matriarch
/ˈmeɪtriɑːk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmeɪtriɑːrk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmā-trē-ˌärk/ (ame, mw)
matriarch — 名詞
- matriarchsingular
- matriarchsplural
1. An older woman who is the respected leader of her family, making important decis
女族長
家庭中受尊敬的女性領袖
An older woman who is the respected leader of her family, making important decisions and keeping family members emotionally connected across generations.
When Grandpa Ng passed away, Auntie Mei-Lin became the new matriarch of the family.
Ng 爺爺過世後，Mei-Lin 阿姨成了家族的新女族長。
matriarch of the family — noun + of + group
The family matriarch decided that this year's reunion dinner would be at her home, overruling her sons who argued for a restaurant.
家族女族長決定今年團圓飯在她家吃，否決了堅持上餐館的兒子們。
matriarch decided… overruling — shows authority through veto power
Chidi's grandmother is the respected matriarch of their large extended family in Lagos.
Chidi 的祖母是他們拉哥斯龐大家庭中備受敬重的女族長。
Elena has been the family matriarch for thirty years, keeping three generations together.
三十年來，Elena 一直是維繫三代家人凝聚力的女族長。
As the family matriarch, Fatima settles disagreements between her children and grandchildren with quiet authority.
作為家族的女族長，Fatima 以沉穩的威嚴調解子女和孫輩之間的爭執。
- family head
More neutral and less evocative of the traditional-authority role that 'matriarch' carries
- matron
Focuses on household management rather than authority and leadership across generations
- grandmother
Only if she is literally a grandmother; 'matriarch' can also be a grand-aunt or other elder
- patriarch
The male equivalent — the respected older man who leads a family
用法筆記
Can refer to any respected older woman who leads a family, not only the biological mother or grandmother. The word implies authority earned through age and experience rather than formal position.
常見錯誤
2. A female ruler of a community or group that follows a matrilineal system, where
母系首領
母系社會的女性領袖
A female ruler of a community or group that follows a matrilineal system, where inheritances and family connections pass through the mother's bloodline.
Among the Minangkabau in Indonesia, the clan matriarch manages land and property for her community.
在印尼的米南加保族中，氏族的母系首領管理全族的土地和財產。
clan matriarch — anthropological use with 'clan'
A museum exhibit described a thirteenth-century matriarch who controlled trade routes across Southeast Asia.
博物館的展覽介紹了一位十三世紀的母系首領，她掌控著橫跨東南亞的貿易網絡。
Among the Mosuo people of Yunnan, Elder A-Che has served as the clan matriarch for forty years, settling land disputes between families.
在雲南的摩梭人中，長者 A-Che 擔任氏族母系首領四十年，調解家族之間的土地糾紛。
In this matrilineal society, the tribal matriarch holds authority over marriage agreements and land distribution.
在這個母系社會中，部落的母系首領掌管婚姻約定與土地分配的權力。
- female ruler
Descriptive but generic; lacks the specific matrilineal-system meaning
- chieftainess
A female tribal leader, but does not imply a matrilineal inheritance system
- queen mother
A specific role in some African societies, closer to 'matriarch' but more ceremonial
- patriarch
The male ruler of a patrilineal society where power passes through the father's line
用法筆記
Primarily used in anthropology, history, and area studies. Not used in everyday conversation about modern families. Distinguish from sense 1 (FAMILY HEAD), which describes a family leader in any society regardless of its formal power structure.