geriatric
geriatric — 形容詞
1. connected with the branch of medicine that focuses on caring for older adults an
老年照護的
與老年人醫療照護相關的
connected with the branch of medicine that focuses on caring for older adults and treating health problems that come with advanced age.
Ada's grandfather receives regular check-ups at the geriatric clinic near their home.
Ada 的爺爺定期到住家附近的老年科診所接受檢查。
collocation: geriatric clinic
The hospital recently opened a new geriatric ward with wider doors for wheelchairs.
那家醫院最近新開了一間老年病房，裝有更寬的門以便輪椅進出。
collocation: geriatric ward
Dr. Yan's research in geriatric medicine focuses on fall prevention for patients over eighty.
Yan 醫師的老年醫學研究重點是預防八十歲以上病患跌倒。
Nurses in the geriatric unit receive training in dementia care and mobility support.
老年病房的護理人員接受失智症照護與行動輔助的專業訓練。
- pediatric
relating to children, the opposite end of the age spectrum in medicine
用法筆記
Common in medical and healthcare contexts. Use 'geriatric' before nouns such as 'care', 'ward', 'medicine', 'patient', and 'clinic'. This sense is neutral and factual, not pejorative.
常見錯誤
2. describing a person, animal, or object as being so worn out by age that they see
衰老的
年老體衰的，帶貶義
describing a person, animal, or object as being so worn out by age that they seem useless or incapable — often used in a dismissive or disrespectful way.
Meera said the geriatric professor could barely remember her own students' names.
Meera 說那位老邁的教授連自己學生的名字都記不住。
dismissive use referring to a person
The school's geriatric heating system broke down every winter without fail.
學校那套老舊的暖氣系統每年冬天都會壞掉。
extended use to objects
Putri rolled her eyes when the geriatric dog fell asleep during its walk.
Putri 翻了個白眼，因為那隻老狗散步走到一半就睡著了。
Adina complained that her geriatric laptop took ages to open a single web page.
Adina 抱怨她那台老舊的筆記型電腦光打開一個網頁就要花老半天。
用法筆記
Frequently carries a dismissive or disrespectful tone even when applied to objects or machines. Avoid this sense in formal or polite contexts about people. The same sentence can shift meaning depending on context — compare 'geriatric patient' at a hospital (sense 1, neutral) with 'geriatric patient' in casual conversation (sense 2, dismissive).
常見錯誤
geriatric — 名詞
1. a rude and disrespectful word for an older person, similar in tone to calling so
老傢伙
對老年人的貶稱
a rude and disrespectful word for an older person, similar in tone to calling someone a 'geezer' or an 'old codger'.
The teenagers made rude jokes about the geriatrics sitting on the park bench.
那些青少年對著坐在公園長椅上的老傢伙們講低級的笑話。
countable plural used derogatorily
Calling someone a geriatric is considered offensive in most social situations.
在大多數社交場合稱呼某人為老傢伙，會被視為無禮。
Adaeze told her brother not to use the word geriatric as an insult.
Adaeze 告訴她弟弟不要用老傢伙這個詞來罵人。
Eliska overheard someone on the bus call her neighbour 'that geriatric across the street'.
Eliska 在公車上無意間聽到有人把她鄰居稱為「街對面那個老傢伙」。
- geezer
British slang for an old man, similarly disrespectful
- old codger
informal and mildly mocking, slightly less harsh than 'geriatric'
用法筆記
Likely to cause offence. Similar in impact to 'geezer' or 'old coot' in English. Not appropriate in neutral, respectful, or professional conversation. Even when intended as a joke, listeners may find it hurtful.
常見錯誤
2. a person who is viewed as helpless, physically weak, or mentally slow because of
老弱者
年老體弱的人
a person who is viewed as helpless, physically weak, or mentally slow because of old age.
After breaking his hip, the old man felt like a helpless geriatric.
髖部骨折後，那位老先生覺得自己像個無助的老弱者。
emphasis on helplessness
The film portrayed the character as a geriatric who could not make decisions alone.
這部電影把角色描繪成無法獨自做決定的老弱者。
Élise hated being treated like a geriatric just because she used a walking stick.
Élise 討厭只因為使用拐杖就被當作老弱者對待。
Aylin's grandfather refused to be treated like a geriatric and insisted on walking to the shop alone.
Aylin 的爺爺拒絕被當作老弱者對待，堅持自己走路去商店。
- invalid
focuses on illness or disability rather than age, but carries a similar tone of pity
用法筆記
Carries the same dismissive tone as noun sense 1, with an added implication of physical or mental frailty. Considered insulting in most contexts. Distinguish from the medical adjective sense: a 'geriatric patient' (adjective s1) is neutral medical terminology, but calling someone 'a geriatric' (noun s2) is rude.
常見錯誤
3. the medical field devoted to caring for aging patients and managing the diseases
老年醫學
研究老年疾病的醫學分支
the medical field devoted to caring for aging patients and managing the diseases that commonly arise in later life — also called geriatrics.
Medical students can specialize in geriatrics during their final year of training.
醫學系學生可以在最後一年的訓練中選擇專攻老年醫學。
uncountable: study / specialize in geriatrics
Dr. Yan chose to study geriatrics after watching her grandfather struggle with multiple health issues.
Yan 醫師在看到祖父因多重健康問題受苦後，決定攻讀老年醫學。
Geriatrics focuses on helping older adults stay independent and maintain a good quality of life.
老年醫學的重點是幫助年長者維持獨立自主與良好的生活品質。
The medical school has a separate department of geriatrics with its own research wing and clinic.
這所醫學院設有獨立的老年醫學系，擁有自己的研究室和門診部。
- gerontology
broader study of aging as a social and biological process, not just medical treatment
- pediatrics
the medical specialty focusing on children
用法筆記
The medical specialty is typically called 'geriatrics' (plural in form, singular in meaning — takes a singular verb). The headword 'geriatric' can be used as an uncountable noun referring to this field, but 'geriatrics' is far more common in practice.