Passive device / component　无源器件/元件
An electrical component that contributes no power gain (amplification) to a circuit or system. It has no control action and does not require any input other than a signal to perform its function. Examples of passive devices are resistors, capacitors, diodes, batteries.　不对电路或系统产生任何power gain （放大）的电子元件。它的特性（函数）不需要任何其它输入信号就能表现出来，也没有控制作用。比如电阻就是一种无源器件。

Active device / component　有源器件/元件
An electrical component that has gain, or controls another circuit. Transistors and integrated circuits are examples of active devices.　一种提供增益或能控制别的电路的器件。如晶体管、集成电路就是有源器件

应该说定义很清晰了，关键两条：一是是否产生增益，一是是否有控制作用。但依此而言，diode就应是active component啦。糊涂。