好词典

calling

UK //ˈkɔːlɪŋ//US //ˈkɑːlɪŋ//

词源

源自中古英语 'calling',与古英语 'cweðan'(说)相关,后受古诺尔斯语 'kalla'(呼喊)影响,最终源自原始日耳曼语词根 *kallōną。

noun

❶ 指一个人内心强烈的使命感或职业倾向,通常与天赋或兴趣相关,如认为某项工作是自己的天职。

“Teaching is not just a job for her, it's a calling.”

(对她来说教学不仅仅是一份工作,而是天职。)

“He felt a calling to help the poor in his community.”

(他感到有使命去帮助社区里的穷人。)

❶ 指职业或行业,尤其用于正式或文学语境中,强调某种职业的特殊性质。

“The noble calling of the priesthood requires great dedication.”

(牧师这一崇高职业需要极大的奉献精神。)

“He followed his father's calling as a blacksmith.”

(他继承了父亲铁匠的职业。)

同义词:vocation, mission, profession, occupation, career

常见短语

a calling card — 字面指名片,比喻指某人留下的独特标志或特征,常用于描述罪犯或特定人物的行为模式。

“The signature style was the artist's calling card.”

(这种标志性风格是这位艺术家的名片。)

answer the calling — 响应内心的召唤或使命,通常指投身于某项事业或职业。

“After years of searching, she finally answered her calling to become a writer.”

(经过多年寻找,她终于响应了成为作家的召唤。)