Word · Frequency #21118
totem
图腾；标志物
an animal, plant, or other object that serves as the emblem or symbol of a family or clan, especially among American Indians
- 1.
Any natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe, clan or family; the representation of such an object or creature.
作为部落、氏族或家庭标志的任何自然物或生物；这种物体或生物的象征
- 2.
The clan whose kinship is defined in reference to such an object or creature.
以某种物体或生物为亲属关系界定的氏族。
- 3.
A symbol or personification.
象征或化身。
- 4.
An arbitrarily chosen object serving as a reminder to check whether one is awake or not, to aid in having lucid dreams.
任意选择作为提醒自己是否清醒以帮助做清醒梦的物体。
- 5.
A tall object resembling a totem pole.
类似图腾柱的高大物体
图腾氏族；以图腾为标志的部落；作为部落、氏族或家庭标志的任何自然物或生物；这种物体或生物的象征；以某种物体或生物为亲属关系界定的氏族。；象征或化身。；任意选择作为提醒自己是否清醒以帮助做清醒梦的物体。
In use
The eagle is a totem for the tribe, representing strength and freedom.
She kept a small wooden totem on her desk as a reminder of her family's history.
In many cultures, animals serve as totems that connect people to their ancestors.
a totem of sth
of 后接表示团体或抽象概念的名词，说明图腾或标志所代表的对象。
The bear is a totem of the tribe.
熊是这个部落的图腾。
serve as a totem for sb/sth
serve as 表示“充当”，for 后接受其象征的群体；totem 为可数名词，复数形式是 totems。
The ancient tree serves as a totem for the village.
这棵古树作为村庄的图腾。
Common mistakes
They saw many totem in the museum.
Connections
Collocations
- totem pole
- 图腾柱
- The carved totem pole stood at the entrance of the village.雕刻的图腾柱矗立在村庄入口处。
- totem animal
- 图腾动物
- The bear is the clan's totem animal.熊是这个氏族的图腾动物。
- clan totem
- 氏族图腾
- The eagle is their clan totem.鹰是他们的氏族图腾。
- totem worship
- 图腾崇拜
- Totem worship was common among indigenous tribes.图腾崇拜在土著部落中很普遍。
- family totem
- 家族图腾
- The dragon is considered the family totem.龙被认为是这个家族的图腾。
- personal totem
- 个人图腾
Learner notes
Memory Tip
把totem拆成to+tem，想象部落“to them”（对他们）来说，图腾柱是神圣的标志物。
Context & Register
语域：mixed 常见场景：人类学与文化研究、原住民文化讨论、商业与媒体中的象征性用法 totem 在指具体的图腾制度或氏族象征时，多用于学术、文化或历史讨论，偏正式；但在表示一般性标志或象征物时，也常见于日常和商业语境。整体语域介于正式与中性之间，需视具体使用环境而定。
Pronunciation & Spelling
item、system、custom、bottom、atom 和 totem 都以非重读的 /təm/ 结尾，但它们重读元音不同，因此都与 totem 不押韵。注意 anthem 拼写相似，但读作 /ˈænθəm/，末尾是 /θəm/ 而非 /təm/。
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 1，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.