Word · CEFR A2 · Frequency #1837
elderly
老年人
old people considered as a group
- 1.
people who are old collectively
老年人
In use
The city provides free bus rides for the elderly.
Many volunteers visit the elderly at the weekend to keep them company.
The new community center has a special room where the elderly can play chess.
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。
for the elderly
We should provide services for the elderly.
我们应该为老年人提供服务。
among the elderly
Loneliness is common among the elderly.
孤独在老年人中很常见。
Common mistakes
The elderly needs special care.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。
An elderly is standing there.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。
Connections
Collocations
- the elderly
- 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。
- care for the elderly
- 照料老年人
- Her job is to care for the elderly.她的工作是照料老年人。
- services for the elderly
- 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。
- among the elderly
- 在老年人中
- Loneliness is common among the elderly.孤独在老年人中很常见。
- the needs of the elderly
- 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。
Pop culture & quotes
Learner notes
Memory Tip
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。
Context & Register
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。
Grammar Note
用作名词时指老年人群体，通常与the连用
Pronunciation & Spelling
与 elderly /ˈɛldɝli/ 完全押韵的常用词很少，列出的词都不是完美韵脚。elder /ˈɛldɚ/ 与 elderly 开头的读音相近但不押韵；orderly、properly、cleverly、eagerly 这些以 -erly 结尾的词只共享非重读的结尾 /ɚli/，重读元音或辅音不同，所以也不押韵。
High-value vocabulary
该词属于 Oxford 核心词汇，值得优先掌握常见搭配和句型。
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 3，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Dictionary facts from DICTIONARY_API_DEV, ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.