Civilization refers to the advanced stage of human social development and organization, or the societies that have reached such a stage.
Advanced Society
EN: An advanced state of human society with complex social and political organization, and developments in art, science, and technology.
翻譯: 指人類社會發展到具有複雜社會與政治組織，並在藝術、科學和技術上取得進步的高級階段。
Specific Society/Culture
EN: A particular society, culture, or region that is considered advanced, especially in a historical context.
翻譯: 特指在歷史上被認為是先進的特定社會、文化或地區。
Comforts of Modern Life
EN: The comforts and conveniences of modern life, as opposed to a primitive or harsh existence.
翻譯: 指現代生活的舒適與便利，與原始或艱苦的生活相對。
Act of Civilizing
EN: The process of bringing a place or people to a more advanced stage of social development.
翻譯: 使一個地方或民族達到更高級社會發展階段的過程。
小提醒：注意 'civilization' 在中文常譯為「文明」，但根據語境，它可能指「文明社會」、「文化」或「舒適的現代生活」。在歷史或考古學語境中，它通常指一個具體的古代社會（如 the Mayan civilization）。
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Civilization" from YouTube Videos
Billy Graham: Technology, faith and human shortcomings
TED
“in seventeenth-century France, Pascal has been called the architect of modern civilization.”
1. an advanced stage of human social development and organization
人類社會發展與組織的高級階段
The ancient Egyptian civilization was one of the earliest in the world.
古埃及文明是世界上最古老的文明之一。
The study of history helps us understand the rise and fall of civilizations.
研究歷史有助於我們理解文明的興衰。
2. the process by which a society or place reaches an advanced stage of social development
一個社會或地區達到社會發展高級階段的過程
The spread of agriculture was a key step in the progress of civilization.
農業的傳播是文明進程中的關鍵一步。
They believed education was essential for the advancement of civilization.
他們相信教育對於文明的進步至關重要。
3. all the people and societies of the world, or a particular society, considered as an organized community
世界上所有的人民與社會，或一個特定的、被視為有組織群體的社會
The threat of nuclear war is a danger to all civilization.
核戰的威脅對全體文明都是一種危險。
Western civilization has been influenced by many different cultures.
西方文明受到了許多不同文化的影響。
4. the comforts and conveniences of modern life, as opposed to a primitive or simple life
現代生活的舒適與便利，相對於原始或簡單的生活
After weeks in the wilderness, he was glad to return to the comforts of civilization.
在荒野中待了數週後，他很高興能回到文明的舒適生活中。
The remote village had little contact with modern civilization.
那個偏遠的村莊與現代文明幾乎沒有接觸。
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| civilization + of + [place/people] | 表示某個地方或民族的文明 | The civilization of ancient Egypt was highly advanced. (古埃及文明高度發達。) |
| [adjective] + civilization | 描述文明的特性 | They studied the development of Western civilization. (他們研究了西方文明的發展。) |
| the dawn/rise/fall of civilization | 文明的黎明/興起/衰落 | This artifact dates back to the dawn of civilization. (這件文物可追溯到文明的黎明時期。) |
| bring civilization to + [place/people] | 將文明帶到某地或帶給某民族 | Explorers claimed to bring civilization to the newly discovered lands. (探險家聲稱要將文明帶到新發現的土地。) |
| a cradle of civilization | 文明的搖籃 | Mesopotamia is often called a cradle of civilization. (美索不達米亞常被稱為文明的搖籃。) |
對比例句： EN: The study of ancient civilization helps us understand human progress. 翻譯: 研究古代文明有助於我們理解人類的進程。
EN:The Indus Valley Civilization was a highly advanced ancient civilization.
翻譯:印度河流域文明是一個高度發達的古代文明。
談論抽象概念時用不可數的 "civilization"，指特定或複數的文明實體時則使用可數形式 "a civilization" 或 "civilizations"。
civilization vs culture
「Civilization」指一個社會發展的整體階段，包含政治、科技、城市等複雜結構；「culture」則更側重於一個群體的信仰、藝術、習俗等生活方式與價值觀。一個 civilization 通常包含多種 cultures。
civilization vs society
「Civilization」指人類社會發展的高級、複雜形態，通常具有城市、文字、法律等特徵；「society」泛指任何一群人共同生活所形成的組織，範圍可大可小，不一定達到文明的複雜程度。
civilization vs community
「Civilization」規模宏大，指跨越廣大區域、具有複雜結構的文明整體；「community」規模較小，指有共同聯繫、居住在同一地區或擁有共同利益的一群人。
在對話中，當引述或提及他人對「文明」的看法時，常會使用引述結構。 EN: He was talking about how civilization is a double-edged sword. 翻譯: 他當時在談論文明如何是一把雙面刃。
EN:She said, "The decline of a civilization often starts from within."
翻譯:她說：「一個文明的衰落往往始於內部。」
為了強調對「文明」概念的個人感受或評價，會在口語中加入語氣詞或強調句型。 EN: That ancient civilization was truly remarkable, you know? 翻譯: 那個古代文明真的很了不起，你知道嗎？
EN:What an advanced civilization they built!
翻譯:他們建立了一個多麼先進的文明啊！
在組織思維或尋找合適詞彙時，可能會用「文明」一詞作為短暫的停頓點，後面再接上補充或修正。 EN: We're studying the Indus Valley civilization... or rather, its urban planning. 翻譯: 我們正在研究印度河流域文明…或者說，它的城市規劃。
EN:The characteristics of this civilization, um, include sophisticated art and writing.
翻譯:這個文明的特徵，嗯，包括精緻的藝術和文字。
正式寫作注意：在學術或正式寫作中，應避免上述口語中的停頓填充、隨意引述或過多的語氣強調詞，需使用更精確、連貫且客觀的語言來論述「文明」相關主題。
advance of civilization
the advance of civilization
文明的進步
cradle of civilization
the cradle of civilization
文明的搖籃
collapse of a civilization
the collapse of a civilization
文明的崩潰
Western civilization
Western civilization
西方文明
alien civilization
alien civilization
外星文明
modern civilization
modern civilization
現代文明
lost civilization
lost civilization
失落的文明
bring civilization to
bring civilization to [a place/people]
將文明帶到（某地/某民族）
×The ancient civilization of Egypt were very advanced.
✓The ancient civilization of Egypt was very advanced.
"Civilization" is a singular, uncountable noun in this context, so it requires a singular verb (was).
×We learned about the Chinese civilization history.
✓We learned about the history of Chinese civilization.
When using "civilization" as an uncountable noun to refer to a general concept or society, it's more natural to use the "of" structure (the history of X civilization) rather than treating it as a noun adjunct.
×He is interested in the civilization.
✓He is interested in civilization.
When referring to the general concept of human social development (uncountable, no article), do not use "the". Use "the" only when referring to a specific, identifiable civilization (e.g., the Indus Valley civilization).
×Many ancient civilizations were disappeared.
✓Many ancient civilizations disappeared.
"Disappear" is an intransitive verb; it does not take a passive form (were disappeared) unless an external force caused the disappearance. For natural decline or end, use the active voice.
×This artifact is a sign of a high civilization level.
✓This artifact is a sign of a high level of civilization.
The standard collocation is "level of civilization," not "civilization level." While "civilization level" is sometimes used in gaming contexts, in formal/academic writing, "level of civilization" is preferred.