<p>i think proactive and enthusiastic are pretty good translations. you typically use 積極 to describe such qualities in a younger person who's eager to learn or do something but still humble to listen to advice, so it's not used a lot to comment on older people, though you can also use it to describe someone who's new to a role and wants to do a good job. e.g. a newly elected president (who's never been a president before). maybe that's what you feel is missing from the english words? </p>

<p>same thing for the opposite adjective 消極, which also lends itself better to describe younger people IMHO.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-01T14:06:42.837Z
2014-04-01T14:06:42.837Z
user3399723
<p>Maybe try <em>be in for</em>, <em>have a passion for</em>, <em>have a strong inclination of</em>, <em>be used to</em> , <em>go into</em>?</p>

<p>(PS. It is my personal thought that western languages weigh verbs more than how Chinese does.)</p>

<p>(PSS. Or are you just seeking some 'natural' expressions in English?)</p>

<hr>

<blockquote>
  <p>他在课堂上举手发言不是很积极 </p>
  
  <p>He is not <em>that used to</em> expressing his ideas in classes.</p>
</blockquote>

<hr>

<blockquote>
  <p>他做事都很积极</p>
  
  <p>He always <em>has a passion</em> for working.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-01T09:03:52.693Z
I like your style
Mou某
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-01T03:50:25.017Z
2014-04-01T03:50:25.017Z
Joseph S WU
<p>"eager" as in "he is always eager to participate in class activities".</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-03T09:15:07.290Z
2014-04-03T09:15:07.290Z
microbe
<p>I think <code>active</code> is ok for the examples you took.
<code>Active</code> is used to emphasize that someone is taking action in order to achieve something, rather than just hoping for it or achieving it in an indirect way.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-31T05:29:34.267Z
2014-03-31T05:29:34.267Z
Joe.wang
<p>积极 has two meanings</p>
<ol>
<li><p>positive
This meaning is often used to describe abstract concepts such as 态度(attitude), 措施(steps, means)</p>
</li>
<li><p>active
Often used to describe doing things in a active, often with initiative or a self-motivated manner.</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>As for your examples, the 积极 are used with the second meaning.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>他在课堂上举手发言不是很积极</p>
<p>He is not very active in raising his hand and asking questions in class.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I know active is not the word you are looking for, but I think it's quite suitable here, since enthusiastic seems to be stronger than 积极。</p>
</blockquote>
<p>他做事很都积极</p>
<p>He's motivated in doing everything</p>
<p>He does everything with initiative.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-31T07:01:58.167Z
2014-03-31T07:01:58.167Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
user1228520
<p>Alright before I get a bunch of crappy answers saying things like:</p>

<pre><code>&gt; postive 
&gt; active 
&gt; energetic 
&gt; vigorous 
&gt; proactive
</code></pre>

<p>I just want to say these are not the words -or- phrases I'm looking for.</p>

<p>I feel like 积极 is very versatile and clear but I always have a hard time translating it back to English or finding a good equivalent to express the same thing in English.</p>

<p>For the following contexts what English word or phrase would you use to express 积极?</p>

<pre><code>他在课堂上举手发言不是很积极 
他做事很都积极
</code></pre>

<p>I want to use something like <code>enthusiastic</code> but it doesn't <em>quite</em> express it for me...any ideas?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-31T05:25:43.653Z
What translation(s) have you tried, and why don't they work? In order to make translations sound natural, translators often change around word order, or use different translations of a word depending on context. I just want to make sure that you're not labouring under the misconception that there's a "perfect" word translation suitable for all purposes.
congusbongus
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-31T08:54:41.133Z
@congusbongus Yes of course. Even as a person who's first language is English, I was just default to using 积极 because I really can't think of anything to describe this in English. Like I said `enthusiastic` seems to be the closest thing I can think of but still not that good...
Mou某
<translation><word-choice><word-requests>
Better ways to translate 积极?
# Better ways to translate 积极?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-03-31)

Alright before I get a bunch of crappy answers saying things like:

```
> postive 
> active 
> energetic 
> vigorous 
> proactive

```

I just want to say these are not the words -or- phrases I'm looking for.

I feel like 积极 is very versatile and clear but I always have a hard time translating it back to English or finding a good equivalent to express the same thing in English.

For the following contexts what English word or phrase would you use to express 积极?

```
他在课堂上举手发言不是很积极 
他做事很都积极

```

I want to use something like `enthusiastic` but it doesn't *quite* express it for me...any ideas?

**Tags:** translation, word-choice, word-requests

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What translation(s) have you tried, and why don't they work? In order to make translations sound natural, translators often change around word order, or use different translations of a word depending on context. I just want to make sure that you're not labouring under the misconception that there's a "perfect" word translation suitable for all purposes.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 Yes of course. Even as a person who's first language is English, I was just default to using 积极 because I really can't think of anything to describe this in English. Like I said `enthusiastic` seems to be the closest thing I can think of but still not that good...  

---

## 5 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-04-01. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

i think proactive and enthusiastic are pretty good translations. you typically use 積極 to describe such qualities in a younger person who's eager to learn or do something but still humble to listen to advice, so it's not used a lot to comment on older people, though you can also use it to describe someone who's new to a role and wants to do a good job. e.g. a newly elected president (who's never been a president before). maybe that's what you feel is missing from the english words?

same thing for the opposite adjective 消極, which also lends itself better to describe younger people IMHO.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-04-01. Score: 1

Maybe try *be in for*, *have a passion for*, *have a strong inclination of*, *be used to* , *go into*?

(PS. It is my personal thought that western languages weigh verbs more than how Chinese does.)

(PSS. Or are you just seeking some 'natural' expressions in English?)

---

> 他在课堂上举手发言不是很积极
>
> He is not *that used to* expressing his ideas in classes.

---

> 他做事都很积极
>
> He always *has a passion* for working.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I like your style  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2014-04-03. Score: 1

"eager" as in "he is always eager to participate in class activities".


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2014-03-31. Score: 0

I think `active` is ok for the examples you took.
`Active` is used to emphasize that someone is taking action in order to achieve something, rather than just hoping for it or achieving it in an indirect way.


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2014-03-31. Score: 0

积极 has two meanings

1. positive
   This meaning is often used to describe abstract concepts such as 态度(attitude), 措施(steps, means)
2. active
   Often used to describe doing things in a active, often with initiative or a self-motivated manner.

As for your examples, the 积极 are used with the second meaning.

> 他在课堂上举手发言不是很积极
>
> He is not very active in raising his hand and asking questions in class.
>
> > I know active is not the word you are looking for, but I think it's quite suitable here, since enthusiastic seems to be stronger than 积极。
>
> 他做事很都积极
>
> He's motivated in doing everything
>
> He does everything with initiative.


---

