representative

representative 既可表示“有代表性的、能体现整体的”，也可表示“代表他人或团体的人”，还可指代替某事物出现的东西。

💡 记忆钩子

把一个人或事物想成站在整体前面的人：他能代表一个团体，某个样本能代表一大类，某件东西也能代替另一件东西出现。

📝 学习建议

先掌握“代表某团体的人”和“有代表性的、能体现整体的”这两个核心意思，再学习“代替某物出现的东西”。
不要只把 representative 理解成正式的“代表”；在 representative example、representative sample 等表达中，它常指能反映整体特点的典型例子或样本。

📖 中文释义

adj

core 有代表性的；典型的

📖 指一个人、事物或样本具有整体群体的典型特点，因此可以用来反映更大的范围。它强调“这个个体能让人看出整体大致是什么样”。

💡 常用结构是 “representative of + 群体或范围”，也常说 representative example、representative sample。它既可用于正式分析，也可用于日常说明“典型的”；不要把“典型”机械理解成“最常见”，重点是它能反映整体。

This survey included a representative sample of local residents.

这项调查包含了一个能代表当地居民整体情况的样本。

The painting is representative of her early style.

这幅画体现了她早期作品的典型风格。
common 表现相似的；能体现的

📖 指某个东西能够表现出另一个人、群体或事物的样子和特点，强调“呈现出相似形象或特征”。

💡 常用结构是 “representative of + 被表现的对象”，也可说某物 is representative of 某种风格或时期。这个意思和“有代表性的”接近，但更强调它呈现了某对象的样貌；不要把它当作简单的“相似”。

The photograph is representative of the writer's life in the countryside.

这张照片体现了这位作家在乡村生活的样子。

more representative comparative most representative superlative

noun

core 代表；代理人

📖 指受一个团体、组织或其他人委托，站出来表达意见、参加会议或处理事务的人。他本人不是整个团体，但在特定场合代表团体行动。

💡 常用结构是 “a representative of + 团体”或 “representatives from + 多个团体”。它可指正式代表，也可指一般的机构代理人；不要默认它一定是政府官员或民选议员。

A representative of the workers spoke at the meeting.

一名工人代表在会上发了言。

Please contact our customer service representative.

请联系本公司的客户服务代表。
common 议员；民选代表

📖 在政治语境中，指代表选区或选民参与立法和政府事务的民选官员，尤其在美国英语中常指众议员。

💡 常用结构是 “a representative for/of + 选区”，也常直接说 Representatives 指某国的议员群体。这个政治意思在美国英语中尤其常见；在其他语境里，单独出现时仍可能只是一般的“代表”。

US

The representative held a meeting with voters in her district.

这位议员在她的选区与选民举行了会面。
common 替代物；代表物

📖 指代替另一人或事物出现、让人联想到它的东西。它体现的是“站在某物前面”的核心概念，但不一定是有生命的人。

💡 常用结构是 “a representative of + 被代替的对象”，通常出现在书面叙述、艺术评论或说明某物象征另一物的语境中。它和 symbol 都有“代表物”的意思，但 representative 更强调替代或体现某个对象，而不一定带有象征意义。

This small model is a representative of the machines used in the factory.

这个小模型代表了工厂里使用的那类机器。

representatives plural

📘 英文释义 (WordNet) 共 7 组

being or characteristic of government by representation in which citizens exercise power through elected officers and representatives

同义词集: representative

representative government as defined by Abraham Lincoln is government of the people, by the people, for the people

近似: democratic

standing for something else

同义词集: representative

the bald eagle is representative of the United States

近似: allegoric, allegorical, emblematic, emblematical, symbolic, symbolical

serving to represent or typify;

同义词集: representative

representative moviegoers

a representative modern play

近似: typical

an item of information that is typical of a class or group;

同义词集: example illustration instance representative

this patient provides a typical example of the syndrome

there is an example on page 10

上位: information 下位: apology, case in point, exception, excuse, precedent, sample, specimen

a member of the United States House of Representatives

同义词集: congressman congresswoman representative

上位: legislator 下位: rep

a person who represents others

同义词集: representative

上位: negotiant, negotiator, treater 下位: agent, alderman, assemblyman, contact, delegate, emissary, envoy, middleman

an advocate who represents someone else's policy or purpose

同义词集: spokesperson interpreter representative voice

the meeting was attended by spokespersons for all the major organs of government

上位: advocate, advocator, exponent, proponent 下位: ambassador, flack, flack catcher, flak, flak catcher, mouth, mouthpiece, spokesman, spokeswoman

🌳 词源

源自中古英语和古法语，表面上可分析为 represent 加后缀 -ative；与 representation 同源。

From Middle English representative, from Middle French representatif and its etymon Medieval Latin repraesentātīvus. By surface analysis, represent + -ative; See representation. Displaced native Old English spala (“a representative”).

🔄 变式

more representative compar most representative superl representatives plural

🏷 单词标签 & 词根