courteous
/ˈkɜːtiəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkɜːrtiəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkər-tē-əs British also ˈkȯ-/ (ame, mw)
courteous — adjective
- courteouspositive
- more courteouscomparative
- most courteoussuperlative
1. Someone who is courteous acts with good manners and shows respect toward other p
Someone who is courteous acts with good manners and shows respect toward other people — for instance, by listening attentively, speaking politely, or being considerate of how others feel.
The hotel staff were courteous and helpful, addressing every guest by name.
courteous and helpful — common adjective pair
Kwame sent a courteous email thanking the interviewers for their time.
Even when passengers grew frustrated with the delay, the gate agent remained courteous and calm.
It is courteous to let older passengers board the train before the general crowd.
During the debate, Javier was courteous enough to let his opponent finish every point before responding.
- polite
more general and everyday; 'courteous' is slightly more formal and suggests a deeper respect
- respectful
focuses on showing admiration or deference, while 'courteous' covers all good-mannered behaviour
- well-mannered
emphasises upbringing and habit; often used of children
- gracious
implies warmth and kindness in addition to politeness; often used in formal host/guest contexts
- rude
direct opposite; lacking good manners or respect
- discourteous
the precise antonym formed with the negative prefix 'dis-'
文法句型
courteous + to + [someone]
be + courteous
it + is + courteous + to-infinitive
用法筆記
The meaning overlaps with 'polite', but 'courteous' carries a stronger sense of genuine respect and thoughtfulness rather than simply following social rules.