retro
retro — 形容詞
1. made to look like a style from earlier decades — for example, clothing, music, o
復古的
模仿過去風格的
made to look like a style from earlier decades — for example, clothing, music, or furniture that copies designs people liked twenty to forty years ago, usually in a fun or fashionable way.
Kasia bought a retro dress with big polka dots and a wide belt.
Kasia 買了一件復古洋裝，上面有大的圓點花紋和寬腰帶。
collocation: retro dress / retro style
The diner had a retro look with red vinyl seats and a jukebox in the corner.
那間餐館有復古的外觀，紅色塑膠座椅和角落的投幣式點唱機。
collocation: retro look / retro feel
Christopher loves collecting retro video game consoles from the 1990s.
Christopher 喜歡收集 1990 年代的復古電玩主機。
Retro furniture from the 1970s has become popular again among young homeowners.
來自 1970 年代的復古家具在年輕屋主之間再度變得熱門。
Hassan decorated his bedroom with retro posters and a lava lamp.
Hassan 用復古海報和一盞熔岩燈裝飾他的臥室。
- vintage
vintage usually describes something genuinely old and of high quality, not a modern copy of an old style
- old-fashioned
broader in meaning; can describe anything that belongs to an earlier time, not necessarily stylish or cool
- nostalgic
focuses on the emotional feeling of missing the past, rather than on the visual style itself
- modern
relating to current or present-day styles rather than past ones
- contemporary
belonging to or occurring in the present, not imitating past styles
用法筆記
Commonly describes items from the 1950s to 1990s. Unlike 'vintage,' which implies the item is genuinely old, 'retro' can describe a new item that simply copies an old style.
常見錯誤
retro — 字首
1. added to the beginning of a word to mean 'backwards,' 'behind,' or 'in the oppos
向後；倒退
表示向後或相反方向
added to the beginning of a word to mean 'backwards,' 'behind,' or 'in the opposite direction' — for example, in words like retrograde (moving backward) or retroactive (applying to past events).
The politician tried to undo recent changes in a retrograde move that angered many voters.
那位政治人物試圖取消近期的改革，這種倒退的舉動激怒許多選民。
prefix: retro- + grade = retrograde (moving backwards)
The new law was made retroactive, so it affected people who had already paid their taxes.
這條新法律具有追溯效力，因此影響了已經繳完稅的人。
In biology, some viruses are called retroviruses because they copy their genetic material in reverse order.
在生物學中，某些病毒被稱為反轉錄病毒，因為它們以反向順序複製遺傳物質。
The spacecraft fired its retro-rockets to slow down and begin its return to Earth.
太空船點燃了它的減速火箭來降低速度，開始返回地球。
用法筆記
Common in scientific, legal, and formal vocabulary. Unlike the standalone adjective 'retro,' this prefix carries a literal sense of direction or time reversal and does not carry stylistic or nostalgic connotations.
常見錯誤
2. added to the beginning of a word to mean 'relating to the past' or 'looking back
回顧；追溯
表示與過去相關或回顧
added to the beginning of a word to mean 'relating to the past' or 'looking back at earlier events' — for example, in words like retrospect (looking back in time) or retrospective (a review of past work).
In retrospect, Rania realised she had made the right decision by moving abroad.
回顧起來，Rania 意識到她搬到國外的決定是對的。
collocation: in retrospect (common phrase = looking back)
The museum held a retrospective exhibition of Tamar's paintings from the 1980s.
博物館舉辦了 Tamar 1980 年代畫作的回顧展。
Beatriz wrote a retrospective essay about the changes in her hometown over thirty years.
Beatriz 寫了一篇回顧性的文章，談論三十年來她家鄉的變化。
A retrospective study compared patient records from the last decade to find health trends.
一項回顧性研究比較了過去十年的病歷，以找出健康趨勢。
- backward-looking
a less formal alternative, but can carry a negative tone (resistant to change)
- retrospective
functions as an adjective or noun; 'retrospective' is the full word whereas 'retro-' is a prefix
- prospective
means looking forward or relating to the future, e.g., a prospective study looks ahead
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (BACKWARDS): this sense focuses on time rather than physical direction. 'In retrospect' is an especially common fixed phrase for reflecting on past decisions.