curt

IPA/kɜːt/
KK[kˈɚt]IPA/kɜːrt/

curt — 形容詞

  • curtpositive
  • curtercomparative
  • curtestsuperlative

1. saying so little, or speaking in such a short way, that it seems impatient or un

1.形容詞C1
釋義

簡慢；唐突

話少而顯得不耐或不客氣

saying so little, or speaking in such a short way, that it seems impatient or unfriendly — for example, giving a one-word answer when a fuller reply is expected.

例句

Mauricio gave a curt nod and walked past the reporters without a word.

Mauricio 簡慢地點了點頭，一句話也沒說就從記者群中走過。

curt + noun (nod / reply / answer)

Zuri's email to the supplier was so curt that her colleagues thought she was angry.

Zuri 寫給供應商的信太過簡短唐突，同事們都以為她在生氣。

be curt — describing the tone of a written message

常見搭配
  • a curt reply
  • a curt nod
  • a curt answer
  • be curt with somebody
  • sound curt
同義詞
  • brusque

    very close synonym; emphasises an openly unfriendly edge

  • terse

    stresses extreme shortness; rudeness is implied, not always intended

  • abrupt

    emphasises a sudden, unexpected shift rather than rudeness

  • blunt

    describes plain, unsoftened speech; honesty is the focus, not brevity

反義詞
  • polite

    uses warm wording and full sentences

  • chatty

    talks freely and at length, the opposite of curt brevity

用法筆記

Subject is usually a person, or something that person produces (nod, reply, email, answer). Often paired with the preposition 'with' to name who is on the receiving end. Sounds milder than 'rude' — speakers use 'curt' when the shortness is the problem, not the words themselves.

常見錯誤

He spoke curt at the meeting.
He spoke curtly at the meeting.
before a verb use the adverb 'curtly'; 'curt' is the adjective that goes before a noun or after 'be'.
Her reply was curt and detailed.
Her reply was curt and dismissive.
'curt' implies very few words, so pairing it with 'detailed' contradicts the meaning.

同根字

常見搭配

名詞搭配

  • a curt reply
  • a curt nod
  • a curt answer
  • a curt email

副詞搭配

  • rather curt
  • unusually curt

常用片語

  • sound curt
  • be curt with somebody

介系詞搭配

  • curt with somebody