If something is distinctive, it has a special quality, look, sound, smell, or style that is its own, so you can pick it out. A distinctive laugh, a distinctive red bag, a distinctive way of writing the letter R.

If something is distinctive如果一個東西是獨特的 it has它就有 that is its own屬於自己的 a special quality, look, sound, smell, or style特別的特質、外觀、聲音、氣味或風格 so you can pick it out所以你可以把它認出來。A distinctive laugh一個獨特的笑聲、a distinctive red bag一個獨特的紅色包包、a distinctive way of writing the letter R寫字母R獨特的方式。

It is not only “different.” Plenty of things are different without being easy to recognise. Distinctive means the difference has a face: once you have met it, you know it again.

It is not only "different."它不只是「different不同」的意思。Plenty of things很多東西 are different雖然不同 without being easy to recognise卻不容易被認出來。Distinctive meansdistinctive的意思是 the difference has a face那個不同之處有一張「臉」，once you have met it一旦你見過它 you know it again就能再次認出它。

The word is common in careful speech and in writing — reviews, design, food, people. It is not stiff, but you would not shout it in the playground.

The word is common這個字很常見 in careful speech and in writing用在講究的口語和寫作裡 — reviews, design, food, people像是評論、設計、食物、人物。It is not stiff它不算生硬正式，but but是 in the playground在操場上 you would not shout it你也不會大喊這個字。

Though actually, students often reach for distinctive when they only need distinct. Distinct means clear and separate (“two distinct problems”). Distinctive means “you would know it anywhere.” Something can be distinct without being distinctive, and the other way round.

Though actually不過其實，students often reach for distinctive學生常常會用distinctive這個字 when they only need distinct但其實只需要distinct就好。Distinct meansdistinct的意思是 clear and separate清楚且各自分開，(像"two distinct problems"兩個各自分開的問題)。Distinctive meansdistinctive的意思是"you would know it anywhere你在哪裡都認得出它"。Something can be distinct without being distinctive有的東西可以是distinct卻不是distinctive，and the other way round反過來也一樣。