1
reflective + noun
作定语，指能反射光线或声音的物体或材料。
The runner wore a reflective vest at night.
这位跑步者夜里穿了一件反光背心。
反射的
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
反射的
capable of reflecting light or sound
The runner wore a reflective vest at night.
这位跑步者夜里穿了一件反光背心。
反射的；折返的。
That reflects, or redirects back to the source.
沉思的；反思的；尤指回忆往事的。
Pondering, especially thinking back on the past.
揭示的；表明的；指示的。
That reveals or shows; revealing; indicative of.
反射性的；反思性的。
Involving reflection.
After the argument, she became quiet and reflective, thinking about what she had said.
争吵之后，她变得安静而沉思，反思自己说过的话。
He is a reflective person who enjoys spending time alone with his thoughts.
他是一个沉思的人，喜欢独处思考。
The book has a reflective tone that makes the reader stop and consider their own life.
这本书带有一种沉思的基调，促使读者停下来思考自己的生活。
作定语，指能反射光线或声音的物体或材料。
The runner wore a reflective vest at night.
这位跑步者夜里穿了一件反光背心。
固定搭配，表示“体现出、反映出”，主语常为抽象事物。
Her tone was reflective of her frustration.
她的语气反映了她的沮丧。
作表语，指人陷入沉思或若有所思。
He became quiet and reflective after the meeting.
会议结束后，他变得安静而沉思。
Not this
The mirror is reflection.
Use this
The mirror is reflective.
这里把名词 reflection 误当作形容词。is 后应接形容词来描写主语；reflective 才是形容词，表示“能反射（光）的”，因此改为 reflective。
Not this
He is reflective of his past mistakes.
Use this
He is reflective about his past mistakes.
reflective of 是固定搭配，表示“显示出/反映出”，主语通常是事物；这里要表达“沉思/反省”，应用 reflective about（或 reflect on）。把 of 改为 about 后语义才正确。
Not this
In English, words like 'myself' are reflective pronouns.
Use this
In English, words like 'myself' are reflexive pronouns.
reflective 与 reflexive 是形近词：reflective 意为“沉思的；反射的”，而语法术语“反身代词”是 reflexive pronoun。将 reflective 改为 reflexive 才符合英语语法用词。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
反射表面
The mirror has a highly reflective surface.
这面镜子有高度反射的表面。
反光衣物
Cyclists should wear reflective clothing at night.
骑车人在夜间应穿反光衣物。
反思实践
Teachers use reflective practice to improve their teaching.
教师通过反思实践来改进教学。
反思性文章
She wrote a reflective essay about her year abroad.
她写了一篇关于她海外一年的反思性文章。
沉思的心情
After the funeral, he was in a reflective mood.
葬礼后，他陷入沉思。
反思性思维
Reflective thinking helps students learn from experience.
反思性思维帮助学生从经验中学习。
反映…的；体现…的
His calm attitude was reflective of his inner strength.
他冷静的态度反映了他内心的力量。
Use reflective naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
re-再+flect弯曲：光线弯回来是“反射”，心思弯回自身是“沉思”。
语域：mixed 常见场景：科技/工程描述、文学/心理描写 reflective 多用于正式语境。在科技或工程类文本中，常表示“反射的”，如 reflective surface（反光表面）；在文学或心理描写中，则多表示“沉思的”，如 reflective mood（沉思的心情）。具体含义需结合搭配判断。
These words share the stressed vowel and following sounds /ɛktɪv/ with reflective, so they rhyme. Warning: reflective looks like reflexive, but reflexive is pronounced /rɪˈflɛksɪv/ and does not rhyme.
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.