Avery, Something with an abundance of energy and is capable of effecting changes is "active". Examples: He continues to be mentally active well into his old age. She leads an active lifestyle. Indonesia sits on the Pacific Rim of Fire and has many active volcanoes. Someone who is "proactive" has initiative and makes an effort to pre-empt problems that may arise from a situation. Examples: The government adopts a proactive approach to tackle unemployment. You have to be more proactive and less passive in your career. Hope this helps. Lance

很多词典把他们翻译成一个意思，实则不对。 Pro前缀代表提前之意，所以事前active 就是主动而非被动。主观能动性强 active只是活跃之意。两者其实差别挺大的。