gentleman 先生 — 中文意思、英文定義、例句

1.名詞B1

釋義

先生

對男性的禮貌稱呼

a polite word used when speaking to or about a man, especially in formal settings or with someone whose name you have not been told

例句

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our guest speaker for tonight.

各位先生女士，讓我們歡迎今晚的演講嘉賓。

formulaic opening 'Ladies and gentlemen'

A gentleman at the door is asking to speak with the manager.

門口有一位先生想和經理說話。

polite reference to an unknown man

同義詞

man
neutral alternative without the formality of 'gentleman'
sir
used only in direct address, more deferential

用法筆記

This is the only sense used as a direct form of address. Compare with sense 2 (WELL-MANNERED), where 'gentleman' describes a person's character rather than serving as a polite label.

常見錯誤

❌I saw a gentleman waiting for the bus this morning' (in a casual context).

✅I saw a man waiting for the bus this morning.

💡'Gentleman' sounds overly formal for everyday neutral references to a male person.

2.名詞B1

釋義

紳士

有禮貌、尊重他人的男士

a man who demonstrates kindness, courtesy, and consideration toward others, especially in social settings

例句

Cyrus held the door open for the woman behind him — a true gentleman.

Cyrus 為身後的女士扶住門——他真是個紳士。

used as a compliment after polite actions

Antonia's father is a kind gentleman who always listens carefully to others.

Antonia 的父親是一位和善的紳士，總是很認真傾聽別人說話。

同義詞

gent
informal British shortening, sometimes humorous or ironic
man of honour
emphasises moral integrity alongside good manners; more formal

反義詞

boor
a rude or insensitive man

用法筆記

Frequently used with 'a' or 'true' as a compliment after someone performs a courteous action. Unlike sense 3 (HIGH SOCIAL CLASS), this sense has no connection to birth or wealth — it is purely about behavior.

常見錯誤

❌He is a gentleman even though he forgot to say thank you.

✅He is a gentleman

💡he always remembers to say thank you.' — Calling someone a gentleman is based on consistently polite behavior, not used in contradiction to rudeness.

3.名詞B2

釋義

貴族

出身高社會階級的男人

a person of the male sex whose family has a high position in society; in historical contexts, someone who owned enough land to avoid earning wages through manual jobs

例句

In Victorian times, a gentleman did not need to work for a living.

在維多利亞時代，貴族不需要為生計而工作。

historical class context

The old manor house belonged to a gentleman from a wealthy landowning family.

那座古老的莊園別墅屬於一個擁有大量土地的有錢家族。

同義詞

aristocrat
more specific — a member of the nobility, whereas 'gentleman' can include the broader gentry
nobleman
emphasises noble birth and title
member of the gentry
formal phrase that matches the historical meaning closely

反義詞

commoner
a person without noble or gentry status

用法筆記

This sense is increasingly historical or literary in modern English. Today, it is mainly used when discussing past social structures. Distinguish from sense 2 (WELL-MANNERED), which describes behavior rather than birth — a man from a working-class background can be called a gentleman in sense 2 but not in this sense.

常見錯誤

❌My friend is a gentleman because he dresses well and has nice shoes.

✅My friend comes from a family of gentlemen who have owned the estate for generations.

💡Sense 3 refers to social class and inherited status, not clothing or appearance.

4.名詞C1

釋義

隨從

受雇於貴族的私人僕人

a man employed by a wealthy or noble person to serve as a personal assistant, helping with tasks like dressing and grooming

例句

The duke's gentleman prepared his bath and chose his evening clothes.

公爵的隨從為他準備了洗澡水，並挑選了晚宴服裝。

occupational role: personal attendant

Femi served as a gentleman to a wealthy merchant in eighteenth-century London.

Femi 在十八世紀的倫敦擔任一位富商的貼身隨從。

同義詞

valet
the standard modern term for a male personal attendant
manservant
more general term for a male domestic employee
butler
the chief male servant in a household, more senior than a valet

用法筆記

This sense is now archaic or historical in most contexts. The more common modern term for this role is 'valet' or 'personal attendant'. The term 'gentleman's gentleman' was a traditional phrase for such a servant.

常見錯誤

❌The hotel gentleman brought us extra towels.

✅The hotel staff brought us extra towels.

💡'Gentleman' as a valet refers to a specific historical domestic role, not to any hotel employee.

gentleman

gentleman — 名詞

1. a polite word used when speaking to or about a man, especially in formal setting

用法筆記

常見錯誤

2. a man who demonstrates kindness, courtesy, and consideration toward others, espe

用法筆記

常見錯誤

3. a person of the male sex whose family has a high position in society; in histori

用法筆記

常見錯誤

4. a man employed by a wealthy or noble person to serve as a personal assistant, he

用法筆記

常見錯誤