minimalist
minimalist — 形容詞
1. described using very simple shapes, few colours, and only the most necessary par
極簡風的
只用最少元素的藝術設計風格
described using very simple shapes, few colours, and only the most necessary parts; relating to an art and design style where every extra detail is removed — for example, a room with white walls, a plain wooden floor, and one single lamp.
Quinn gave her room a minimalist look with a grey sofa and white walls.
Quinn 以極簡風格打造房間，放了一張灰色沙發和白色牆壁。
minimalist + style; concrete domestic scene
The architect won an award for his minimalist building made from glass, steel, and concrete.
那位建築師以玻璃、鋼鐵和水泥打造的極簡風格建築贏得了獎項。
Gabriel prefers minimalist fashion and owns only black trousers and plain white shirts.
Gabriel 偏愛極簡風格穿搭，只擁有黑色長褲和白色襯衫。
For a minimalist logo, Min used two straight lines and a small blue circle.
為了設計極簡風格的標誌，Min 只用了兩條直線和一個藍色小圓圈。
The restaurant's minimalist menu offers only three main dishes and one dessert.
這家餐廳的極簡菜單只提供三道主菜和一道甜點。
- simple
more general and less tied to an art movement; any uncomplicated thing can be simple
- plain
emphasises lack of decoration; can suggest boringness, which minimalist usually does not
- uncluttered
focuses on the absence of mess rather than a deliberate design choice
文法句型
minimalist + noun
用法筆記
Commonly describes visual things such as architecture, fashion, graphic design, and interior decoration. The positive connotation is 'clean and clear'; the negative connotation is 'bare and cold'.
常見錯誤
2. involving or requiring the smallest possible amount of effort, action, or partic
最少介入的
投入最少的行動、精力或參與的
involving or requiring the smallest possible amount of effort, action, or participation — for example, a government that provides only basic services and leaves everything else to local groups.
The university took a minimalist approach, offering only a one-page guide to new students.
那所大學採取最少介入的做法，只給新生提供了一頁指南。
minimalist approach; institutional subject
Greta prefers a minimalist role in group projects and attends only the final presentation.
Greta 在小組專案中傾向擔任最少介入的角色，只參加最後的報告。
Critics called the government's response minimalist because it sent no staff or supplies.
評論家稱政府的應對為最少介入，因為政府沒有派出任何人員或物資。
Stephanie follows a minimalist parenting style, letting her children solve small problems alone.
Stephanie 採用最少介入的教養方式，讓孩子自己解決小問題。
Tunde's minimalist email policy means he replies only to messages marked 'urgent'.
Tunde 的最少回覆政策意味著他只回覆標記為「緊急」的郵件。
- active
involving full participation and effort
- interventionist
willing to get involved and take action, especially about government policy
文法句型
minimalist + noun
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (SIMPLE DESIGN): this sense is about the amount of action or involvement, not about visual simplicity. Frequently describes government policy, management style, or personal habits.
常見錯誤
minimalist — 名詞
1. an artist, designer, or musician who works in a style that uses only simple shap
極簡主義者
採用極簡風格的藝術家、設計師或音樂家
an artist, designer, or musician who works in a style that uses only simple shapes, few materials, and basic colours — for example, a painter who creates works using only black lines on a white canvas.
Tara works as a minimalist and makes furniture from a single sheet of bent wood.
Tara 是一名極簡主義者，只用一塊彎曲的木頭製作傢俱。
a minimalist (countable noun); creative profession
The gallery is showing three Japanese minimalists whose works use only paper and ink.
這間畫廊正在展出三位日本極簡主義者的作品，他們只使用紙和墨水。
Manuela became a minimalist after studying the clean lines of Scandinavian design.
Manuela 在研究了北歐設計的簡潔線條後，成為了一名極簡主義者。
Dario's teacher called him a natural minimalist because his drawings used just ten lines.
Dario 的老師說他是天生的極簡主義者，因為他的畫只用十條線就完成了。
At the fair, minimalists argued that every extra phone button is a mistake.
在博覽會上，極簡主義者們主張手機上每個多餘的按鈕都是一個錯誤。
- minimalist artist
more specific, makes the creative field explicit
- minimalist designer
narrows to design rather than fine art or music
文法句型
a minimalist
the minimalists (plural, artistic movement)
用法筆記
Can also refer to a composer whose music uses very few notes and simple repeating patterns. Famous minimalists in music include Philip Glass and Steve Reich.
常見錯誤
2. someone who prefers to do the smallest possible amount of work or take the least
消極者
盡量少做事或少承擔責任的人
someone who prefers to do the smallest possible amount of work or take the least possible amount of responsibility — for example, a team member who only does exactly what is asked and nothing extra.
Mert is a minimalist at work and never volunteers for extra tasks after five o'clock.
Mert 在工作上是個消極者，五點過後從不主動承擔額外任務。
a minimalist at [place/domain]; informal workplace register
Christopher is a minimalist cook who boils pasta and calls it dinner.
Christopher 是個消極的廚師，煮個義大利麵就當作一頓晚餐。
The committee's minimalists refused to attend any meeting that lasted over thirty minutes.
委員會裡的消極者拒絕參加任何超過三十分鐘的會議。
Trang described herself as a social minimalist, saying she sees friends only once a month.
Trang 說自己是社交上的消極者，每個月只見朋友一次。
- slacker
stronger and more negative; implies laziness rather than a deliberate choice to do little
- low-effort person
descriptive rather than a single-word synonym; less natural in conversation
- overachiever
someone who does much more than expected or required
- workaholic
someone who works too much, to the point that it harms their health or relationships
文法句型
a minimalist
用法筆記
Informal and sometimes playful. Unlike sense 1 (ART PRACTITIONER), this is not tied to any artistic philosophy. Can be mildly critical — calling someone a minimalist in this sense suggests they avoid effort.
3. a person who believes that a government or organisation should have very few pow
小政府主義者
主張政府只能擁有極少職權的人
a person who believes that a government or organisation should have very few powers and should handle only the most basic tasks — for example, someone who thinks the national government should manage only defence, roads, and currency.
Political minimalists argue that local communities, not the state, should run their own schools.
小政府主義者認為地方社區而非中央政府應該自己管理學校。
Political minimalists (domain-prefixed noun); argument structure with that-clause
The senator is a well-known minimalist who wants to cut every department budget by half.
那位參議員是知名的極簡政府派，主張將每個部門的預算砍半。
Some voters are becoming political minimalists after watching the government waste tax money.
有些選民在看到政府浪費稅金後，逐漸成為小政府主義者。
Daichi argues that true minimalists in government should control only the army and the courts.
Daichi 認為真正的小政府主義者只應掌管軍隊和法院。
- small-government advocate
more transparent to learners; makes the political stance explicit
- libertarian
broader philosophy that includes social as well as economic freedom; overlaps but is not identical
- fiscal conservative
focuses on spending restraint rather than limiting the scope of government functions
- interventionist
someone who believes the government should take an active role in many areas of life
- big-government supporter
someone who favours a large, active government with many public services
文法句型
a political minimalist
a minimalist in politics
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (LOW-EFFORT PERSON): sense 3 is a deliberate political philosophy, not a personal habit. In Taiwan political discourse, the term 小政府 (small government) is the closest local concept, though 'minimalist' is less common as a label.