totem

トーテム

家族や集団を表す動物や植物、自然物、またはその図像。

やさしい英語で： An animal, plant, or natural object representing a family or group, or an image of it.

• The eagle is their clan’s totem.
• A carved totem stood outside the house.
• Each family used a different animal as its totem.

類義語： emblem

よく使う表現： clan totem, animal totem, carved totem

象徴

ある考えや性質を強く表している人や物。

やさしい英語で： A person or thing that strongly represents a particular idea or quality.

• The tower became a totem of national pride.
• For young artists, she was a totem of freedom.
• The old factory remains a powerful totem of industrial success.

使い方： totem of something (The monument became a totem of hope.)

類義語： symbol, embodiment, personification

よく使う表現： totem of freedom, national totem, political totem

トーテム氏族

特定の動植物や自然物を共通の象徴とする、血縁で結ばれた集団。

やさしい英語で： A group of related people whose shared identity is connected to a particular animal, plant, or natural object.

• She belonged to the bear totem.
• Members of the eagle totem gathered for the ceremony.
• The two totems followed different marriage customs.

類義語： clan

よく使う表現： bear totem, eagle totem, join a totem

トーテム

目覚めているか夢を見ているかを確かめるために使う物。

やさしい英語で： An object you use to check whether you are awake or dreaming.

• She checks her totem to see if she is dreaming.
• He chose a small coin as his totem.
• The totem reminded me to question whether I was awake.

よく使う表現： check your totem, use a totem