selective
selective — 形容詞
1. choosing only the people, items, or experiences that match your own high standar
挑剔的
只選擇符合自身標準的人事物，拒絕其他的
choosing only the people, items, or experiences that match your own high standards, and turning down others that do not meet those standards
Kwame is selective about the films he watches — he only sees documentaries and award-winning dramas.
Kwame 看電影很挑剔——他只看紀錄片和得獎劇情片。
selective about + noun phrase for careful choice
Young children are often selective eaters and may refuse any food that looks unfamiliar.
幼兒通常是挑食的人，可能會拒絕任何看起來不熟悉的食物。
selective eater: common collocation for food preferences
Reema became more selective about which clients she accepted after starting her own firm.
Reema 在成立自己的公司後，對於接受哪些客戶變得更加挑剔。
The restaurant uses selective sourcing, buying only organic vegetables from local farms.
這家餐廳採用精選採購方式，只從當地農場購買有機蔬菜。
At the weekend market, Ayesha is selective — she passes six stalls before buying a single bunch of herbs.
在週末市集上，Ayesha 很挑剔——她經過六個攤位後才買了一把香草。
- picky
more informal and slightly negative; suggests being difficult to please rather than having high standards
- choosy
informal; like picky but slightly milder in tone
- discerning
more formal and positive; suggests good judgment and taste
- particular
emphasises attention to detail; can apply to any specific requirement
- undiscriminating
formal; describes someone who accepts everything without judging quality
- indiscriminate
often negative; suggests a lack of careful thought in choosing
文法句型
selective + about + noun phrase
selective + in + noun phrase
selective + noun (attributive)
用法筆記
Frequently followed by 'about' (selective about what you choose) or 'in' (selective in your choices). The pattern 'selective + noun' (selective eater, selective memory, selective breeding) is common in both everyday and technical contexts.
常見錯誤
2. describing a school, college, or university that admits students based on academ
篩選制的
學校根據考試成績或學業表現選擇學生
describing a school, college, or university that admits students based on academic performance or test results, rather than accepting all applicants
Harper passed the entrance exam and gained a place at a highly selective grammar school.
Harper 通過了入學考試，進入一所嚴格篩選學生的公立中學。
highly selective: intensifier with school context
The university's selective admissions process accepts fewer than one in ten applicants each year.
這所大學的擇優錄取流程每年只錄取不到十分之一的申請者。
selective admissions: attributive noun pattern in education
Critics argue that selective education systems widen the gap between wealthy and poor students.
批評者認為篩選制的教育體系會擴大貧富學生之間的差距。
Lucas applied to several selective colleges but worried his grades might not be high enough.
Lucas 申請了幾所篩選嚴格的大學，但擔心自己的成績可能不夠高。
Talia applied to the University of Tokyo, one of Japan's most selective schools, and felt thrilled when accepted.
Talia 申請了東京大學——日本篩選最嚴格的大學之一——並在被錄取時感到非常高興。
- competitive
focuses on the difficulty of getting in; can apply to programs as well as schools
- exclusive
more about status and cost; not necessarily based on academic merit
- restricted
more general; simply means places are limited
- comprehensive
UK-specific; a comprehensive school accepts all children regardless of ability
- open-access
describes a school or programme that admits any qualified applicant
文法句型
selective + school / college / university / system / process
gradable: highly / very / extremely + selective
用法筆記
Primarily used in British English education contexts. The term usually appears before a noun (attributive position). 'Selective school' contrasts with 'comprehensive school' (which accepts all students regardless of ability). Not typically used for US public schools, though 'selective college/university' is used in both US and UK contexts.