If someone is insubordinate, they refuse to do what a person with more authority has told them to do. The important piece is that ‘above them’: a soldier who will not follow an officer, a worker who will not follow a boss, a student who will not follow a teacher when the teacher is speaking as the one in charge.

If someone is insubordinate如果一個人insubordinate，they refuse to do what a person with more authority has told them to do他們拒絕做上級交代的事。The important piece is that 'above them'重點就在「上級」這件事：a soldier who will not follow an officer不服從長官的士兵，a worker who will not follow a boss不服從老闆的員工，a student who will not follow a teacher when the teacher is speaking as the one in charge不服從老師以主管身分下令的學生。

It is a serious, rather formal word. In the army or at work, calling someone insubordinate is close to a charge, not a small complaint about manners.

It is a serious, rather formal word這是個很嚴肅、相當正式的字。In the army or at work在軍隊或職場裡，calling someone insubordinate說一個人insubordinate is close to a charge幾乎等於是在提出正式指控，not a small complaint about manners而不是隨口抱怨態度不好。

Though actually, people sometimes throw it at a child who is only being noisy or cheeky — that is a stretch. The tidy meaning is not ‘naughty’ or even ‘rude’.

Though actually不過實際上，people sometimes throw it at a child who is only being noisy or cheeky有人會拿這個字說一個只是吵鬧或有點皮的小孩——that is a stretch這樣講有點牽強。The tidy meaning is not 'naughty' or even 'rude'正確的意思不是「頑皮」，甚至不是「沒禮貌」。

You can dislike an order, ask a question, even argue, and still obey. Insubordinate is when the order has been heard and the answer is no.

You can dislike an order你可以不喜歡一個命令，ask a question問問題，even argue甚至爭論，and still obey但還是照做。Insubordinate is when the order has been heard and the answer is noinsubordinate指的是命令已經聽到了，但答案是不。

You would not usually use it about a friend who will not pick a restaurant.

You would not usually use it你通常不會用這個字，about a friend who will not pick a restaurant去說一個不肯選餐廳的朋友。