condescending
/ˌkɒndɪˈsendɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌkɑːndɪˈsendɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌkän-di-ˈsen-diŋ/ (ame, mw)
condescending — 形容詞
- condescendingpositive
- more condescendingcomparative
- most condescendingsuperlative
1. Behaving towards another person in a way that signals you see yourself as smarte
高高在上的
自視高人一等、語氣輕視對方
Behaving towards another person in a way that signals you see yourself as smarter, more skilled, or more important — often by explaining simple things in a slow voice, or by sounding polite in a way that feels fake and insulting.
Karim hated his uncle's condescending smile whenever he asked a question about cars.
Karim 每次問叔叔關於汽車的問題，都很討厭叔叔那種高傲的笑容。
before noun: condescending + smile/tone/look
The new manager was condescending to anyone without a university degree.
新來的經理對沒有大學學歷的人態度都很高傲。
predicative pattern: be condescending to + someone
Stephanie answered the children's questions kindly, never in a condescending way.
Stephanie 回答孩子們的問題時很親切，從不用屈尊俯就的口氣。
Piotr found the doctor's slow, condescending explanation of his test results insulting.
Piotr 覺得醫師慢條斯理、高高在上地解釋檢驗結果，讓人很受侮辱。
Some critics sound condescending when they review books written for young readers.
有些書評家在評論寫給青少年的書時，語氣聽起來很高傲。
- patronizing
near-identical meaning; slightly more common in everyday speech
- snobbish
implies looking down on others because of class or wealth rather than knowledge
- supercilious
formal; suggests a cold, silent contempt rather than an explicit talking-down tone
- haughty
stresses proud distance and refusal to engage, less about explaining-down behaviour
- humble
treats others as equals or as more important than oneself
- respectful
neutral opposite; shows regard for the listener's intelligence and feelings
文法句型
condescending to + someone
in a condescending tone/way/manner
用法筆記
Almost always negative. Subject is typically a person, voice, tone, smile, or attitude; rarely used of an action without one of those modifiers. Frequently followed by 'to + someone' or appears in the phrase 'in a condescending way/tone/manner'.