middle-aged

middle-aged — 形容詞

1. at the stage of life when people have left their youth behind but are not yet el

1.形容詞A2
釋義

中年的

大約45至65歲之間的

at the stage of life when people have left their youth behind but are not yet elderly, commonly considered the years from around 45 to 65.

例句

Ezra, a middle-aged teacher from Taiwan, started learning guitar at 50.

來自台灣的中年老師 Ezra 在五十歲時開始學吉他。

The clinic offers free check-ups for middle-aged patients every March.

這間診所每年三月為中年病患提供免費健康檢查。

attributive: middle-aged + noun (patients)

同義詞
反義詞
  • young

    the earlier life stage, before middle age

  • elderly

    the later life stage, after middle age

文法句型

be + middle-aged

middle-aged + noun

用法筆記

Frequently used before a noun (a middle-aged man, middle-aged women) but also common after a linking verb (she is middle-aged). The exact age boundaries are flexible and vary by culture.

常見錯誤

❌My father is middle-aged but he is 70.
✅My father is elderly
💡middle-aged usually means between 45 and 65.' — Middle-aged describes a stage before old age, not anyone older than young.

2. having or showing a cautious, conservative attitude that suggests a lack of yout

2.形容詞B2
釋義

古板的

過於謹慎而缺乏活力的

having or showing a cautious, conservative attitude that suggests a lack of youthful energy, enthusiasm, or willingness to try new things.

例句

Liang's middle-aged attitude made him refuse every new restaurant his friends suggested.

Liang 那種古板的態度，讓他拒絕朋友推薦的每一家新餐廳。

attributive: middle-aged attitude toward new things

Élise's middle-aged taste in music meant she only listened to songs from the 1990s.

Élise 古板的音樂品味，使她只聽一九九〇年代的歌。

同義詞
  • old-fashioned

    broader term that applies to any generation, does not specifically link to middle age

  • conservative

    focuses on caution and resistance to change rather than age stereotypes

  • stuffy

    informal, suggests being overly formal and lacking fresh ideas

反義詞
  • youthful

    full of the energy and enthusiasm associated with young people

  • adventurous

    willing to try new experiences without caution

  • trendy

    following modern styles and fashions

文法句型

middle-aged + noun (attitude, approach, taste)

be + middle-aged

用法筆記

Often used to criticise a person's choices or mindset rather than their actual age — a 25-year-old can have a middle-aged attitude. Carries a dismissive or mocking tone.

常見錯誤

❌He is middle-aged so he hates pop music.' (confusing actual age with attitude)
✅He has a middle-aged attitude toward music even though he is only 25.
💡This sense describes a way of thinking, not a person's age.