1
the elderly
通常与定冠词连用，指代老年人群。
The elderly often need special care.
老年人通常需要特殊照顾。
老年人
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
老年人
old people considered as a group
The elderly often need special care.
老年人通常需要特殊照顾。
老年人
people who are old collectively
The city provides free bus rides for the elderly.
这座城市为老年人提供免费公交乘坐服务。
Many volunteers visit the elderly at the weekend to keep them company.
许多志愿者周末去看望老年人，陪他们作伴。
The new community center has a special room where the elderly can play chess.
新的社区中心有一间专门的房间，老年人可以在那里下棋。
通常与定冠词连用，指代老年人群。
The elderly often need special care.
老年人通常需要特殊照顾。
We should provide services for the elderly.
我们应该为老年人提供服务。
Loneliness is common among the elderly.
孤独在老年人中很常见。
Not this
The elderly needs special care.
Use this
The elderly need special care.
集合名词“the elderly”表示老年人群体，通常视为复数，谓语动词应用复数形式“need”。中文母语者易受“老年人”作为整体概念影响而误用单数动词。
Not this
An elderly is standing there.
Use this
An elderly person is standing there.
名词“elderly”为不可数集合名词，不直接指单个个体，需加“person”或“people”等词表示具体的人。中文学习者常直译“一个老年人”导致错误。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
老年人
The government should do more to help the elderly.
政府应该做更多事情来帮助老年人。
照料老年人
Her job is to care for the elderly.
她的工作是照料老年人。
为老年人提供的服务
The city offers free bus services for the elderly.
这个城市为老年人提供免费公交服务。
在老年人中
Loneliness is common among the elderly.
孤独在老年人中很常见。
老年人的需求
Urban planning should take into account the needs of the elderly.
城市规划应该考虑老年人的需求。
你要在年长者面前站起来，敬重老年人。
This verse from Leviticus uses "the elderly" to mean older people as a group and teaches respect for them.
这节出自《利未记》的经文用“the elderly”指代老年人群体，教导人们要尊重他们。
Use elderly naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
elderly 由 elder（长辈）联想，elder 本有“长者”之意，加 ly 后指“老年人”整体；想象一群长辈在夕阳下慢步。
语域：mixed 常见场景：新闻报道、公共政策、礼貌交谈 该义项通常以 the elderly 形式出现，指老年人群体，多用于书面或正式场合；日常口语中则较常用 old people 等说法。
用作名词时指老年人群体，通常与the连用
Dictionary facts from DICTIONARY_API_DEV, ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.