grassroots
/ˌɡrɑːsˈruːts/ (bre, ipa) · [ɡrˈæsrˈuts] /ˌɡræsˈruːts/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈɡrɑːs.ruːts/ (bre, ipa) · [ɡrˈæsrˈuts] /ˈɡræs.ruːts/ (ame, ipa) · [ɡrˈæsrˈuts] /ˈgras-ˌrüts -ˌru̇ts/ (ame, mw)
grassroots — 名詞
1. The ordinary members of a community, organization, or society — as opposed to it
基層；草根
組織或社會中的普通成員
The ordinary members of a community, organization, or society — as opposed to its leaders or official decision-makers. In political contexts, this refers to voters and local party members whose combined views and energy are thought to form the real basis of support.
The party's new housing policy was shaped by feedback from the grassroots.
該政黨的新住房政策是根據基層的意見回饋製定的。
shaped by + the grassroots (passive source)
Kofi spent two years working at the grassroots before running for office himself.
Kofi 在基層工作了兩年，之後才親自參選公職。
working at the grassroots
Leaders who ignore the grassroots often lose touch with what voters truly care about.
忽視基層的領導人往往會與選民真正關心的事情脫節。
Support for the new law grew from the grassroots upward, not from top party leaders.
這項新法律的支持是從基層逐步向上累積的，而非來自高層領導人。
The organization needed money and volunteers, so it turned to the grassroots for help.
該組織需要資金和志工，於是向基層尋求幫助。
- rank and file
focuses on the ordinary members of an organization rather than society at large
- ordinary people
broader, less political connotation
- common people
more formal or dated, with a class-based tone
- the base
shorter, used especially in business and political strategy
- leadership
the people who make decisions, as opposed to the ordinary members
- establishment
the powerful groups in control, contrasted with grassroots movements
文法句型
the + grassroots + verb (plural)
at the grassroots
用法筆記
Treated as a plural group noun in British English ('the grassroots are…'), but sometimes treated as singular in American English ('the grassroots is…'). Follows 'the' in most contexts.
常見錯誤
grassroots — 形容詞
- grassrootspositive
- more grassrootscomparative
- most grassrootssuperlative
1. Happening at or coming from the level of everyday citizens or group members, rat
基層；草根
來自一般大眾而非領導階層
Happening at or coming from the level of everyday citizens or group members, rather than being directed by leaders or official channels. Used to describe efforts, campaigns, or organizations built on local participation rather than top-down control.
The environmental group started as a small grassroots movement in a single town.
這個環保團體最初是從一個小鎮發起的草根運動。
grassroots movement
Lucía organized a grassroots campaign to raise money for the local library.
Lucía 組織了一場草根活動，為當地圖書館募款。
grassroots campaign
A grassroots effort by the residents saved the old park from being sold to developers.
居民們發起的草根行動成功阻止了開發商出賣那座舊公園。
Unlike the national strategy, this grassroots plan relied on neighbors helping each other.
與全國性的策略不同，這項草根計劃依賴鄰里之間的互助。
The mayor praised the grassroots volunteers who kept the community clean during the festival.
市長表揚了在節日期間維護社區整潔的基層志工。
- community-based
places more emphasis on local community than on ordinary people vs. leaders
- bottom-up
stresses the direction of decision-making from lower levels upward
- local
simpler and more general, not tied to political organization
- top-down
describing decisions or control coming from senior leaders
- centralized
concentrated in one central authority rather than spread among local groups
文法句型
grassroots + noun (movement/campaign/support/organization)
用法筆記
Used only before a noun (attributive). You can say 'a grassroots organization' but not 'This organization is grassroots.'
常見錯誤
2. At the simplest or most essential level; forming the foundation on which everyth
基本；根本
最簡單或最核心的層次
At the simplest or most essential level; forming the foundation on which everything else depends. Unlike the political use of the word, this sense does not refer to people — it describes the core ideas, elements, or principles of a system.
The training course covers the grassroots principles of emergency first aid.
這門培訓課程涵蓋了急救的基本原則。
grassroots principles
The coach insisted the team master passing and positioning at the grassroots level before trying advanced plays.
教練堅持球隊在嘗試進階戰術之前，必須先在基礎層級上掌握傳球和站位的基本功夫。
at the grassroots level (most basic/fundamental)
Understanding supply and demand is a grassroots concept in economics.
了解供應與需求關係是經濟學中的一個基本概念。
The book explains the grassroots ideas that shaped modern democratic systems.
這本書解釋了塑造現代民主制度的基本思想。
- basic
simpler and more common in everyday language
- fundamental
stresses that something is essential and cannot be removed
- foundational
suggests that other things are built on top of this level
- advanced
beyond the basic level
- sophisticated
complex and developed, opposite of simple and foundational
文法句型
grassroots + noun (level/issue/principle)
用法筆記
Much less common than the political sense (adj/1). It is effectively interchangeable with 'basic' or 'fundamental' and may sound slightly old-fashioned or journalistic.