elder
/ˈel.dər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈel.dɚ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈel-dər/ (ame, mw) · /ˈeldə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈeldər/ (ame, ipa)
elder — 名詞
- eldersingular
- eldersplural
1. someone in a community who has lived long enough to earn respect, and whose advi
長輩
年長且受人敬重者
someone in a community who has lived long enough to earn respect, and whose advice is valued when important matters are discussed or decided
When a dispute arises, the village elders gather to listen to both sides before deciding.
每當發生爭執，村裡的長老們會聚集起來聽取雙方的意見再做決定。
village elders — specific community role
Sana visited the local elders to ask about the history of the old temple.
Sana 拜訪了當地的長輩，詢問那間古老寺廟的歷史。
The elders at the community center decided that a new playground was needed for the children.
社區中心的長老們決定，孩子們需要一個新的遊樂場。
Respect for the elders is taught to children from a very young age in many households.
在許多家庭中，尊敬長輩是從孩子很小的時候就開始教導的觀念。
- senior
more neutral term that can refer to any older person, without the implication of community authority
- older person
descriptive phrase focusing on age rather than social standing
- doyen
formal term for the most respected senior member of a particular group, often used in professional contexts
文法句型
the elders
village / community / tribal + elders
用法筆記
Often used in the plural (elders) to refer collectively to the older members of a community who hold informal authority. Using elder to mean simply 'any older person' without the implication of respect or community standing may sound unnatural in English.
常見錯誤
2. a person who has been chosen to lead or serve in a Christian church or other rel
長老
教會或宗教團體的領袖
a person who has been chosen to lead or serve in a Christian church or other religious group, with duties such as guiding members, helping with services, and sharing in decisions about the running of the church
The church elders voted to open a new food bank for families in need.
教會的長老們投票決定開設一個新的食物銀行來幫助有需要的家庭。
church elder — religious leadership role
As a newly appointed elder, Andrés helped organize the Sunday services for the growing congregation.
作為新被任命的長老，Andrés 協助組織這個成長中會眾的週日禮拜。
Selim's grandfather served as an elder at the local Presbyterian church for over thirty years.
Selim 的祖父在當地長老教會擔任長老超過三十年。
The elders welcomed the new pastor and introduced her to the members during the morning service.
長老們歡迎新牧師，並在早上的禮拜中將她介紹給會友。
- church official
broader term covering any leadership role in a church, not limited to elders
- presbyter
technical term specific to Presbyterian and some Orthodox churches; less commonly used in everyday English
- minister
a different role focused on preaching and leading worship; not every elder is a minister
文法句型
(church / Presbyterian / church) + elder
serve as an elder
用法筆記
The role of elder varies by denomination — in Presbyterian churches elders are elected and ordained to govern the church; in other traditions the term may refer to a lay leader or pastoral assistant. Not used for leadership roles in Buddhism, Islam, or Hinduism.
常見錯誤
3. a bush or small tree with flat bunches of small white flowers and small dark pur
接骨木
開白花結深色漿果的灌木或小樹
a bush or small tree with flat bunches of small white flowers and small dark purple berries, often found growing wild in hedges, woods, and along roadsides in Europe and parts of Asia and North America
An elder tree grew beside the old stone wall, covered in white flowers each spring.
一棵接骨木長在古老的石牆旁，每年春天開滿白色的花朵。
elder tree — the plant meaning (homograph)
Putri picked the dark berries from the elder bush to make homemade jam.
Putri 從接骨木叢摘下深色的漿果，用來製作自製果醬。
The elder is a small tree that grows wild in hedges and along country roads.
接骨木是一種小樹，野生於樹籬和鄉間道路旁。
Henry planted an elder in his garden and used the flowers to make a sweet syrup.
Henry 在花園裡種了一棵接骨木，用它的花來製作香甜的糖漿。
- elderberry bush
emphasises the fruit; often used in gardening contexts
- elder tree
same referent, but highlights the tree-like growth form
文法句型
elder + (tree / bush / flower / berry)
the elder
用法筆記
This meaning of elder has a completely different linguistic origin (Old English ellærn) from the other senses of the word, which come from Old English eald ('old'). It refers only to the plant, not to age or seniority.
