conservative
/kənˈsɜː.və.tɪv/ (bre, ipa) · [kənsˈɚvətɪv] /kənˈsɝː.və.t̬ɪv/ (ame, ipa) · [kənsˈɚvətɪv] /kən-ˈsər-və-tiv/ (ame, mw)
conservative — 形容詞
- conservativepositive
- more conservativecomparative
- most conservativesuperlative
1. describes a person who prefers to keep things as they are, avoiding new ideas or
守舊的
不願改變，傾向維持現狀
describes a person who prefers to keep things as they are, avoiding new ideas or sudden shifts in how things are done.
Eitan's conservative parents refused to let him travel alone before he turned eighteen.
Eitan 守舊的父母拒絕讓他在滿十八歲之前獨自旅行。
The university kept its conservative admissions rules unchanged for over fifty years.
這所大學五十年來一直維持其守舊的招生規則未作改變。
Sahil found the firm too conservative to try a single new idea.
Sahil 發現這家公司太守舊，連一個新想法都不願嘗試。
In a conservative village, the plan to open a nightclub caused fierce protests.
在一個守舊的村莊裡，開夜店的計畫引起了激烈抗議。
Darius has very conservative habits and still pays all his bills by cheque.
Darius 的習慣非常守舊，至今仍用支票支付所有帳單。
- traditional
neutral; simply describes following customs from the past
- old-fashioned
mildly negative; behind the times, out of date
- reactionary
strongly negative; actively fighting against all progress
- hidebound
formal or literary; narrow-minded and unwilling to change
- progressive
actively supports new ideas and social reform
- radical
wants fundamental, far-reaching change
- liberal
open to new ideas and different ways of living
文法句型
conservative about + noun/gerund
conservative in + noun (outlook, taste, habits)
用法筆記
Describes a personal outlook or temperament, not a political party label. For the political meaning, see sense 4.
常見錯誤
2. describes clothes, styles, or personal presentation that are traditional and mod
樸素
衣著舉止低調，不追潮流
describes clothes, styles, or personal presentation that are traditional and modest, without bright colours, unusual cuts, or fashionable trends.
Rodrigo wore a conservative grey suit and plain white shirt to the interview.
Rodrigo 穿著一套樸素的灰色西裝和白襯衫去面試。
The bank asked all tellers to dress in a conservative manner.
銀行要求所有櫃員穿著舉止保持樸素低調。
Adaeze chose a conservative wedding dress with long sleeves and a high neckline.
Adaeze 選了一件樸素的長袖高領婚紗。
Evelyne's conservative hairstyle, pulled back tightly, surprised her friends.
Evelyne 那向後梳得緊緊的樸素髮型讓朋友們大吃一驚。
The headmaster insisted on a conservative uniform of black shoes and white shirts.
校長堅持要求樸素的校服：黑皮鞋配白襯衫。
- conventional
neutral; follows what most people accept as normal
- understated
positive; elegant and not drawing attention to itself
- modest
emphasises covering the body and not showing off
- subdued
describes colours or patterns that are soft, not bright or loud
文法句型
conservative in + dress/taste/style/manner
3. describes a number, guess, or calculation that is deliberately kept lower than t
保守的
數字或估計刻意偏低，留有餘地
describes a number, guess, or calculation that is deliberately kept lower than the likely real figure, so that the actual result will almost certainly match or beat it.
The builder gave a conservative estimate of six months for the kitchen work.
建築商對廚房工程給出了一個六個月的保守估計。
conservative estimate — common collocation
Takeshi made a conservative guess about his exam results and later scored much higher.
Takeshi 對考試成績做了保守猜測，結果分數高出許多。
A conservative calculation showed the project would run a million pounds over budget.
保守計算顯示，這個專案將超出預算一百萬英鎊。
The charity set a conservative target of ten thousand pounds for the fundraiser.
慈善機構為募款活動設定了一萬英鎊的保守目標。
Even the most conservative reading of the data showed a clear benefit for patients.
即使對數據做最保守的解讀，患者仍顯示出明確的益處。
- optimistic
expecting the best possible result
- inflated
deliberately made higher than the true figure
- generous
giving a higher number than strictly needed
文法句型
conservative + estimate/guess/calculation/figure/forecast
用法筆記
Almost always used before a noun such as estimate, guess, calculation, or figure. Not used to describe a person's character.
