天主教

• 拼音: tiān zhǔ jiào
• 汉字拆解: 天 = heaven; 主 = master, lord; 教 = 孝 + 攵 — teaching, religion

含义

Catholicism; the Catholic Church.

Refers specifically to Roman Catholicism, as distinct from 基督教 (Protestantism) in Chinese usage. Has a significant historical presence in China, especially in regions like Shanghai, Macau, and parts of Fujian.

例句

1. 他从小在天主教家庭长大，每周日都会去教堂做弥撒。
2. 澳门有很多历史悠久的天主教教堂，其中大三巴牌坊最为著名。
3. 天主教传入中国已有四百多年的历史了。

用法指南

语境: religion, history, culture

语气: informative

正确说法

• 他信天主教。(He's Catholic.)
• 天主教教堂。(A Catholic church.)

错误说法

• 把新教叫'天主教' (Don't call Protestantism 天主教 — in Chinese, 基督教 refers to Protestantism, while 天主教 is specifically Catholicism)

起源与历史

天主 means Lord of Heaven (God in Catholic terminology), 教 means religion or teaching — the religion of the Lord of Heaven.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal