alternative

/ɒlˈtɜː.nə.tɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /ɑːlˈtɝː.nə.t̬ɪv/ (ame, ipa) · /ȯl-ˈtər-nə-tiv al-/ (ame, mw) · /ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /ɔːlˈtɜːrnətɪv/ (ame, ipa)

alternative — 形容詞

1. describes a plan, route, product, or way of doing something that you can pick in

1.形容詞B2
釋義

替代的

可代替原方案使用的

describes a plan, route, product, or way of doing something that you can pick instead of the first or main one, usually when the first option is not suitable.

例句

After the bridge collapsed, the bus driver took an alternative route through the village.

橋樑倒塌後，公車司機改走村莊裡的替代道路。

alternative + route (transport context)

Greta offered her vegan friends an alternative dessert made with coconut milk.

Greta為她的純素朋友準備了一份用椰奶做的替代甜點。

alternative + countable noun

同義詞
  • another

    more general; lacks the idea of a backup or replacement

  • substitute

    stronger emphasis on directly replacing the first thing

  • different

    neutral; does not imply that this option exists for a specific reason

文法句型

alternative + noun

用法筆記

Almost always attributive (used before a noun). Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is neutral and simply marks one option among several, while sense 2 carries the meaning of unconventional or outside the mainstream.

常見錯誤

❌The plan was alternative.
✅There was an alternative plan ready.
💡this sense is attributive; do not use it after the verb 'be' to mean 'available as another option'.

2. describes art, music, lifestyles, or ideas that step away from the mainstream an

2.形容詞B2
釋義

另類的

與主流文化或習慣不同的

describes art, music, lifestyles, or ideas that step away from the mainstream and are loved by a smaller, devoted audience — for example, indie rock bands or community-run schools.

例句

Zara runs a small alternative bookstore that sells zines and handmade poetry.

Zara經營一家小型的另類書店，販售獨立刊物與手作詩集。

alternative + bookstore (cultural niche)

The teenagers loved alternative music and dressed in dark, baggy clothes.

那群青少年喜歡另類音樂，總是穿著寬鬆的暗色衣服。

alternative music (genre label)

同義詞
  • unconventional

    more formal; stresses going against tradition

  • underground

    stronger sense of operating outside official channels

  • indie

    informal; mainly used of music and small creative businesses

反義詞

文法句型

alternative + noun

用法筆記

Very common with culture and lifestyle nouns: music, art, theatre, comedy, medicine, school, lifestyle, community. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense describes the character of the thing itself (it IS unconventional), not its role as a backup option.

常見錯誤

❌I took an alternative road because the highway was closed' (when meaning unconventional).
✅I took an alternative road because the highway was closed' belongs to sense 1.
💡for sense 2, the noun is usually about culture, art, or lifestyle, not a practical backup.

alternative — 名詞