常見錯誤
❌ 'The church elders gathered elderflowers for tea.' — This mixes two unrelated meanings. The religious leader (etymology: 'old') and the plant (etymology: 'ellærn') are separate words that happen to share the same spelling.
elder — 形容詞
- elderpositive
- elderercomparative
- elderestsuperlative
1. born earlier than another child in the same family, used only before nouns that
年長的
家庭中出生較早的
born earlier than another child in the same family, used only before nouns that name a family relationship such as sister, brother, son, or daughter to show which person you mean
Kasia's elder sister helped her prepare for the English exam every evening after dinner.
Kasia 的姐姐每天晚上飯後幫她準備英語考試。
elder sister — attributive before family noun
The elder son of the Watanabe family took over the rice farm when his father retired.
渡邊家的長子在父親退休後接手了家裡的稻田。
As the elder daughter, Min felt responsible for looking after her younger siblings.
身為長女，Min 覺得有責任照顧弟弟妹妹。
Hugo's elder brother taught him how to ride a bicycle when he was five years old.
Hugo 的哥哥在他五歲的時候教他騎腳踏車。
In many families, the elder child sets a good example for the younger ones.
在許多家庭中，年長的孩子為弟妹樹立好榜樣。
- older
can be used anywhere 'elder' can, plus in predicative position and with 'than'; the general-purpose alternative
- younger
direct opposite; also used attributively before family nouns (younger sister/brother)
文法句型
elder + (sister / brother / son / daughter)
用法筆記
Only used before a family-relationship noun (sister, brother, son, daughter, child). Cannot appear after a linking verb — compare: ❌ 'My sister is elder' → ✅ 'My sister is older'. Also cannot be used with 'than' for comparison — ❌ 'She is elder than me' → ✅ 'She is older than me'.
常見錯誤
2. the one who was born earlier, when you are talking about two specific people and
年長者
兩人中歲數較大的人
the one who was born earlier, when you are talking about two specific people and the word elder is not followed immediately by a noun
Of the two sisters, Sana is the elder by three years.
兩姊妹中，Sana 是年長者，比她妹妹大三歲。
the elder — used without following noun
Between the two candidates for the teaching job, the elder had more classroom experience.
兩位教職候選人中，年長者擁有更豐富的課堂經驗。
Kwame and his cousin were born in the same year, but Kwame is the elder.
Kwame 和他表弟同年出生，但 Kwame 是年長者。
People often assume the elder of the two brothers is the more responsible one.
人們經常認為兩兄弟中的年長者比較可靠。
- older one
less formal, more common in everyday speech; 'the older one' can replace 'the elder' in most contexts
- younger
used in the same structure: 'the younger of the two'
文法句型
the + elder
the elder of the two
用法筆記
Always preceded by the determiner 'the'. Cannot be used before a noun — compare: ✅ 'the elder of the two (sense 2)' vs ✅ 'my elder brother (sense 1)'. In informal modern English, 'the older' is often preferred, especially in American English.
常見錯誤
3. written after a full name to identify someone as the earlier-born member of a pa
老
加在姓名後表明為兩人中較年長者
written after a full name to identify someone as the earlier-born member of a pair — typically a father and his son — who have identical names
Pliny the Elder wrote a famous book about the natural world.
Pliny the Elder 寫了一本關於自然世界的著名著作。
[Name] the Elder — distinguishing same-name individuals
The painting was attributed to Bruegel the Elder, a master of the Renaissance.
那幅畫被認為是 Bruegel the Elder 的作品，他是文藝復興時期的藝術大師。
William Pitt the Elder served as Prime Minister of Great Britain in the 1760s.
William Pitt the Elder 在 1760 年代擔任英國首相。
Scholars often refer to the writings of Seneca the Elder when studying Roman education.
研究羅馬教育時，學者經常參考 Seneca the Elder 的著作。
- the Younger
the opposite suffix, used for the younger person in a same-name pair
文法句型
[Name] the Elder
用法筆記
Always capitalised after 'the' in this construction: [Name] the Elder. The opposite suffix is 'the Younger' (e.g., Pliny the Younger). This pattern is mostly found in historical, literary, and academic contexts rather than everyday speech.
常見錯誤
❌ 'Jonathan the elder is my grandfather.' — This suffix pattern is for distinguishing people with the same name (usually father/son), not for describing any older relative.