middle-class
middle-class — 形容詞
1. Describing the segment of educated professionals — for instance, architects, pha
中產專業的
指受過良好教育專業人士的社會階層
Describing the segment of educated professionals — for instance, architects, pharmacists, and engineers — whose stable, respected careers provide a comfortable living without making them wealthy.
Christopher's father worked as a civil engineer, and his mother taught piano — a typical middle-class upbringing in Jakarta.
Christopher 的父親是土木工程師，母親教鋼琴——這是在雅加達典型的中產成長環境。
collocation: middle-class upbringing
The middle-class suburbs of Manila are filled with lawyers, engineers, and accountants.
馬尼拉的中產郊區隨處可見律師、工程師和會計師。
The middle-class high school Élise attended in Lyon sent most graduates to medical and law programs.
Élise 就讀的里昂中產高中，大部分畢業生都進入醫學和法律專業。
Their middle-class salary in Munich covered the mortgage, yearly holidays, and piano lessons for two children.
他們在慕尼黑的中產薪資足以支付房貸、每年度假以及兩個孩子的鋼琴課。
- professional
Focuses on high-skill, degree-required occupations rather than social class overall
- affluent
Suggests greater wealth and luxury than typically implied by middle-class
- working-class
Refers to people in manual or low-paid jobs with less economic security
- upper-class
Refers to the wealthy elite, often with inherited money or high-level power
文法句型
middle-class + noun (family/home/upbringing)
be + middle-class
用法筆記
Frequently used before nouns such as family, background, upbringing, home, and neighborhood. Distinguish from sense 2, which refers to the broader group of ordinary working people rather than specifically to well-educated professionals.
常見錯誤
2. Relating to the broad group of ordinary working people who have steady jobs and
中等收入的
指有穩定收入、生活水準普通的民眾
Relating to the broad group of ordinary working people who have steady jobs and a decent income, putting them in a comfortable financial position between poverty and wealth.
Romi's father worked in a shoe factory, and her mother ran a small shop — a steady middle-class life in Surabaya.
Romi 的父親在鞋廠工作，母親經營一家小店——他們在泗水過著安穩的中產生活。
collocation: middle-class life
Middle-class families in this town struggle to pay rent after prices doubled in three years.
這個小鎮的中產家庭在房租三年翻倍後，很難負擔得起。
collocation: middle-class families
The new supermarket chain targets middle-class shoppers with affordable organic produce and fresh bread daily.
這家新連鎖超市以中產消費者為目標客群，每天提供平價有機蔬果和新鮮麵包。
After rent increases, the Min family in Seoul needed both salaries just to keep their middle-class lifestyle.
房租上漲後，首爾的 Min 家需要兩份薪水才能維持中產生活水準。
Liang noticed that middle-class voters care deeply about public school quality and safety.
Liang 注意到中產選民非常關心公立學校的品質和安全。
- ordinary
Focuses on the typical or average nature rather than a specific income bracket
文法句型
middle-class + noun (family/income/voter)
be + middle-class
用法筆記
This is the more common of the two adjective senses. Often appears in economic and political discussions about broad social groups: middle-class families, middle-class income, middle-class voters.
常見錯誤
middle-class — 名詞
1. The social stratum formed by educated professionals — architects, accountants, a
中產專業階級
醫生、律師等專業人士構成的社會群體
The social stratum formed by educated professionals — architects, accountants, and engineers — whose incomes allow a comfortable, secure life without reaching the level of the wealthy.
Between 1950 and 1970, Britain's professional middle class grew as new hospitals and schools hired more doctors and teachers.
1950 至 1970 年間，英國的專業中產階級隨著新醫院和學校聘僱更多醫生和教師而擴張。
collocation: professional middle class
Yasmin's family joined the middle class when her mother became a school principal.
Yasmin 的母親當上校長後，她們家就此躋身中產階級。
A new tax break for the middle class helped Priya's parents save for a house down payment.
一項新的中產階級稅務優惠讓 Priya 的父母存夠了購屋頭期款。
In Lagos, the middle class has grown steadily as more young people earn advanced degrees.
在拉哥斯，隨著愈來愈多年輕人取得高等學位，中產階級穩定成長。
- bourgeoisie
A more academic term with Marxist overtones, focusing on owners of capital rather than salaried professionals
- professional class
Specifically refers to those in high-skill, degree-requiring occupations
- working class
People in manual, service, or low-paid jobs with less economic security
- upper class
The wealthy elite who often have inherited money and significant social power
文法句型
the middle class + verb (singular)
belong to the middle class
the + professional + middle class
用法筆記
This sense narrows the noun to the traditional professional segment (teachers, doctors, lawyers). When used without context, 'the middle class' more often refers to the broader sense 2. Use modifiers like 'professional' or 'upper' to signal this specific meaning.
2. The large social group of ordinary working people who have steady jobs and enoug
中產大眾
有穩定工作的普通民眾構成的社會階層
The large social group of ordinary working people who have steady jobs and enough money to pay for housing, food, and other basic needs, without being wealthy.
The middle class in Minas Gerais, mostly office workers and shopkeepers, makes up sixty percent of local voters.
米納斯吉拉斯的中產階級——以上班族和小店主為主——佔當地投票人口的六成。
collocation: the middle class makes up [share] of
Andrei's neighborhood is mostly middle class, with a mix of office workers and shop owners.
Andrei 住的社區大多是中產階級，有上班族也有小店老闆。
Housing prices in Berlin have pushed the middle class toward neighborhoods farther from the center.
柏林的房價把中產階級推向離市中心更遠的區域。
Amihan works as a clerk at a local hospital and considers herself firmly middle class.
Amihan 在當地醫院擔任行政人員，她認為自己屬於中產階級。
- middle-income group
An economic term based purely on income brackets, not social standing
- salaried workers
Emphasizes the type of employment (monthly salary) rather than social class
文法句型
the middle class + verb (singular)
expand/shrink the middle class
the middle class makes up [percentage]
用法筆記
This is the default meaning of 'the middle class' in everyday speech and news reporting. It covers a wide range of occupations and income levels. In contrast to sense 1, it does not specifically emphasize university education or professional licensure.
常見錯誤
3. The segment of society that occupies the economic and social position between th
中產階級
社會中處於富裕與貧困之間的階層
The segment of society that occupies the economic and social position between the wealthy upper class and the poor lower class, used as a general analytical category.
In her sociology paper, Anjali defined the middle class as families earning between forty and one hundred thousand dollars yearly.
Anjali 在她的社會學報告中將中產階級定義為年收入在四萬到十萬美元之間的家庭。
sociological definition with income brackets
Yara studied how the middle class in Argentina changed during the economic crisis of 2001.
Yara 研究阿根廷中產階級在 2001 年經濟危機期間發生的變化。
A census report from 2023 found that the middle class in Jakarta makes up forty-two percent of households.
2023 年的人口普查報告顯示，雅加達的中產階級佔全市家庭戶數的百分之四十二。
Quinn's neighborhood in Detroit lost its middle class after two car factories shut down in 2008.
Quinn 在底特律居住的社區在 2008 年兩家汽車工廠關閉後，中產階級人口急遽減少。
- middle stratum
A more technical sociological term for this generic category
- upper class
The wealthy segment at the top of the social hierarchy
- lower class
The poor segment at the bottom of the social hierarchy
文法句型
the middle class + verb (singular)
define/describe the middle class as
用法筆記
Primarily used in sociology, political science, and formal writing about social structure. Less common in everyday conversation than sense 2. The phrase 'a strong middle class' appears frequently in this analytical sense.