prekindergarten
adj.
幼儿园学龄前的
很幼小的, 极幼稚的
preschool
adj.未满学龄的, 入学前的
n.幼儿园
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但是preschool在美国传统词典有:
adj.(形容词)
Of, relating to, intended for, or being the early years of childhood that precede the beginning of elementary school.
学龄前的,入学前的:在小学教育开始之前即儿童时代早期的,与这有关的或为此服务的
n.(名词)
A school for children who are not old enough to attend kindergarten; a nursery school.
保育园:为年龄未够上幼儿园的儿童服务的学校;托儿所
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总结:
preschool 可指幼儿园可指保育园=小学之前
prekindergarten=幼儿园前
所以不是prekindergarten 比preschool前,不是早晚关系,而是preschool比prekindergarten范围宽,是范畴大小关系!
简单一个公式:
preschool=prekindergarten+kindergarten!