indian
indian — 形容詞
1. relating to the country of India, or to the people who live there.
印度的
與印度或印度人有關的
relating to the country of India, or to the people who live there.
Nikhil's mother brought Indian sweets to share at the festival.
Nikhil 的媽媽帶了印度甜點到節慶活動上和大家分享。
collocation: Indian sweets / Indian food
The museum has a large collection of Indian paintings from the 1700s.
這間博物館收藏了大量十八世紀的印度畫作。
Putri learned to cook Indian dishes from her grandmother's recipes.
Putri 照著外婆的食譜學會了做印度料理。
Many Indian companies now sell their products all over the world.
現在很多印度公司把產品銷售到世界各地。
The dance performance showed both Indian and Chinese traditions side by side.
這場舞蹈表演同時展現了印度和中國的傳統。
- South Asian
broader geographic term covering India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives
常見錯誤
2. relating to the original peoples who lived across the American continents before
印地安的
指美洲原住民，現屬冒犯用語
relating to the original peoples who lived across the American continents before European arrival — a term once used in government and legal contexts that is now seen as offensive and misleading.
The old treaty used the word 'Indian' for the Indigenous nations of the Great Plains.
那份舊條約使用「Indian」一詞來稱呼大平原上的原住民族群。
historical context: treaty language
Today, most people avoid the word 'Indian' and instead say 'Native American' or 'Indigenous person'.
現在大多數人會避免使用「Indian」，而改用「Native American」或「Indigenous person」。
avoided term; preferred alternatives
Government records from the 1800s still use the term 'Indian territory' in official documents.
十九世紀的政府文件中仍然使用「Indian territory（印地安領地）」這個詞。
Allison was surprised to learn that her grandmother's old textbooks called Indigenous Americans 'Indians'.
Allison 驚訝地發現，她外婆的舊課本把美洲原住民稱為「Indians」。
- Native American
preferred general term in the US for Indigenous peoples
- Indigenous
broader term used internationally, less tied to US-specific history
- First Nations
standard term in Canada for Indigenous peoples (excluding Inuit and Metis)
用法筆記
This sense is now considered offensive when referring to Indigenous peoples of the Americas. In the United States, 'Native American' or 'American Indian' (used by some government agencies) are more accepted, though many prefer the name of their specific nation (e.g., 'Navajo,' 'Lakota,' 'Cherokee'). In Canada, 'First Nations' or 'Indigenous' are the standard terms. Avoid using this sense outside of direct historical quotation or legal names.
常見錯誤
indian — 名詞
1. a person who is from India or has ancestors who lived in that country.
印度人
來自印度或其後裔
a person who is from India or has ancestors who lived in that country.
Jiwoo's new neighbour is an Indian from Mumbai who works as a software engineer.
Jiwoo 的新鄰居是來自孟買的印度人，從事軟體工程師的工作。
structure: an Indian from [city] + [job]
The restaurant on Elm Street was opened by two Indians from the state of Kerala.
榆樹街那間餐廳是兩位來自喀拉拉邦的印度人開的。
Indians make up one of the largest groups of international students in the United States.
印度人是美國最大的國際學生群體之一。
Yasmin met several Indians during her trip to Singapore last summer.
Yasmin 去年夏天去新加坡旅行時遇到了好幾位印度人。
My university has a cultural fair where Indians and Chinese students share their traditions.
我們大學舉辦了一場文化博覽會，印度和中國學生各自分享自己的傳統。
- South Asian
broader term covering people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives
- Desi
informal term used by people of South Asian origin to describe themselves or their culture
常見錯誤
2. a person belonging to one of the original peoples who lived across the American
印地安人
指美洲原住民個人，現屬冒犯用語
a person belonging to one of the original peoples who lived across the American continents before European arrival — a term that was common in earlier times but is now treated as offensive.
The explorer's diary called every Indigenous person 'an Indian,' which sounds wrong today.
那位探險家的日記把遇到的每一位原住民都稱為「an Indian」，在今日聽來非常不妥。
Historians now avoid the word 'Indian' and instead use 'Mohawk,' 'Mapuche,' or the person's nation name.
歷史學家現在不再使用「Indian」一詞，而是改用「Mohawk」、「Mapuche」或當事人所屬的部族名稱。
preferred usage: use the nation's name
Gabriel learned that Columbus used 'Indian' because he thought he had reached India.
Gabriel 讀到哥倫布之所以使用「Indian」這個詞，是因為他以為自己抵達了印度。
The museum label says that calling someone 'an Indian' is now considered offensive.
博物館的解說牌說明，稱呼某人為「an Indian」在現今被視為冒犯。
- Native American
preferred general term in the US; also used in formal contexts
- Indigenous person
broad, internationally accepted term
- First Nations person
standard term in Canada
用法筆記
This sense is now considered offensive in general use. Never use it to describe an Indigenous person in modern contexts. Preferred alternatives: use the specific nation name (e.g., 'Cherokee,' 'Lakota,' 'Inuit') when known, or general terms such as 'Native American' (US), 'First Nations person' (Canada), or 'Indigenous person' (international). The term survives in the official names of some US government agencies (e.g., Bureau of Indian Affairs) and in historical documents.