expansive
/ɪkˈspænsɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪkˈspænsɪv/ (ame, ipa) · /ik-ˈspan(t)-siv/ (ame, mw)
expansive — 形容詞
- expansivepositive
- more expansivecomparative
- most expansivesuperlative
1. Someone who is expansive has a very open and friendly way of behaving, enjoying
開朗健談的
樂於與人交談、友善的
Someone who is expansive has a very open and friendly way of behaving, enjoying conversation and willingly sharing their thoughts with others — for example, becoming chatty after a drink, or giving a warm welcome that puts people at ease.
Clara was in an expansive mood at the party, telling stories and laughing with everyone.
Clara 在派對上心情開朗健談，跟每個人講故事、一起大笑。
collocation: 'in an expansive mood'
After a cup of tea, the quiet librarian became expansive and talked about Japan.
喝了一杯茶之後，那位安靜的圖書館員變得開朗健談，聊起在日本旅行的經歷。
pattern: 'became expansive' after a trigger
Omar's expansive greeting made the new volunteers feel welcome from their first day.
Omar 熱情開朗的問候讓新來的志工從第一天就感到受歡迎。
The tour guide grew more expansive as the group showed interest in the old market.
導遊發現團員對老街表現出興趣後，變得越來越健談。
A glass of wine made the head chef expansive; he shared recipes that he usually kept secret.
一杯酒讓主廚變得開朗健談；他分享了平時不輕易透露的食譜。
- outgoing
More general; describes a consistent personality trait rather than a temporary mood
- gregarious
More formal and stronger; suggests a deep need for company, not just a friendly phase
- sociable
Neutral and broad; can describe both people and events (a sociable evening)
文法句型
become/grow/feel + expansive
expansive + mood/greeting/personality
用法筆記
Often describes a temporary shift in behaviour rather than a fixed personality trait. Common in the patterns 'become expansive', 'grow expansive', or 'in an expansive mood'.
常見錯誤
2. Covering a large physical area; wide or broad in extent — used to describe space
廣闊的
覆蓋大片區域、寬廣的
Covering a large physical area; wide or broad in extent — used to describe spaces, views, landscapes, or objects that feel roomy and unbounded.
The hotel room had expansive windows that looked out over the beach and ocean.
飯店房間有廣闊的窗戶，望出去是沙灘和海洋。
attributive: expansive + windows
Vikram's family owns an expansive farm that stretches from the river to the hills.
Vikram 家擁有一片廣闊的農場，從河邊一直延伸到丘陵。
From the hilltop, Sophie saw the expansive plains reaching toward the mountains.
Sophie 從山頂望見廣闊的平原，一路延伸到群山。
The garden behind the old house was more expansive than Ananya had imagined.
老房子後面的花園比 Ananya 想像的還要廣闊。
The museum's main gallery felt expansive, with high ceilings and marble floors.
博物館的主展廳感覺很廣闊，有高高的天花板和大理石地板。
文法句型
expansive + noun (view, windows, landscape, plains, farm)
用法筆記
Commonly used to describe views, rooms, windows, and landscapes. Often appears in travel and property descriptions.
常見錯誤
3. Covering a very wide range of topics or aiming to achieve a great deal; ambitiou
廣泛的；宏大的
範圍廣或企圖宏大的
Covering a very wide range of topics or aiming to achieve a great deal; ambitious and not limited in scope — for example, a book that covers centuries of history, or a government plan that reforms many areas at once.
The new history book takes an expansive view, covering events on three continents.
這本新歷史書對這場戰爭採取宏大的視角，涵蓋三大洲的事件。
collocation: 'takes an expansive view'
The government announced an expansive plan to reform the health care system.
政府宣布了一項宏大的計劃，要改革醫療體系。
Noam's essay was too expansive; it tried to discuss fifteen topics in four pages.
Noam 的論文範圍太廣了；它試圖在短短四頁裡討論十五個主題。
The company's expansive vision includes opening offices in ten countries within five years.
這家公司的宏大願景包括在未來五年內於十個國家設立分公司。
A committee was formed to develop an expansive strategy for public transport across the region.
成立了一個委員會，負責制定全區大眾運輸的宏大策略。
- comprehensive
More neutral and factual; suggests thoroughness without the hint of ambition or overreach
- wide-ranging
Informal and descriptive; directly states the broad coverage without emotional colour
- ambitious
Emphasises the effort or aspiration behind the scope; can be positive or negative
- narrow
Describes something focused on a small area or limited number of topics
- limited
Neutral; suggests boundaries or restrictions on scope
- restricted
Often implies that the limits are imposed from outside
文法句型
expansive + abstract noun (view, plan, vision, approach, definition)
用法筆記
Can carry a mildly critical tone when used to describe something that tries to cover too much (e.g., 'too expansive an essay'). Context determines whether the judgement is positive (ambitious) or negative (overreaching).
常見錯誤
4. Having the ability to become larger in size or volume, or designed to make somet
可膨脹的；擴展性的
能擴大或使擴大的
Having the ability to become larger in size or volume, or designed to make something else increase in extent — for example, a table with fold-out sections, a foam that grows to fill gaps, or a road network built to handle future traffic.
The dining table is expansive, with extra sections that can be added for guests.
這張餐桌是可以擴展的，有額外桌面可以在客人來的時候加上去。
An expansive foam fills the wall cracks and hardens to block cold air.
一種可膨脹的泡沫填滿牆壁裂縫，硬化後能阻擋冷空氣。
attributive use: 'expansive foam'
The city built an expansive road system designed to handle future growth in car traffic.
這座城市建造了一套可擴展的道路系統，以因應未來汽車流量的成長。
This metal has expansive properties; it grows slightly when heated and returns to its original size when cooled.
這種金屬具有膨脹特性；受熱時會略微膨脹，冷卻後恢復原本大小。
A flexible, expansive pipe lining was installed inside the water main to repair the leak.
在自來水主管道內部安裝了一種可擴展的軟管內襯，用來修補漏水。
- expandable
More common in everyday English; sounds less technical than 'expansive' for this meaning
- elastic
Specifically about returning to original shape after stretching; narrower meaning
- extensible
Technical; used in computing and engineering for things that can be made longer or larger
- contractible
Technical opposite; capable of becoming smaller
- compressible
Describes materials that can be pressed into a smaller volume
文法句型
expansive + noun (properties, foam, material, table, system, network)
用法筆記
Found more often in technical or descriptive writing (materials science, construction, engineering) than in everyday conversation. The simpler synonym 'expandable' is more common in ordinary speech.