conservatively

/kənˈsɜːvətɪvli/ (bre, ipa) · /kənˈsɜːrvətɪvli/ (ame, ipa) · /kən-ˈsər-və-tiv-lē/ (ame, mw)

conservatively — 副詞

1. in a way that follows traditional styles or values rather than modern or fashion

1.副詞B2
釋義

保守地

遵循傳統風格或價值觀

in a way that follows traditional styles or values rather than modern or fashionable ones, especially in how someone dresses or decorates their home.

例句

Klara dressed conservatively for the job interview, choosing a plain navy suit instead of a bold red dress.

Klara 穿得很保守去參加工作面試，選了一套樸素的深藍色西裝，而非醒目的紅色洋裝。

collocation: dress conservatively

The couple decorated their living room conservatively, with beige walls and simple wooden furniture.

那對夫妻以保守的方式佈置客廳，用了米色牆壁和簡單的木製家具。

conservatively + decorate/furnish

同義詞
  • traditionally

    focuses on custom and heritage rather than resisting modern fashion

  • soberly

    emphasises plainness and lack of colour, often about clothing

反義詞
  • boldly

    wearing bright colours or unusual styles

  • extravagantly

    spending or dressing with great showiness

文法句型

dress/conservatively

conservatively + dressed/attired

用法筆記

Commonly pairs with verbs related to appearance: dress, behave, decorate, furnish.

常見錯誤

❌She dressed conservative for the party.
✅She dressed conservatively for the party.
💡use the adverb form, not the adjective, when modifying a verb.

2. in a way that avoids risk, change, or doing too much, showing a careful attitude

2.副詞B2
釋義

謹慎地

避免風險，偏好熟悉選擇

in a way that avoids risk, change, or doing too much, showing a careful attitude that prefers familiar choices over new ones.

例句

After losing money on stocks, Ama decided to invest more conservatively and chose government bonds.

賠了股票錢之後，Ama 決定更謹慎地投資，選擇了政府公債。

collocation: invest conservatively

The hospital acted conservatively by running three separate tests before approving the new treatment.

那家醫院謹慎行事，在批准新療法之前先做了三項不同的檢驗。

act conservatively in professional context

同義詞
  • prudently

    more formal; emphasises wise, sensible caution

  • cautiously

    broader; can apply to physical actions, not just choices

  • moderately

    focuses on staying within limits rather than avoiding change

反義詞

文法句型

act/conservatively

invest/conservatively

用法筆記

Often appears in financial contexts (invest, manage, budget) and institutional decision-making. The focus is on minimising uncertainty rather than maximising gain.

常見錯誤

❌He drives conservatively meaning he never goes over the speed limit.
✅He drives cautiously, never exceeding the speed limit.
💡'conservatively' is about aversion to change and risk, not just being careful behind the wheel.

3. in a way that deliberately keeps a number, amount, or figure lower than the true

3.副詞C1
釋義

保守估計

故意壓低數字或金額

in a way that deliberately keeps a number, amount, or figure lower than the true or likely value, so that any error is on the cautious side.

例句

The builder estimated the repair costs conservatively at two thousand dollars, knowing unexpected problems might arise.

那位建築商保守估計維修費用為兩千美元，因為他知道可能會有預料之外的問題。

collocation: estimate costs conservatively

Even when calculated conservatively, the charity event raised over fifty thousand dollars for the new library.

即使保守估計，這場慈善活動仍為新圖書館募得超過五萬美元。

calculated conservatively + passive structure

同義詞
  • modestly

    focuses on understatement rather than deliberate caution

  • understatedly

    rare; emphasises presenting less than the full picture

反義詞
  • generously

    estimating on the high side, leaving room to be pleasantly surprised downward

  • aggressively

    pushing the number upward for maximum impact

文法句型

estimate/conservatively

conservatively + estimated/calculated

用法筆記

Typically used with verbs of measurement or valuation: estimate, calculate, value, project, predict. The adverb signals intentional understatement to avoid over-promising.