democracy
democracy — 名詞
1. a system of running a country in which ordinary people choose their leaders by v
民主制度
人民選舉代表或直接投票的政治體系
a system of running a country in which ordinary people choose their leaders by voting, and all citizens have equal rights and basic freedoms — for example, the right to speak freely and to gather in groups.
Brian believes that a healthy democracy depends on citizens who vote and stay informed.
Brian 認為，健康的民主制度有賴於願意投票並保持資訊暢通的公民。
democracy + depends on + [condition for success]
The country has slowly built a working democracy after decades of military rule.
歷經數十年的軍事統治後，該國逐漸建立起一套可行的民主制度。
build + a working democracy
In a democracy, elected leaders must answer to the people who put them in power.
在民主制度下，民選領袖必須對選民負責。
Sayaka thinks that democracy gives ordinary citizens the power to change their government.
Sayaka 認為民主制度賦予一般公民改變政府的權力。
Democracy works best when the press is free and the courts are independent.
當媒體享有自由且法院保持獨立時，民主制度運作得最好。
- representative government
more specific — refers only to systems where people elect representatives, excludes direct democracy
- self-government
broader and more philosophical; can refer to any group managing its own affairs
- republic
a form of democracy without a monarch; not all republics are full democracies
- dictatorship
a system where one person rules with total power, and citizens cannot vote or speak freely
- autocracy
a system where unlimited power rests with a single ruler
文法句型
democracy + verb
in a democracy
democracy + of + noun
用法筆記
Frequently used as an uncountable noun when referring to the concept in general, but countable when referring to a specific form of this system (e.g., 'a healthy democracy', 'many democracies around the world').
常見錯誤
2. a country whose government is based on the principle that the people elect their
民主國家
實行民主制度的國家
a country whose government is based on the principle that the people elect their leaders and take part in important decisions — for example, a nation where citizens vote in regular elections and their votes truly affect how the country is run.
India has remained a stable democracy for more than seventy years.
印度七十多年來一直是個穩定的民主國家。
remain + a + adj + democracy
After the civil war, the nation rebuilt itself as a young democracy with free elections.
內戰結束後，該國透過自由選舉重建為一個新興的民主國家。
young democracy
Adisa visited several European democracies to study how they run their voting systems.
Adisa 拜訪了幾個歐洲民主國家，研究它們如何舉辦選舉。
Renata compared how new democracies in Africa handle fair elections and press freedom.
Renata 比較了非洲新興民主國家如何處理公平選舉和新聞自由等議題。
- democratic state
more formal, used in legal and political documents
- free nation
less precise, focuses on the idea of liberty rather than the electoral system
- dictatorship
a country ruled by a single person or small group with no free elections
文法句型
a + adj + democracy
democracy + verb
用法筆記
Typically modified by adjectives describing the age, stability, or quality of the democratic system (e.g., 'young democracy', 'stable democracy', 'flourishing democracy'). Often used in the plural form 'democracies' when discussing multiple countries.
常見錯誤
3. a way of running a group, organization, or institution so that every member has
民主管理
組織內所有成員平等參與決策的制度
a way of running a group, organization, or institution so that every member has an equal right to express opinions and help shape what gets decided — for example, a club where each member's vote on new rules carries the same weight.
The workers voted to turn their co-op into a democracy with one vote per person.
員工投票將合作社轉變為民主管理，每人一票。
turn + [organization] + into a democracy
Talia praised the school's democracy, where students and teachers decide on rules together.
Talia 稱讚學校的民主管理，學生和老師共同決定校規。
Some companies practice workplace democracy by letting staff vote on major business decisions.
有些公司實行職場民主管理，讓員工投票決定重大商業決策。
Quan feels the university's internal democracy gives every student a real voice in policy changes.
Quan 覺得大學的內部民主管理讓每位學生在政策變革中都有真正的發言權。
Élise helped create a democracy within her volunteer group, letting all members share their ideas.
Élise 在她的志工團體中建立了民主管理機制，讓所有成員都能分享想法。
- participatory decision-making
more formal; emphasises the process of involvement rather than the system itself
- collective management
focuses on the group making decisions together, often used in business contexts
- top-down management
where decisions are made by leaders and passed down without input from members
- autocratic rule
where a single person or small group controls all decisions
文法句型
democracy + within + noun
internal democracy
workplace democracy
用法筆記
Often paired with modifiers like 'internal', 'workplace', 'industrial', or 'party' to specify which organization is being described. The noun can be countable ('a democracy') when referring to a specific system within one organization.