"Economical" is used to denote the careful, efficient, and prudent use of resources. It implies avoiding waste or extravagance and being thrifty. For instance:
- an economical car: refers to a vehicle that uses fuel efficiently
- an economical meal: refers to a meal that is cost-effective and does not waste resources
On the other hand, "economic" refers to matters related to the economy, which includes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. It is often used in the context of trade, industry, or money. For example, "economic conditions" refer to the state of the economy, or "economic policy" refers to government policy related to the economy.
In essence, while both terms are related to resources and finance, "economical" is more about the efficient and thrifty use of resources, whereas "economic" is about the larger system of production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. These two terms are not interchangeable and are used in different contexts.
For instance, if you are referring to something that saves money or resources, like buying used textbooks or driving a fuel-efficient car, you would use "economical". If you are discussing something related to the economy, like economic policies or economic conditions, you would use "economic".
prudent
sensible and careful when you make judgements and decisions; avoiding unnecessary risks
谨慎的；慎重的；精明的
extravagance
/ɪkˈstrævəɡəns/
the act or habit of spending more money than you can afford or than is necessary
奢侈；挥霍；铺张浪费
thrifty
/ˈθrɪfti/
using money carefully and wisely
节省的，节俭的
cost-effective
giving the best possible profit or benefits in comparison with the money that is spent
低成本高利润的；有成本效益的；划算的
fuel-efficient
a fuel-efficient engine or vehicle burns fuel in a more effective way than usual, so that it loses less fuel
（发动机或汽车）省油的，低油耗的
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