Privilege
Slang Term
AmericanBritishAustralian
★★★★★ Very Common
Neutral
Meaning: Unearned advantages from social position
来自社会地位的非劳而获的优势
Ventajas no ganadas por posición social
社会的立場から得られる不労の優位性
사회적 지위에서 비롯된 불로(不勞)의 이점
Advantages and benefits that come from belonging to a certain group (class, race, gender) that those outside the group don't have.
因属于某个群体(阶级、种族、性别)而获得的、该群体外的人没有的优势和好处。
Ventajas y beneficios que provienen de pertenecer a un determinado grupo (clase, raza, género) que quienes están fuera del grupo no tienen.
特定のグループ(階級、人種、性別)に属することで得られる、そのグループ外の人にはない特典や利益。
특정 집단(계급, 인종, 성별)에 속함으로써 얻는 이점과 혜택으로, 그 집단 밖의 사람들에게는 주어지지 않는 것.
Examples
- Check your privilege. 审视一下你的特权revisa tus privilegios自分の特権を認識しなさい자신의 특권을 인식해라
- Class privilege is invisible to those who have it. 阶级特权对拥有它的人来说是看不见的el privilegio de clase es invisible para quienes lo tienen階級特権はそれを持つ人には見えない계급 특권은 그것을 가진 사람에게는 보이지 않는다
- The privileges of wealth. 财富的特权los privilegios de la riqueza富の特権부의 특권
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: social justice, politics
Tone: analytical, sometimes confrontational
✓ Do Say
- Acknowledge privilege承认特权reconocer el privilegio特権を認識する특권을 인정하다
- Class privilege阶级特权privilegio de clase階級特権계급 특권
✗ Don't Say
- Can be divisive topic可能是引起分裂的话题Puede ser un tema divisivo意見が分かれるテーマになりうる분열을 일으킬 수 있는 주제
Common Mistakes
- Using accusatorially rather than analytically
Origin & History
From Latin 'privilegium' (law for one person). Modern usage emphasizes unearned systemic advantages based on social position.
Etymology: Latin privilegium (private law)
First recorded: Modern social justice usage 2000s
Cultural Context
Era: 2000s activism onwards
Generation: Millennials, Gen Z
Social background: Social justice discourse
Pop culture: Social media discourse
Regional notes: Universal English.
Variations
PrivilegePrivilegedCheck your privilege
More From This Topic
Posh
★★★★★
Upper class; elegant and expensive
Born with a silver spoon
★★★★★
Born into wealth and privilege
Keeping up with the Joneses
★★★★★
Competing with neighbours for status
Rough
★★★★★
Uncouth; from a tough neighbourhood
Classy
★★★★★
Stylish and sophisticated
Snob
★★★★★
Someone who looks down on those of lower status
More from Class & Social Status
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