conservatives
conservatives — 形容詞
- conservativespositive
- more conservativescomparative
- most conservativessuperlative
1. having a tendency to resist sudden changes and prefer keeping existing systems,
守舊的
不願改變現狀的
having a tendency to resist sudden changes and prefer keeping existing systems, beliefs, or ways of doing things rather than adopting new ones.
Mei's grandfather is very conservative and still uses a flip phone instead of a smartphone.
Mei 的祖父非常守舊，還在用摺疊手機而不是智慧型手機。
collocation: very conservative + still uses old technology
The school board took a conservative approach and kept the old reading programme.
學校董事會採取保守的作法，保留了舊的閱讀課程。
Conservative residents of the village voted against installing solar panels on the rooftops.
村裡保守的居民投票反對在屋頂安裝太陽能板。
Fatima's parents are socially conservative and expect her to follow family traditions.
Fatima 的父母在社會觀念上很守舊，期望她遵循家庭傳統。
- traditional
focuses on following established customs rather than resisting change in general
- conventional
suggests conformity to accepted social norms, slightly more neutral than conservative
- progressive
actively welcomes and promotes social change
- liberal
open to new ideas and willing to reform existing systems
用法筆記
Common in discussions of social attitudes, family values, and institutional decision-making. Often paired with modifiers such as 'socially', 'culturally', 'deeply', 'fiercely'.
常見錯誤
2. describing clothes, hairstyles, or appearance that avoid fashionable or modern e
樸素的
衣著風格不趕流行的
describing clothes, hairstyles, or appearance that avoid fashionable or modern elements and instead follow traditional, unshowy norms of taste.
Kenji wore a conservative grey suit and a plain tie to the job interview.
Kenji 穿著樸素的灰色西裝和素面領帶去面試。
collocation: conservative + suit / dress code
The company dress code is quite conservative and does not permit visible tattoos.
該公司的服裝規定相當保守，不允許露出刺青。
Sofia chose a conservative haircut with no bright colours or unusual shapes.
Sofia 選了一個樸素的髮型，沒有鮮豔的顏色或奇怪的造型。
For the wedding Nia picked a conservative navy dress with a high neckline.
參加婚禮時，Nia 挑了一件高領的素面深藍色洋裝。
- traditional
broader term for following customs; not limited to appearance
- classic
positive connotation of timeless elegance rather than avoidance of fashion
用法筆記
Describes appearance choices (clothing, hairstyle, makeup). The opposite is 'trendy', 'fashionable', or 'flashy'. Usually appears before the noun it modifies.
3. used to describe a number, guess, or decision that is deliberately set lower tha
審慎的
估計或決策保守的
used to describe a number, guess, or decision that is deliberately set lower than the likely real amount in order to avoid the risk of exaggerating.
A conservative estimate puts the crowd at around three thousand people.
根據保守估計，現場大約有三千人。
fixed phrase: conservative estimate
The builder gave a conservative price quote to avoid going over the budget.
建築商給出了一個保守的報價，以免超出預算。
Even by conservative calculations the new library will cost two million dollars.
即使按照最保守的算法，新圖書館也要花費兩百萬美元。
We made a conservative guess of two hours for the drive through the city.
我們保守估計開車穿越市區需要兩個小時。
用法筆記
Nearly always appears before a noun describing a numerical judgement: 'estimate', 'guess', 'calculation', 'projection', 'figure'. The phrase 'at a conservative estimate' is a common fixed expression.
常見錯誤
4. describing a political approach that champions free enterprise, low taxes, tradi
保守派的
支持傳統右派政黨的
describing a political approach that champions free enterprise, low taxes, traditional social norms, and restrained government involvement in the economy.
The conservative candidate promised to lower taxes for small business owners.
保守派的候選人承諾為小型企業主減稅。
subject: conservative candidate + noun for party member
Amir reads several conservative newspapers to understand their point of view.
Amir 閱讀幾家保守派的報紙，以了解他們的觀點。
Conservative parties across Europe have gained more seats in recent elections.
歐洲各國的保守派政黨在最近的選舉中贏得了更多席次。
The country's conservative movement grew stronger after the economic crisis.
在經濟危機之後，該國的保守派運動變得更加強大。
- right-wing
broader political term covering conservative and reactionary positions
- Republican
US-specific term for the party associated with conservative policies
- liberal
favours government intervention for social welfare
- progressive
actively promotes social and political reform
- left-wing
broad political term favouring equality and state intervention
用法筆記
When capitalised (Conservative Party), it refers to a specific named political party, especially in the UK. When uncapitalised, it describes the general political ideology. Common modifiers: 'fiscal conservative', 'social conservative'.
常見錯誤
conservatives — 名詞
- conservativessingular
- conservativesesplural
1. an individual whose political views align with a party promoting free enterprise
保守派人士
支持保守政黨的人
an individual whose political views align with a party promoting free enterprise, low taxation, traditional social values, and limited government involvement in the economy.
The conservatives won the general election with a majority of sixty seats.
保守派人士以六十席的過半優勢贏得了大選。
often used in plural: conservatives + election context
Diego's father is a conservative who attends local party meetings every month.
Diego 的父親是保守派人士，每個月都會參加地方黨部會議。
Many conservatives believe the government should spend less on social programmes.
許多保守派人士認為政府應該減少社會福利支出。
The debate between conservatives and liberals continued late into the night.
保守派與自由派之間的辯論一直持續到深夜。
Young conservatives on campus organised a discussion group about free markets.
校園裡的年輕保守派人士組織了一場關於自由市場的討論會。
- right-winger
more informal term for someone with right-wing political views
- Tory
informal UK-specific term for a member or supporter of the Conservative Party
- liberal
someone who supports social equality and government intervention
- progressive
someone who actively advocates for reform and change
用法筆記
Countable noun. Often used in the plural form 'conservatives' as a collective group (e.g. 'the conservatives hold a majority'). The capitalised form 'a Conservative' refers to a member of a specific named party (especially the UK Conservative Party).
常見錯誤
2. someone who holds firmly to established methods and beliefs, showing little will
守舊者
不願接受新事物的人
someone who holds firmly to established methods and beliefs, showing little willingness to try new ideas, modern technology, or unfamiliar approaches.
Chidi is a conservative when it comes to food and orders only dishes he knows.
Chidi 在食物方面很守舊，只點他認識的菜。
pattern: a conservative when it comes to [topic]
The old conservatives in the village refused to install internet connections in their homes.
村子裡守舊的老人拒絕在家裡安裝網路。
Keiko is a conservative about education and believes in traditional teaching methods.
Keiko 在教育方面是守舊者，相信傳統的教學方法。
Some conservatives in the art world disliked the new modern exhibition at the gallery.
藝術界的一些守舊者不喜歡美術館那個新的現代藝術展。
- traditionalist
stronger emphasis on actively upholding tradition rather than just resisting change
- stick-in-the-mud
informal and mildly negative; implies stubborn refusal to try anything new
- innovator
someone who introduces new methods or ideas
- trendsetter
someone who starts and leads new fashions or practices
用法筆記
Often followed by 'about', 'in', or 'when it comes to' to specify the area of conservatism. Unlike the political sense, this meaning does not take a capital letter and can apply to any domain — cooking, music, parenting, technology, etc.