circus
サーカス
解説 Definition
circus は、曲芸や動物の演技、道化師の芸などを見せるサーカスという意味です。日本語の「サーカス」とほぼ同じで、興行やその団体を指します。
A circus is a traveling company or public entertainment featuring performances such as acrobatics, clowning, and other spectacular acts, traditionally presented in or around a circular ring. The word can also refer to the organization that gives such shows.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
日本語の「サーカス」とほぼ同じだが、英語では興行・一座・公演全体を指す。ラテン語 circus「円、輪」から、円形の競技場やリングを思い浮かべると circle、circuit と結び付く。the circus came to town、a circus show、circus tickets の組み合わせで覚える。
Connect circus with circle: both suggest the round ring traditionally used for performances. Picture a circus coming to town, setting up its ring, and presenting acrobats, clowns, and other spectacular acts to an audience. The word can name the entertainment itself, as in “watch the circus,” or the company that presents it, as in “the circus came to town.” Useful combinations include circus show, circus performer, and circus tickets. Although Japanese サーカス closely matches this meaning, remember that English circus can refer to the whole traveling organization as well as a particular performance.
例文
The circus came to our town.
サーカスが私たちの町にやって来ました。
Many children watched the circus show.
多くの子どもたちがサーカスの公演を見ました。
We bought tickets for the circus on Saturday.
私たちは土曜日のサーカスのチケットを買いました。
circus の類義語・関連語
circus の語源・成り立ち Etymology
ラテン語 circus（円・輪）はギリシャ語 kirkos（環・円形）に由来する。古代ローマの円形競技場で戦車競走や見世物が行われたことから、巡回する曲芸団の意味に発展した。関連語: circle（円）、circuit（回路）。「円形の舞台」が原義。
Circus comes from Latin circus, meaning a circle, ring, or oval arena. The Latin word is related to Greek kirkos, “ring” or “circle.” In ancient Rome, a circus was a large arena used for chariot races and public spectacles. English later applied the word to exhibitions of horsemanship and acrobatics presented in a circular ring, and then to the traveling company or entertainment itself. Circle and circuit preserve the same broad historical association with roundness or going around.
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