<p>From the stand point of innovative and liberal thinkers, 保守思想 (conservative thinking) does carry a negative connotation of inability to adapt </p>

<p>For example: 思想保守的人不願譲子女與外國人通婚 (conservative thinking people do not want their children to marry foreigners) . Since most people nowadays do not mind international marriage, the ones who oppose it had became the minority.</p>

<p>You can say 保守思想(conservative thinking) is polite words for 陳舊思想(old thinking) or 落伍思想 (outdated thinking) </p>

<p>But 保守 as an adjective or adverb on it's own is neutral</p>

<p>For example: 保守估計 (conservative estimate); 保守作風 (conservative style); 保守(地)估計 (conservatively estimate)</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>How about in a positive way?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>You can replace 保守 with 穩建 (cautious) which implies "careful" and "steady" or 慬慎 (cautious)</p>

<p>Example: 作風穩建; 立場慬慎</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-02T03:57:25.257Z
2019-09-02T18:50:46.003Z
2019-09-02T18:50:46.003Z
Tang Ho
<p>I disagree. It depends on the context. 保守 doesn't sound negative to me. </p>

<p>If I say the reason I don't take drugs is that I'm 保守 it shouldn't mean anything bad. </p>

<p>If I say someone doesn't like taking risks is 保守 it also is totally neutral. </p>

<p>The negative version will be 守旧. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-09T19:32:02.827Z
you are disagreeing with moiaussi06's answer, not mine, I presume? I did state 保守 by itself is neutral
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-16T05:32:44.940Z
I disagree with this sentence in the question：However, the Chinese word "保守" seems to carry a negative connotation (Am I right)?
user22720
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-16T05:35:16.963Z
As my answer stated, 保守思想 carry a negative connotation, but 保守 is neutral
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-16T05:37:22.387Z
It can be very personal. I'm not suggesting there wouldn't be people who think this way but sometimes there are no better translation for conservative. The context is more important.  my personal opinion
user22720
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-16T05:40:35.347Z
tbh, 保守思想 still doesn't sound bad to me. It really depend on the context. Once someone said to me, 中国人思想还是比较保守的，你不要.... 。 the person who said it definitely didn't say 保守 in a bad way.
user22720
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-09T08:46:13.287Z
2019-09-09T08:46:13.287Z
user22720
<p>You are right.It implies a negativity in general.</p>

<p>With regards to "investment strategy",<code>保守</code> could mean "risk aversive". </p>

<p>One exception will be ETA, <code>保守估计</code> actually just indicates a conservative time estimate.</p>

<p>I think "conservative" is close to <code>稳妥</code>。 </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-02T21:39:36.123Z
2019-09-02T21:39:36.123Z
moiaussi06
<p>In English, the word "conservative" seems neutral. However, the Chinese word "保守" seems to carry a negative connotation (Am I right)? What word should I use if I would like to express the english word "conservative" in a neutral way? How about in a positive way?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-04T07:23:22.810Z
Is conservative really considered neutral in English?
Mou某
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-04T15:34:57.843Z
Is this context on politics or not?
Blaszard
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-10T05:17:32.310Z
@Blaszard, not necessarily. I would like to ask about this word in general.
Zuriel
<word-choice><word>
Is "保守" considered derogatory in Chinese?
# Is "保守" considered derogatory in Chinese?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-09-02)

In English, the word "conservative" seems neutral. However, the Chinese word "保守" seems to carry a negative connotation (Am I right)? What word should I use if I would like to express the english word "conservative" in a neutral way? How about in a positive way?

**Tags:** word-choice, word

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Is conservative really considered neutral in English?  
> **username_2**: Is this context on politics or not?  
> **username_0**: @username_2, not necessarily. I would like to ask about this word in general.  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2019-09-02. Score: 5

From the stand point of innovative and liberal thinkers, 保守思想 (conservative thinking) does carry a negative connotation of inability to adapt

For example: 思想保守的人不願譲子女與外國人通婚 (conservative thinking people do not want their children to marry foreigners) . Since most people nowadays do not mind international marriage, the ones who oppose it had became the minority.

You can say 保守思想(conservative thinking) is polite words for 陳舊思想(old thinking) or 落伍思想 (outdated thinking)

But 保守 as an adjective or adverb on it's own is neutral

For example: 保守估計 (conservative estimate); 保守作風 (conservative style); 保守(地)估計 (conservatively estimate)

> How about in a positive way?

You can replace 保守 with 穩建 (cautious) which implies "careful" and "steady" or 慬慎 (cautious)

Example: 作風穩建; 立場慬慎


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### Answer by username_4 on 2019-09-09. Score: 1

I disagree. It depends on the context. 保守 doesn't sound negative to me.

If I say the reason I don't take drugs is that I'm 保守 it shouldn't mean anything bad.

If I say someone doesn't like taking risks is 保守 it also is totally neutral.

The negative version will be 守旧.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: you are disagreeing with username_5's answer, not mine, I presume? I did state 保守 by itself is neutral  
> **username_4**: I disagree with this sentence in the question：However, the Chinese word "保守" seems to carry a negative connotation (Am I right)?  
> **username_3**: As my answer stated, 保守思想 carry a negative connotation, but 保守 is neutral  
> **username_4**: It can be very personal. I'm not suggesting there wouldn't be people who think this way but sometimes there are no better translation for conservative. The context is more important.  my personal opinion  
> **username_4**: tbh, 保守思想 still doesn't sound bad to me. It really depend on the context. Once someone said to me, 中国人思想还是比较保守的，你不要.... 。 the person who said it definitely didn't say 保守 in a bad way.  

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### Answer by username_5 on 2019-09-02. Score: 1

You are right.It implies a negativity in general.

With regards to "investment strategy",`保守` could mean "risk aversive".

One exception will be ETA, `保守估计` actually just indicates a conservative time estimate.

I think "conservative" is close to `稳妥`。


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