Unelected describes a person who holds power without any vote having put them there — nobody chose them, yet they decide things. Civil servants, judges, advisers, central bankers, appointed officials and monarchs are all unelected in this sense.

Unelected Unelected describes a person用來形容一個人 who holds power without any vote having put them there握有權力，卻不是靠任何投票選出來的 — nobody chose them沒有人選過他們, yet they decide things他們卻能做決定. Civil servants, judges, advisers, central bankers, appointed officials and monarchs公務員、法官、顧問、央行官員、被指派的官員和君主 are all unelected in this sense在這個意義上都是 unelected.

The important thing is the tone. This word is almost always used to complain.

The important thing is重點在於 the tone語氣. This word這個字 is almost always used to complain幾乎都是用來抱怨的.

When a newspaper writes 'unelected bureaucrats' or 'unelected officials', it is making an argument: these people should not have this much power over you, because you cannot vote them out. It is a political weapon, not a neutral label — you will see it far more often from people attacking an institution than from the institution itself.

When a newspaper writes 'unelected bureaucrats' or 'unelected officials'當報紙寫「unelected bureaucrats」或「unelected officials」時, it is making an argument其實是在表達一種立場: these people should not have this much power over you這些人不應該對你有這麼大的權力, because you cannot vote them out因為你沒辦法用投票把他們趕下台. It is a political weapon這是一種政治武器, not a neutral label不是中性的標籤 — you will see it far more often from people attacking an institution than from the institution itself你會看到攻擊某個機構的人用它，遠多於機構自己用它.

Grammatically it lives right in front of a noun: unelected officials, an unelected body, unelected advisers.

Grammatically文法上 it lives right in front of a noun它就緊貼在名詞前面: unelected officials, an unelected body, unelected advisersunelected officials、an unelected body、unelected advisers.

Notice too that it does not automatically mean 'illegitimate'. Plenty of jobs are supposed to be unelected — judges are deliberately kept out of elections so they can decide cases without worrying about votes.

Notice too也要注意 that it does not automatically mean 'illegitimate'它不代表「不正當」. Plenty of jobs很多職位 are supposed to be unelected本來就該是 unelected 的 — judges are deliberately kept out of elections法官就是故意不經選舉 so they can decide cases without worrying about votes這樣他們判案時才不用擔心選票.

So when you meet this word, the useful question is not 'is this true?' but 'what is the writer trying to make me feel?' Very often the answer is: suspicious.

So when you meet this word所以遇到這個字時, the useful question is not 'is this true?'有用的問題不是「這是真的嗎？」 but 'what is the writer trying to make me feel?'而是「作者想讓我有什麼感覺？」 Very often the answer is答案通常是: suspicious懷疑.