Going backwards — back to an earlier, worse, or less developed state, or making something go back that way. The word almost always carries disapproval: if you call a law, an idea, or a change 'regressive', you are saying it undoes progress.

Going backwards倒退 — back to an earlier, worse, or less developed state,──回到比較早、比較差，或比較不發達的狀態， or making something go back that way.或是讓某件事往那個方向倒退回去。The word almost always carries disapproval:這個字幾乎總是帶著不贊同的意味： if you call a law, an idea, or a change 'regressive',如果你說一項法律、一個想法或一個改變是 regressive（倒退的）， you are saying it undoes progress.你是在說它把進步給抹掉了。

A government policy that takes away rights women already had is regressive; a school that returns to hitting children is regressive. It is a formal word, mostly written — in newspapers, in politics, in reports — not something friends say to each other.

A government policy that takes away rights women already had is regressive;政府政策如果拿走了女性原本已經擁有的權利，就是 regressive（倒退的）； a school that returns to hitting children is regressive.學校如果又回頭去打小孩，也是 regressive。It is a formal word, mostly written這是個正式的字，大多用在書面上── — in newspapers, in politics, in reports —在報紙上、政治上、報告裡── not something friends say to each other.不是朋友之間會說的話。

It has a second life in two more technical places. In tax, a 'regressive tax' is one that takes a bigger share of the money of poor people than of rich people (a flat sales tax works this way, because everyone pays the same on a bottle of milk). Here the word is not really about going backwards in time; it means the burden falls the wrong way round, and it is still disapproving.

It has a second life它還有另一個生命 in two more technical places.出現在兩個比較專業的地方。In tax,在稅制上， a 'regressive tax' is one「regressive tax」（累退稅）是指 that takes a bigger share of the money of poor people than of rich people從窮人身上拿走的錢佔比，比從有錢人身上拿走的還多 (a flat sales tax works this way,（統一稅率的銷售稅就是這樣運作的， because everyone pays the same on a bottle of milk).因為每個人買一瓶牛奶付的稅都一樣）。Here the word is not really about going backwards in time;這裡這個字其實不是在講時間上的倒退； it means the burden falls the wrong way round,它是說負擔的方向反了， and it is still disapproving.而且依然帶著不贊同的意味。

In psychology and medicine, 'regressive behaviour' means acting like a younger version of yourself — a six-year-old who starts wetting the bed again after a new baby arrives. That use is describing, not blaming.

In psychology and medicine,在心理學和醫學裡， 'regressive behaviour' means「regressive behaviour」（退化行為）是指 acting like a younger version of yourself表現得像比較小的自己 — a six-year-old who starts wetting the bed again after a new baby arrives.──像是家裡多了個新生兒之後，一個六歲小孩又開始尿床。That use is describing,這種用法是在描述， not blaming.不是在責怪。

One thing to feel: the negative colour comes from the speaker, not from the facts. Someone who wants the old ways back will not call themselves regressive. They will say 'traditional'. Same change, different word — that choice is where the opinion lives.

One thing to feel:有一點要感覺出來： the negative colour comes from the speaker,負面的色彩是來自說話的人， not from the facts.不是來自事實本身。Someone who wants the old ways back想要恢復舊做法的人， will not call themselves regressive.不會把自己稱作 regressive。They will say他們會說自己是 'traditional'.「traditional」（傳統的）。Same change, different word同樣的改變，用了不同的字 — that choice is where the opinion lives.──那個選擇，就是意見藏身的地方。