“虔敬”常见的英文表达是 “reverent” 或 “devout”,二者都含有对宗教、信仰或神圣事物怀有深切敬意的意思,具体使用可根据语境稍作区分:
Reverent:侧重于对神圣事物或权威的恭敬、敬畏态度,常用于描述宗教仪式、场合或对信仰的虔诚态度。例如:
They sang the hymn with reverent voices.(他们怀着虔敬的心情唱起了圣歌。)
The congregation listened in reverent silence.(会众虔诚肃穆地聆听着。)
Devout:更强调个人对宗教或信仰的坚定、忠诚和投入,常用于形容人或其信仰行为。例如:
He is a devout Christian.(他是一位虔诚的基督徒。)
She leads a devout life, praying daily and attending church regularly.(她过着虔诚的生活,每天祈祷并定期去教堂。)
此外,“pious” 也可表示“虔诚的;笃信宗教的”,但有时带有稍显做作或伪善的负面意味,需根据语境谨慎使用。例如:
She was a pious woman who went to church every Sunday.(她是个虔诚的教徒,每个星期日都去做礼拜。)