initiative
initiative — 名詞
- initiativesingular
- initiativesplural
1. a carefully planned set of actions designed to bring about a particular improvem
新方案
為達成目標或解決問題提出的計劃
a carefully planned set of actions designed to bring about a particular improvement or to deal with a specific issue, usually launched by a group, organisation, or government
The city government launched a new initiative to plant native trees in every public park.
市政府推出了一項新方案，計劃在全市每個公園種植原生樹種。
launch + initiative + to-infinitive for purpose
Xiu's initiative to reduce single-use plastic in her office saved over a thousand cups in three months.
Xiu 的減塑方案讓辦公室在三個月內減少了一千多個一次性杯子。
[person]'s initiative to [verb phrase] + result
The school reading initiative encourages every child to borrow at least one library book per week.
學校的閱讀方案鼓勵每位學生每週至少從圖書館借一本書。
Several local businesses joined the initiative to provide free coding workshops for teenagers.
數家本地企業加入了一項方案，為青少年提供免費的程式設計工作坊。
join + initiative + to-infinitive purpose
A community-led initiative helped restore the old playground after the storm damaged its equipment.
一個社區主導的方案協助修復了在暴風雨中被損壞的舊遊樂場。
- launch an initiative
- introduce an initiative
- propose an initiative
- support an initiative
- a new initiative
- a major initiative
- a government initiative
- a community initiative
- a joint initiative
- a peace initiative
文法句型
initiative + to-infinitive
launch/propose/join + initiative
用法筆記
Often used with verbs like launch, introduce, propose, or join. The subject is typically a government, institution, company, or organised group.
常見錯誤
2. the personal quality of being able to judge what needs to be done and to begin d
主動性
不需指示便能自行判斷行動的能力
the personal quality of being able to judge what needs to be done and to begin doing it without waiting for instructions or encouragement from others
Roya showed remarkable initiative by reorganising the filing system when nobody else would.
Roya 展現了很強的主動性，在沒人願意處理的情況下主動重新整理了檔案系統。
show initiative + by [verb-ing]
The company looks for graduates who can use their initiative to solve problems without supervision.
這家公司尋找能夠運用主動性在無監督下解決問題的畢業生。
use [possessive] initiative + to-infinitive
Jiwoo took the initiative to learn customer management software before her boss even mentioned it.
Jiwoo 在主管還沒提到之前，就主動學習了客戶管理軟體。
take + the + initiative + to-infinitive
With a little initiative, anyone can find small ways to improve their daily work routine.
只要稍微發揮一點主動性，每個人都能找到改善日常工作流程的小方法。
Taking initiative is often seen by managers as a sign of future leadership potential.
展現主動性常被主管視為未來領導潛力的指標。
taking initiative as a noun phrase / subject
- show initiative
- use your initiative
- demonstrate initiative
- display initiative
- lack initiative
- take the initiative
- personal initiative
- individual initiative
- enterprise
slightly more formal; often appears in the phrase 'spirit of enterprise'
- resourcefulness
emphasises clever problem-solving with limited means
- self-reliance
focuses on independence rather than first action
- drive
more informal; emphasises energy and determination
文法句型
show/display/demonstrate + initiative
use + possessive + initiative
take + the + initiative + to-infinitive
用法筆記
In this sense, initiative is uncountable. You cannot say 'initiatives' or 'an initiative' when you mean personal drive. The phrase 'take the initiative' (with definite article) is a fixed collocation meaning to act first.
常見錯誤
3. done because you personally chose to act, not because someone asked, ordered, or
自發
出於自願而非奉命行事
done because you personally chose to act, not because someone asked, ordered, or assigned you — used in the fixed phrase 'on one's own initiative'
Henrik organised the charity bake sale on his own initiative, without any direction from the principal.
Henrik 出於自發舉辦了慈善烘焙義賣，完全沒有任何來自校長的指示。
on [possessive] own initiative — independent action
The security guard called the fire department on his own initiative after noticing smoke near the basement.
警衛聞到地下室有煙味後，出於自發打電話叫了消防隊。
Nellie revised the entire training manual on her own initiative because she saw it was out of date.
Nellie 因為覺得訓練手冊內容過時，出於自發將整本手冊重新修訂了一遍。
The team introduced a new filing system on their own initiative after the old one caused repeated delays.
