The Ainu are a group of people from Hokkaido, Japan. They are thought to be related to the people who first spread across northern Asia. During the Edo period, the Ainu controlled the northern island of Japan, which is now named Hokkaido, and they called it “Ainu Moshiri” at that time. The word “Ainu” means “human” or “people.”
The Ainu traditionally live by hunting, fishing, and plant gathering. Their religion is based on the belief that everything has a spirit, which is known as a kamuy . In the past, Ainu men did not shaveand would grow long beards. Ainu women were known for black tattoosacross their mouths. They dressed in robesmade from the bark of elmtrees and played a unique musical instrument called the tonkori .
In the early 1800s, the Japanese took control of the area around Sapporo. From that time on, the Ainu population began to decrease as Japanese people and culture spread throughout Hokkaido. Today, it is estimated that there are only a few hundred pure Ainu left in Japan. However, many Japanese people have Ainu blood, although they probably aren’t aware of it.
單字片語整理
Words in Use
●
control
[kənˋtrol]
n. & vt. 控制
三態
control / controlled [kənˋtrold] / controlled [kənˋtrold]
Don’t worry. Everything is under control.
別擔心。一切都在掌控中。
The whole situation suddenly went out of control.
整個情況突然失控。
Britney took a deep breath to control the urge to cry.
布蘭妮深吸一口氣，克制住要大哭的衝動。
高中 Level 2
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traditionally
[trəˋdɪʃən!ɪ]
adv. 傳統上
Traditionally, on Chinese New Year’s Eve,children get red envelopes from their elders. 傳統上來說，孩子們會在除夕夜時收到長輩給的紅包。
英檢初級
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beard
[bɪrd]
n. 下巴及兩耳下方的鬍鬚
My grandfather wears a bushy beard.
我的爺爺有很濃密的鬍子。
My brother told me he wanted to grow his beard, but I said he would look ugly that way.
我哥哥告訴我說他想留鬍子，但我說那樣他會很醜。
David shaves off his beard every morning.
大衛每天早上剃鬍子。
高中 Level 2
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population
[͵pɑpjəˋleʃən]
n. 人口，全體人民
Taiwan has a population of about 23 million.
臺灣的人口約 2,300 萬人。
New Zealand has a small population, while Taiwan has a large population.
紐西蘭人口稀少，而臺灣人口眾多。
高中 Level 2
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decrease
[ˋdikris]
n. 下降，減少
The birthrate in Taiwan has been on the decreasein recent years.
近年來臺灣的出生率都在下降。
There has been a decrease in the unemployment rate ever since the new policy was carried out.
自從新政策開始執行後，失業率已經降低了。
多益綠色
英檢初級
高中 Level 3
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pure
[pjʊr]
a. 純粹的；純潔的
The pajamas are made of pure cotton.
這件睡衣是純棉製的。
The water is clean and pure. It has been tested over and over again.
這水質清潔而純淨，它可是經過一再測試的。
高中 Level 3
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indigenous
[ɪnˋdɪdʒɪnəs]
adj. 本地的，土生土長的；當地的
=
local
=
native
=
aboriginal
The new government has vowed to protect the indigenous culture of the island.
新政府誓言保護該島的本土文化。
There are some very interesting animals that are indigenous to Australia and not found in any other country.
澳洲當地有一些很有趣的動物，在任何其他國家都找不到。
高中 Level 5
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shave
[ʃev]
.vt. & vi. 刮鬍子，剃毛髮
Eric looks younger after he shaved his beard.
艾瑞克把絡腮鬍刮掉後，看起來比較年輕。
I got up late and didn’t have time to shave this morning.
我今天起床起晚了，沒有時間刮鬍子。
高中 Level 4
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tattoo
[tæˋtu]
vt. & n. . 刺青
The gangster has a dragon tattooed on his back.
這流氓在背上刺了一條龍。
It will be very expensive and time-consuming to
remove all of these tattoos.
要把這些刺青移除會花很多錢且也很耗時。
Niki told her mother she was going to the library, but
in fact she had an appointment at a tattoo parlor.
妮基告訴她母親說她要去圖書館，但實際上她是跟刺青店有
了約。
Amanda asked the tattoo artist to draw a flower on
her left arm and a snake on her right.
亞曼達要求刺青藝術家在她左臂上畫一朵花，然後在右臂上
畫一條蛇。
高中 Level 6
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robe
[rob]
n. 長袍；浴袍
=
bathrobe
The judge was wearing a black robe.
那位法官穿著黑色長袍。
Bryan put on his robe before he went to answer the door.
布萊恩去應門前，先穿上了他的浴袍。
Bryan put on his bathrobe before he went to answer the door.
布萊恩去應門前，先穿上了他的浴袍。
高中 Level 3
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elm
[ɛlm]
n. 榆樹
Practical Phrases
●
be related to
與⋯⋯有關
The artist's paintings are related to the relationship between man and nature.
那名藝術家的畫作是關於人類與大自然之間的關係。
●
take control of...
取得對⋯⋯的控制
The terrorists took control of the whole city.
恐怖分子控制了整座城市。
●
be known as
以……的身分而聞名；被稱為⋯⋯
= be renowned as...
= be famous as...
Paris is known as the “City of Lights.”
巴黎被稱為「光之城」。
●
be known for
因某事物聞名／為人所知
The restaurant is known for its juicy steaks and tempting desserts.
那家餐廳以其多汁的牛排和誘人的甜點聞名。
