Liberalism is the set of opinions and principles that grow from the word liberal, especially in society and politics. Though actually the tidy dictionary word hides a split.

Liberalism是 is the set of opinions and principles一套意見和原則 that grow from從...長出來 the word liberal「liberal」這個字, especially尤其是 in society and politics在社會和政治方面。Though actually不過其實 the tidy整齊的 dictionary word字典上的字 hides藏著 a split一個分歧。

In political theory, and in much of Europe, liberalism often means individual rights, free speech, limits on what the state may do, and — in the economic kind — fairly free markets. In everyday American news, “liberals” and “liberalism” usually mean the left: more state help, more social change, more openness on culture.

In political theory在政治理論裡, and而且 in much of Europe在歐洲大部分地方, liberalism「liberalism」 often means通常指 individual rights個人權利, free speech言論自由, limits on what the state may do限制國家能做的事, and而且 — in the economic kind在經濟方面的版本裡 — fairly free markets相當自由的市場。In everyday American news在美國日常新聞裡, “liberals” and “liberalism”「liberals」和「liberalism」 usually mean通常指 the left左派: more state help更多的國家幫助, more social change更多的社會變革, more openness on culture文化上更開放。

A Taiwanese student who maps it straight onto 自由主義 may picture the first kind, then get a shock reading a US headline.

A Taiwanese student一個台灣學生 who maps it straight onto如果把它直接對應到 自由主義 may picture可能會想到 the first kind第一種意思, then get a shock然後大吃一驚 reading a US headline讀到美國的頭條新聞時。

Name the flavour when you can (classical, social, economic). It is a system of ideas, not a mood, and not the same thing as simply being kind or generous with money — an older meaning of liberal.

Name標明 the flavour種類 when you can如果可以的話 (classical, social, economic)（古典、社會、經濟）。It它 is a system of ideas是一套思想體系, not a mood而不是一種情緒, and而且 not the same thing也不等同於 as simply being kind or generous with money單純的善良或在金錢上慷慨 — an older meaning of liberal這是liberal比較舊的意思。