1. relating to the original or earliest known inhabitants of a region
與某地區最早已知的居民相關的
The museum has a collection of aboriginal artifacts.
博物館收藏了一批原住民的手工藝品。
They are studying aboriginal languages before they become extinct.
他們正在研究那些瀕臨消失的原住民語言。
Aboriginal Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
aboriginal
adjective
快速理解
What does "Aboriginal" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Aboriginal"?
形容與特定地區最早已知居民相關的人、文化或事物。
- 1
原住民的
EN: relating to the original or earliest known inhabitants of a region
翻譯: 與某地區最早已知居民相關的
- 2
原生的
EN: existing in a place from the earliest times or before the arrival of colonists
翻譯: 從最早時期或殖民者到來前就存在於某地的
- 3
土著文化的
EN: pertaining to the indigenous culture, traditions, or art forms of a place
翻譯: 關於某地原住民的文化、傳統或藝術形式的
小提醒：注意：當首字母大寫為 'Aboriginal' 時，在澳洲與加拿大等國常特指該國的原住民族群（如澳洲原住民），此時為專有名詞。
發音（How to Pronounce "Aboriginal" in English）
How to pronounce "Aboriginal" in English?"Aboriginal" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Aboriginal" from YouTube Videos
Our natural sleep cycle | Jessa Gamble
TED
“So the culture, the northern aboriginal culture, traditionally has been highly seasonal.”
(1 out of 1)
Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Aboriginal"?How does "Aboriginal" change by context?
2. existing in a place from the earliest times or from before the arrival of colonists
從最早時期或殖民者到來之前就存在於某地的
Koalas are an aboriginal species of Australia.
無尾熊是澳洲的原生物種。
The island's aboriginal population has a rich cultural heritage.
該島的原住民族群擁有豐富的文化遺產。
3. a member of the original people living in a region, especially as contrasted with later settlers
居住在某地區的原住民，尤指與後來的定居者相對
The rights of aboriginals are protected by law.
原住民的權利受到法律保護。
He has worked closely with the aboriginals to preserve their traditions.
他與原住民密切合作，以保存他們的傳統。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Aboriginal"?How to make natural sentences with "Aboriginal"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| aboriginal + noun | 原住民的、土著的 | The museum has a collection of **aboriginal** artifacts. (博物館收藏了一批原住民的手工藝品。) |
| be + aboriginal + to + place | 是某地的原住民 | The Maori people are **aboriginal** to New Zealand. (毛利人是紐西蘭的原住民。) |
| aboriginal + people/community/culture | 原住民族群/社區/文化 | We must respect **aboriginal** land rights. (我們必須尊重原住民的土地權。) |
用法說明
How is "Aboriginal" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Aboriginal"?
Aboriginal 與 Indigenous 的用法區別
- Aboriginal 通常作為形容詞，指與特定地區或國家最早已知居民相關的人、文化或事物，常與特定地名連用（如 Aboriginal Australians）。
- Indigenous 也是形容詞，含義更廣泛，指某個地方的「原生的」或「土生土長的」，可用於人、動植物或文化，地理範圍可大可小（全球、大洲或地區）。
- 在國際語境或正式文件中，Indigenous 的使用更為普遍（如 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples）。
- 在加拿大，Aboriginal 是官方用語，指 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples 的統稱。
對比範例： EN: The museum has a collection of Aboriginal art from Australia. 翻譯: 這間博物館收藏了來自澳洲的原住民藝術品。
EN:The Indigenous cultures of the Amazon rainforest are incredibly diverse.
翻譯:亞馬遜雨林的土著文化極其多元。
EN:She studies Aboriginal languages in Taiwan.
翻譯:她研究台灣的原住民族語言。
EN:Potatoes are indigenous to the Andes region of South America.
翻譯:馬鈴薯原產於南美洲的安第斯山脈地區。
總結建議
在指稱特定國家或地區（如澳洲、台灣）的「原住民族」時，使用 Aboriginal 更為精準；在泛指全球或某區域的「土著」或「原生」概念時，則使用 Indigenous 更為合適。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Aboriginal" and similar words?How to choose "Aboriginal" vs alternatives?
aboriginal vs native
aboriginal 強調特定地區最早的原住民群體，而 native 泛指出生於某地的人或動植物。
aboriginal vs indigenous
aboriginal 與 indigenous 常可互換，但 aboriginal 更常指特定地區（如澳洲）的原住民，而 indigenous 是全球性用語。
aboriginal vs local
aboriginal 指歷史上最早的原住民族群，而 local 僅指當地的人事物，不涉及歷史淵源。
口語用法
How is "Aboriginal" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Aboriginal"?