常見錯誤
4. connected with or backing a political party that favours free markets, low taxes
保守派的
支持保守黨或其政治理念的
connected with or backing a political party that favours free markets, low taxes, and traditional social values — most often the Conservative Party in Britain or a similar party elsewhere.
Liam campaigned for the Conservative candidate in the last general election.
Liam 在上次大選中為保守派候選人助選。
Conservative candidate — political collocation
The newspaper is known for its conservative stance on tax and immigration.
這家報紙以在稅收和移民問題上的保守派立場聞名。
Gita's conservative MP voted against the new environmental protection bill.
Gita 選區的保守派議員投票反對新的環保法案。
A conservative government came to power promising to cut public spending by a fifth.
一個保守派政府上台執政，承諾削減五分之一的公共開支。
Chidi grew up in a conservative household where state welfare was seen as harmful.
Chidi 在一個保守派家庭長大，家人認為國家福利是有害的。
- right-wing
broader political term, not tied to a specific party
- Tory
informal UK term for the Conservative Party
- Republican
US equivalent; supports the Republican Party
文法句型
Conservative + party/government/MP/voter/candidate
用法筆記
Often capitalised (Conservative) when naming a specific party. Distinguish from sense 1, which describes personal reluctance to change rather than a political stance.
常見錯誤
conservative — 名詞
- conservativesingular
- conservativesplural
1. someone who votes for or belongs to the British Conservative Party — or a party
保守黨人
保守黨的支持者或成員
someone who votes for or belongs to the British Conservative Party — or a party like it in another nation.
Adaeze's father has been a lifelong Conservative and once stood for a council seat.
Adaeze 的父親是終身保守黨人，曾競選過地方議會席位。
The Conservatives lost fifty seats in parliament after the expenses scandal broke.
開支醜聞爆發後，保守黨在議會中失去了五十個席位。
the Conservatives — plural for the party
Sahil became a conservative in his twenties, drawn by promises of lower taxes.
Sahil 二十多歲時成了保守黨人，被減稅的承諾所吸引。
A group of senior Conservatives called for the prime minister to step down.
一群資深保守黨人呼籲首相立即下台。
Many conservatives in the countryside voted against the housing development plan.
鄉村地區的許多保守黨人投票反對住宅開發計畫。
- Tory
informal UK term; widely used in British media
- right-winger
broader and sometimes derogatory label
- traditionalist
emphasises social or cultural views, not party membership
- Labour supporter
UK; backs the Labour Party
- left-winger
general term for someone with left-wing political views
- socialist
believes in collective ownership and strong state welfare
文法句型
a Conservative
the Conservatives (plural for the party)
用法筆記
Often capitalised. Refers to membership or support of a named political party, not just a general personal outlook — that is noun sense 2.
2. a person who prefers traditional ideas and methods and tends to resist change or
守舊者
反對改變、堅守傳統的人
a person who prefers traditional ideas and methods and tends to resist change or new ways of thinking.
Niran was a conservative at heart and resisted every attempt to change office routines.
Niran 骨子裡是個守舊者，抗拒每一次改變辦公室慣例的嘗試。
The old conservatives on the school board blocked the plan to upgrade the science labs.
學校董事會的老守舊者們否決了升級科學實驗室的計畫。
Henrik's uncle is a staunch conservative who believes children should be seen and not heard.
Henrik 的叔叔是個堅定的守舊者，認為小孩就該乖乖聽話不許多嘴。
As a conservative, Takeshi believed the old teaching methods worked better than new technology.
作為一個守舊者，Takeshi 相信舊的教學方法比新科技更有效。
The company's conservatives fought against letting employees work from home at all.
公司裡的守舊者們極力反對讓員工在家辦公。
- traditionalist
more neutral; simply values what has been handed down
- stick-in-the-mud
informal and mocking; suggests stubborn dullness
- reactionary
strongly negative; actively wants to reverse recent changes
- progressive
someone who pushes for new ideas and reform
- reformer
a person who works to improve or change a system
- innovator
someone who introduces fresh methods or inventions
文法句型
a conservative
conservatives
a conservative in + domain