urbane

IPA/ɜːˈbeɪn/
KK[ɚbˈen]IPA/ɜːrˈbeɪn/

urbane — adjective

  • urbanepositive
  • more urbanecomparative
  • most urbanesuperlative

1. behaving in a smooth, confident, and courteous way when interacting with other p

1.形容詞C1
釋義

behaving in a smooth, confident, and courteous way when interacting with other people, so that social occasions feel easy and pleasant

例句

At the embassy dinner, the ambassador impressed guests with his urbane manner and quick wit.

collocation: urbane manner

Liang's urbane conversation and easy smile made him a favourite host among Taipei's art collectors.

同義詞
  • polished

    similar meaning but broader — can describe skills, performance, or appearance, not just social manner

  • suave

    similar but sometimes suggests a slightly artificial or overly smooth charm

  • debonair

    refers specifically to a man's confident, charming style, often with a stylish appearance

  • sophisticated

    broader term that includes worldly knowledge and refined taste, not limited to social deportment

反義詞
  • gauche

    describes someone awkward and uncomfortable in social situations

  • boorish

    describes someone rude, insensitive, and lacking social awareness

用法筆記

Frequently used to describe a man, but also applied to anyone with polished social skills. The word emphasises both confidence and good manners working together.

常見錯誤

❌He is a very urbane and rude person.
✅He is a very urbane and courteous person.
💡urbane always implies politeness, so pairing it with 'rude' creates a contradiction.
❌She wore an urbane dress to the party.
✅She had an urbane way of talking to the guests at the party.
💡urbane describes a person's social manner, not physical appearance or clothing.