asceticism
Meaning: Severe self-discipline and the avoidance of all forms of indulgence, typically for religious or spiritual reasons.
Asceticism involves the deliberate renunciation of physical pleasures and material comforts in pursuit of spiritual or moral goals. It is practised in various religious traditions, including Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam, and can involve fasting, celibacy, poverty, and isolation. In secular usage, the word describes any extreme self-denial or austere lifestyle, sometimes with an implied criticism of excessive severity. The adjective 'ascetic' can describe both the practice and the person who follows it. Common collocations include 'monastic asceticism,' 'extreme asceticism,' and 'spiritual asceticism.'
Examples
- The monks practised a rigorous asceticism, rising before dawn and eating only one meal a day. 修道士们实行严格的禁欲生活,黎明前起床,每天只吃一餐。Los monjes practicaban un ascetismo riguroso: se levantaban antes del alba y comían una sola vez al día.修道士たちは厳格な禁欲生活を送り、夜明け前に起床して一日に一食だけを食べた。수도승들은 엄격한 금욕 생활을 실천하며 새벽 전에 일어나 하루에 한 끼만 먹었다.
- There was an asceticism to his lifestyle that his colleagues found both admirable and slightly unsettling. 他的生活方式有一种禁欲主义的色彩,同事们觉得既令人钦佩又略感不安。Había un ascetismo en su estilo de vida que sus colegas encontraban a la vez admirable y ligeramente inquietante.彼のライフスタイルには禁欲的なところがあり、同僚たちは感嘆すると同時にいささか不気味に感じていた。그의 생활 방식에는 금욕적인 면이 있어, 동료들은 감탄하면서도 약간 불안해했다.
- The Victorian emphasis on asceticism and self-denial has long since given way to a culture of conspicuous consumption. 维多利亚时代对禁欲和自我克制的强调早已让位于消费主义文化。El énfasis victoriano en el ascetismo y la autonegación ha dado paso hace tiempo a una cultura de consumo ostentoso.禁欲と自己否定を重んじたヴィクトリア朝の価値観は、とうの昔に見せびらかし消費の文化に取って代わられた。금욕과 자기 부정을 강조하던 빅토리아 시대의 가치관은 이미 오래전에 과시적 소비 문화에 자리를 내주었다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: academic, literary, religious
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Greek asketikos (laborious, rigorously self-disciplined), from asketes (monk, hermit), from askein (to exercise, train). Originally referred to the physical training of athletes before being adopted by early Christian writers to describe spiritual discipline.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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