bastion of democracy in the region.
这个国家被视为该地区的民主堡垒。
自由的堡垒
They defended the newspaper as a bastion of freedom of speech.
他们捍卫这家报纸，认为它是言论自由的堡垒。
最后的堡垒；最后的阵地
This small town is the last bastion of traditional crafts.
这座小镇是传统手工艺的最后堡垒。
力量的支柱；坚强的后盾
She has always been a bastion of strength for her family.
她一直是家人的坚强后盾。
坚不可摧的堡垒
The castle was an impenetrable bastion against invaders.
这座城堡是抵御入侵者坚不可摧的堡垒。
民主的堡垒
The country was long considered a bastion of democracy in the region.
这个国家长期以来被认为是该地区的民主堡垒。
最后的堡垒
The small bookstore is seen as the last bastion of independent thought in the city.
这家小书店被视为这座城市独立思想的最后堡垒。
力量的支柱
During the crisis, her calm voice was a bastion of strength for the team.
危机期间，她平静的声音是团队的力量支柱。
Use bastion naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
记忆联想：棱堡突出的尖角像卫士的盾牌，坚定捍卫信念，所以 bastion 是堡垒，也是中坚力量。
语域：formal 常见场景：political commentary、editorial writing 该词通常多用于正式、书面或演讲语境，常以比喻义指“堡垒、坚定捍卫者”（如 a bastion of freedom）。日常口语中较少见。
常用搭配 bastion of + 抽象名词
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.