gentility

IPA/dʒenˈtɪləti/
KK[dʒɛntˈɪlɪti]IPA/dʒenˈtɪləti/

gentility — 名詞

1. a way of behaving that is polite, graceful, and shows the kind of good upbringin

1.名詞C1
釋義

文雅；教養

舉止優雅且有教養的氣質

a way of behaving that is polite, graceful, and shows the kind of good upbringing that people traditionally connect with well-born or wealthy families

例句

The library had an air of quiet gentility, with leather chairs and old books.

那間圖書館散發著一股寧靜文雅的氣息，裡頭有皮椅和舊書。

collocation: air of gentility

Soraya's natural gentility made her a favourite among the older members of the community.

Soraya 天生溫文有禮，因此在社區的長輩中特別受歡迎。

同義詞
  • refinement

    emphasises cultivated taste and intellectual polish rather than social-class background

  • breeding

    more strongly tied to family background and upbringing

  • elegance

    focuses on grace and stylishness in appearance, not necessarily character

  • decorum

    stresses proper behaviour that follows social rules, especially in formal settings

反義詞
  • vulgarity

    the quality of being rude or lacking good taste

  • coarseness

    rough or crude behaviour with no refinement

  • boorishness

    rough, insensitive, or ill-mannered behaviour

用法筆記

Often appears in the phrase 'air of gentility' to describe a person's manner or the atmosphere of a place. The word is formal and in some contexts may hint at a deliberate or artificial attempt to appear refined, especially when the person's social background does not match their behaviour.

常見錯誤

❌She showed great gentility by holding the door open.
✅She showed great politeness by holding the door open.
💡Gentility implies a broader, class-associated refinement of character, not a single courteous action.