churches 是 church 的复数形式,最常见指教堂(建筑)或教会(基督教团体/组织)。语境不同可侧重“场所”或“机构”。
/ˈtʃɝːtʃɪz/
There are two churches in our town.
我们镇上有两座教堂。
Across centuries, churches have served not only as places of worship but also as centers of community life and art.
几个世纪以来,教堂不仅是礼拜之所,也常是社区生活与艺术的中心。
church 源自古英语 cirice,更早可追溯到希腊语 kyriakon(意为“属于主的”,即“主的家/主的事物”),后来在欧洲多种语言中演变为表示基督教礼拜场所或教会组织的词。