civilian
/səˈvɪliən/ (bre, ipa) · /səˈvɪliən/ (ame, ipa) · /sə-ˈvil-yən also -ˈvi-yən/ (ame, mw) · /sɪˈvɪl.jən/ (bre, ipa) · /səˈvɪl.jən/ (ame, ipa)
civilian — 名詞
- civiliansingular
- civiliansplural
1. a person who does not serve in the military, the police, or any armed group and
平民
不屬軍隊或警察等武裝組織的人
a person who does not serve in the military, the police, or any armed group and therefore is not part of active combat.
The bomb attack killed twelve soldiers and three civilians.
這場炸彈攻擊造成十二名士兵與三名平民死亡。
After leaving the army, Diego returned to civilian life and started a small farm.
Diego 退伍後回到平民生活，開始經營一座小農場。
collocation: civilian life
Aid workers reported that most of those killed in the fighting were ordinary civilians.
救援人員回報，戰鬥中大部分的罹難者是一般平民。
International law strictly forbids targeting unarmed civilians during combat.
國際法嚴格禁止在戰鬥中鎖定手無寸鐵的平民。
When the war reached their town, Leila's family fled with other civilians to the coast.
戰爭蔓延到他們城鎮時，Leila 一家人和其他平民一起逃往海邊。
- noncombatant
narrower term used in wartime for military personnel who do not fight (e.g., medics, chaplains) — not a full synonym
- ordinary person
less specific; describes anyone not notable, without the military/police contrast
用法筆記
Frequently appears in the plural (civilians), especially in news reports about armed conflict. Common set phrases: innocent civilians, civilian casualties, civilian population. Unlike 'citizen', this word only applies to people outside military or police service, regardless of nationality.
常見錯誤
2. a person who lacks fame or does not belong to a specific professional circle or
老百姓
非名人或非專業團體的一般人
a person who lacks fame or does not belong to a specific professional circle or group.
The book explains medical terms in a way that civilians can understand.
這本書用一般人聽得懂的方式解釋醫學術語。
contrast: civilians vs. medical professionals
At the film festival, Nadia felt like a civilian among famous directors.
在影展上，Nadia 在眾多名導演之間感覺自己像個局外人。
The senator's speech was too full of jargon for most civilians to follow.
參議員的演講太多術語，大多數老百姓聽不懂。
At the town hall meeting, the engineer's jargon confused civilians like Ravi in the audience.
在鎮民大會上，工程師的專業術語讓像 Ravi 這樣的一般人聽得一頭霧水。
To the music critics, Rohan seemed like an ordinary civilian, not a performer.
在樂評人眼中，Rohan 像個一般老百姓，而非表演者。
- layperson
more specific — someone without professional training in a given field
- ordinary person
direct synonym with no special nuance
- outsider
stronger connotation of being excluded, not just outside a group
- celebrity
a famous person
- professional
someone with expert knowledge in a field
用法筆記
Often paired with 'ordinary' or 'just/really' to highlight the contrast with experts, celebrities, or insiders. This sense carries no military meaning — it is about being outside a particular circle or profession.
常見錯誤
civilian — 形容詞
- civilianpositive
- more civiliancomparative
- most civiliansuperlative
1. relating to people who are not in the military or police, or describing things t
民間
與非軍事人員有關的
relating to people who are not in the military or police, or describing things that belong to or are used by such people.
The new government promised a transition from military to civilian rule.
新政府承諾從軍事統治轉為文官統治。
collocation: civilian rule
Civilian clothes felt strange to Yusuf after years in uniform.
穿了多年制服後，Yusuf 覺得穿便服很不習慣。
collocation: civilian clothes
The rebels attacked a civilian airport, killing several travelers.
叛軍攻擊了一座民用機場，造成數名旅客死亡。
After retiring from the navy, Greta found a job in the civilian sector.
Greta 從海軍退役後，在民間部門找到一份工作。
The group provides medical supplies to both military and civilian hospitals.
該組織同時為軍方與民營醫院提供醫療物資。
- non-military
direct synonym, often used interchangeably
- civil
much broader; relates to ordinary citizens and everyday life, not specifically the non-military contrast
文法句型
civilian + noun
用法筆記
Only used before a noun (attributive). Cannot be used predicatively (*'The government is civilian'). Common in political news: civilian government, civilian control, civilian leadership. 'Civilian clothes' refers to ordinary clothes as opposed to a uniform.