引述
在對話中，當引述或提及他人對某個群體或事物的稱呼時，會使用這個詞。 EN: He said the land was of great importance to the aboriginal people. 翻譯: 他說這片土地對原住民來說至關重要。
EN:In her report, she referred to the aboriginal art as a cultural treasure.
翻譯:在她的報告中，她將原住民藝術稱為文化瑰寶。
語氣強調
用於強調某事物與特定土地或人群最原始、最根本的關聯性。 EN: This plant is aboriginal to this island and grows nowhere else. 翻譯: 這種植物是這個島嶼土生土長的，其他地方都沒有。
EN:Their aboriginal connection to the forest is evident in their stories.
翻譯:他們與森林那種原生的連結在他們的故事中顯而易見。
停頓填充
在組織思緒或尋找合適詞彙時，可能會用此詞來填充停頓，通常會伴隨一些修飾或解釋。 EN: The culture here is very... aboriginal, you know, deeply rooted and ancient. 翻譯: 這裡的文化非常…原生的，你知道的，是那種根深蒂固且古老的。
EN:We're talking about the... aboriginal inhabitants, the very first people who lived here.
翻譯:我們在討論的是…原生的住民，就是最早居住在這裡的人。
正式寫作注意：在正式或學術寫作中，應避免將 "aboriginal" 用作填充詞。作為形容詞，其首字母大小寫需注意：泛指時通常為小寫（"aboriginal peoples"），但在特定官方名稱或與「澳洲原住民」相關的語境中，大寫 "Aboriginal" 是適當且尊重的用法（例如 "Aboriginal Australian culture"）。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Aboriginal"?What fixed phrases with "Aboriginal" should I remember?
aboriginal people
aboriginal + people
原住民
aboriginal culture
aboriginal + culture
原住民文化
aboriginal land
aboriginal + land
原住民土地
aboriginal languages
aboriginal + languages
原住民語言
aboriginal community
aboriginal + community
原住民社區
aboriginal art
aboriginal + art
原住民藝術
aboriginal rights
aboriginal + rights
原住民權利
aboriginal heritage
aboriginal + heritage
原住民遺產
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Aboriginal"?Which "Aboriginal" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×He is an aboriginal.
✓He is an Aboriginal person. / He is Aboriginal.
Using 'aboriginal' as a standalone noun to refer to a person can be considered outdated, reductive, or offensive in many contexts, especially when referring to specific Indigenous peoples. It's better to use it as an adjective ('Aboriginal person') or, when appropriate, the specific name of the nation or people.
×There are many aboriginal plants in this forest.
✓There are many native/indigenous plants in this forest.
'Aboriginal' (capitalized or not) is primarily used to refer to the original inhabitants of a land, especially in contexts like Australia (Aboriginal Australians). For plants, animals, or non-human things, the more common and appropriate terms are 'native' or 'indigenous'.
×We studied about the aboriginal culture.
✓We studied Aboriginal culture. / We studied the culture of the Aboriginal peoples.
When referring to the specific Indigenous peoples of Australia, 'Aboriginal' is often capitalized as a proper adjective. The article 'the' is not used directly before the adjective 'Aboriginal' when it modifies a noun like 'culture' or 'people' in a general sense. Use 'the' when referring to a specific group (e.g., 'the Aboriginal people of this region').
×Taiwan's aboriginal tribes have rich traditions.
✓Taiwan's Indigenous tribes have rich traditions.
While 'aboriginal' is a general term meaning 'first' or 'original', its modern application is strongly associated with Australia. For other regions like Taiwan, Canada, or the Americas, the preferred contemporary terms are often 'Indigenous' (capitalized), 'First Nations', or the specific name of the group (e.g., 'Atayal', 'Cree'). Using the region-specific term is more accurate and respectful.
×This is the aboriginal land.
✓This is Aboriginal land. / This is the traditional land of the Aboriginal people.
Similar to mistake #3, when 'Aboriginal' is used as a proper adjective, it usually doesn't take an article. The phrase 'Aboriginal land' is a common collocation. Using 'the' before it can sound unnatural or change the meaning to imply there is only one specific piece of land.
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Aboriginal"?What are tense/participle forms of "Aboriginal"?