團隊因為舊的歸檔系統一再造成延誤，出於自發引進了新的系統。
on their own initiative — group independent action
- on my own initiative
- on his own initiative
- on her own initiative
- on their own initiative
- on your own initiative
- independently
adverb form that can replace the whole phrase in many contexts
- of one's own accord
more formal; adds a sense of free will
- under instruction
acting because someone told you to
- on orders
especially in military or hierarchical contexts
文法句型
on + possessive + own + initiative
用法筆記
This sense always appears within the fixed phrase 'on one's own initiative'. The possessive pronoun (my, your, his, her, its, our, their) must match the subject. Distinguish from sense 2: 'showed initiative' describes a personal quality, while 'on his own initiative' describes the manner in which a specific action was carried out.
常見錯誤
4. the position of acting first in a competitive situation, which gives the acting
先機
在競爭中率先行動取得的優勢
the position of acting first in a competitive situation, which gives the acting person or side a better chance of succeeding than those who wait and respond later
By launching ahead of schedule, the company seized the initiative in the electric car market.
這家公司提前上市，在電動車市場中搶得了先機。
seize the initiative — competitive context
The home team took the initiative early in the match and scored within the first five minutes.
主隊在比賽一開始就掌握了先機，前五分鐘內便取得進球。
take the initiative — sports context
Analysts warned that delaying the update would cause the brand to lose the initiative to its rivals.
分析師警告，延遲更新會讓該品牌把先機拱手讓給競爭對手。
lose the initiative to [competitor]
The commander knew that holding the initiative was essential to winning the campaign.
指揮官深知，掌握先機是打贏這場戰役的關鍵。
hold the initiative — military context
Our competitor gained the initiative by releasing their app a full month before our planned date.
我們的競爭對手比我們早一個月推出應用程式，搶佔了先機。
gain the initiative — first-mover advantage
- take the initiative
- seize the initiative
- gain the initiative
- lose the initiative
- hold the initiative
- wrest the initiative
- keep the initiative
- advantage
broader term; the initiative is a specific type of advantage gained by acting first
- upper hand
informal; suggests dominance in a contest
- lead
focuses on being ahead rather than dictating the pace
- disadvantage
the general opposite of having any advantage at all
文法句型
take/seize/gain/lose/hold + the + initiative
用法筆記
Common in business strategy, sports commentary, and military discussion. The initiative in this sense belongs to whoever is dictating the direction of events rather than merely responding. Frequently takes the verbs take, seize, gain, lose, hold, or wrest.
常見錯誤
initiative — 形容詞
- initiativepositive
- more initiativecomparative
- most initiativesuperlative
1. relating to the earliest phase of a process or project; serving as the first ste
起始的
屬於開始階段的
relating to the earliest phase of a process or project; serving as the first step that sets things in motion
The committee published an initiative report outlining the main goals of the new project.
委員會發布了一份起始報告，概述了新專案的主要目標。
initiative + report — formal technical usage
The initiative stages of the experiment involved setting up the equipment and calibrating the sensors.
實驗的起始階段包括設置實驗設備和校準感應器。
Dr. Nakamura drafted an initiative proposal for the community health project.
Nakamura 博士為社區健康專案起草了一份起始提案。
initiative + proposal — formal attributive usage
The initiative phase of the project focused on gathering requirements from all departments.
專案的起始階段著重於收集所有部門的需求。
- initiative report
- initiative stage
- initiative phase
- initiative step
- initiative remarks
- introductory
much more common; works in both attributive and predicative positions
- preliminary
suggests something done before the main activity
- initial
focuses on being first in a sequence
- concluding
relating to the end rather than the beginning
- final
last in a sequence
文法句型
initiative + noun (report, stage, step, phase, remarks)
用法筆記
This adjective is rare in everyday English. It is mostly found in formal, technical, or academic writing. It cannot be used predicatively (you cannot say 'The report was initiative') — it only appears before a noun.
常見錯誤
同根字
- initiate動詞B2
- initiation名詞C1
- initiator名詞C1
- initiatory形容詞C2
- initially副詞B1
常見搭配
名詞搭配
- government initiative
- community initiative
- business initiative
- peace initiative
- recycling initiative
- research initiative
- marketing initiative
常用片語
- take the initiative
- seize the initiative
- on one's own initiative
- show initiative
- use one's initiative
- lose the initiative
- gain the initiative
- hold the initiative
介系詞搭配
- on (one's own) initiative
- initiative for
- initiative in