reflective
reflective — adjective
1. A reflective surface causes light or heat that hits it to bounce off again, so t
A reflective surface causes light or heat that hits it to bounce off again, so the surface looks bright or is easy to see.
The cyclists wore jackets with reflective strips so that drivers could see them at night.
collocation: reflective strip / reflective material
Beatrix chose a desk with a reflective glass top to brighten her small office.
The artist used reflective paint on the sculpture so its colour shifted with the sun.
On the car's reflective bonnet, Jabari could see the clouds drifting slowly above him.
New road signs are made from highly reflective material to improve safety at night.
- shiny
less technical; describes any smooth surface that gleams, not only by reflection of light
- glossy
describes a smooth, shiny finish on paper or paint, not safety-related
- mirror-like
more emphatic, suggesting a surface that acts almost like a mirror
文法句型
reflective + noun (surface, strip, paint)
be reflective
用法筆記
Frequently used in safety contexts to describe materials, clothing, or surfaces designed to be visible in low light. The adverb 'highly' is a common intensifier with this sense.
常見錯誤
2. A person who is reflective spends time in quiet thought, often because something
A person who is reflective spends time in quiet thought, often because something serious or important has caught their attention or made them consider things more deeply.
After the meeting, Defne became quiet and reflective, thinking about the feedback she had received.
predicative: become + reflective
The documentary about climate change left the audience in a reflective mood.
collocation: reflective mood
Kasia wrote a reflective essay on her year of travelling through Southeast Asia.
Walking home alone through the park after the funeral, Lotte felt calm and reflective.
- thoughtful
broader, can describe both a character trait and a temporary state; less formal
- contemplative
more formal; implies active, focused examination of an idea
- pensive
implies a quiet, slightly sad or worried quality in the thinking
- meditative
suggests a calm, focused inner state, often with spiritual overtones
- thoughtless
acting without thinking at all
- shallow
not engaging with serious or deep ideas
文法句型
be reflective
reflective + noun (mood, essay, person)
用法筆記
Describes a temporary state of mind rather than a permanent personality trait. A person who is 'reflective' in a given moment may not be a generally thoughtful person. Compare with 'contemplative' (more formal, implies active mental examination) and 'pensive' (implies a tinge of sadness or worry).
常見錯誤
3. Something that is reflective of a broader condition or quality reveals what that
Something that is reflective of a broader condition or quality reveals what that condition or quality is like — for example, falling attendance numbers may suggest that the local community is losing interest.
The low test scores are reflective of the lack of resources in the school.
pattern: [noun] + be reflective of + [noun phrase]
Yael's choice of career was reflective of her deep commitment to helping others.
The rising demand for electric cars is reflective of a broader shift in consumer values.
Dylan's calm reaction was reflective of years of experience in dealing with crises.
- indicative
direct synonym; equally formal, used in the same pattern 'indicative of'
- representative
suggests a typical or characteristic example, not necessarily a causal link
- revealing
less formal; suggests the thing being shown was previously hidden
- unrepresentative
not typical of a situation or group
- contradictory
pointing in the opposite direction from what might be expected
文法句型
be reflective of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Almost always used predicatively with the preposition 'of'. The subject is typically a result, symptom, or sign, while the object of 'of' is the underlying cause or condition. This sense is more common in formal writing (reports, analyses, academic texts) than in everyday conversation.