extensive有下面几种意思：1.large in spatial extent or range or scope or quantity同义词：extended空间延伸范围大2.broad in scope or content同义词：across-the-board, all-embracing, all-encompassing, all-inclusive, blanket, broad, encompassing, panoptic, wide范围和内容宽泛3.of agriculture; increasing productivity by using large areas with minimal outlay and labor农业上指使用大面积小成本再来看expansive的几种意思：1.able or tending to expand or characterized by expansion能够或容易扩大的2.of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope同义词：grand, heroic伟大的，英雄一般的3.marked by exaggerated feelings of euphoria and delusions of grandeur自我感觉良好的，自我膨胀的4.friendly and open and willing to talk友好开朗的，健谈的由此可以看出，两者虽然都有“大”的意思，但extensive是指大小和范围客观上“宽泛、广泛”；而expansive指的是“可以/容易变大、膨胀的”。

前者多指客观上的大，后者则多指有变大的趋势。

这一点也可以从两者的词根extend和expand的意思来加以区别。