If you are restive, you are not at peace with how things are. You are bored, unhappy, or impatient, and you want a change — you may shift, complain, or push back.

If you are restive如果你 restive, you are not at peace with how things are就是你對現況感到不平靜、不安於現狀。You are bored你覺得無聊, unhappy不開心, or impatient或不耐煩, and you want a change而且想要有所改變——you may shift你可能會坐立不安, complain抱怨, or push back或反抗。

Though actually, the word did not start with people. It was first used of horses that would not do as they were told: they planted their feet and refused to go. That old picture is still inside the word: a restive crowd will not quietly stay as it is.

Though actually不過其實, the word did not start with people這個詞一開始講的不是人。It was first used of horses最早是用來形容馬 that would not do as they were told不聽使喚的馬: they planted their feet牠們會四腳站定 and refused to go拒絕往前走。That old picture is still inside the word這個舊時的畫面依然留在這個詞裡: a restive crowd一群 restive 的群眾 will not quietly stay as it is不會安安靜靜地維持現狀。

You will meet this more in news and books than in everyday talk. The common everyday cousin is restless, but that one is about not being able to keep still; restive is more about not being willing to accept the situation.

You will meet this more in news and books你會比較常在新聞和書籍裡遇到這個詞 than in everyday talk而不是日常對話。The common everyday cousin is日常生活裡比較常見的近親是 restless, but that one is about not being able to keep still不過 restless 講的是靜不下來、動個不停; restive is more about而 restive 比較是在講 not being willing to accept the situation不願意接受現況。

It is not a word about rest or sleep, even though it looks as if it should be.

It is not a word about它不是跟...有關的字 rest or sleep休息或睡覺, even though it looks as if it should be雖然看起來好像應該是。