lady
/ˈleɪ.di/ (bre, ipa) · [lˈedi] /ˈleɪ.di/ (ame, ipa) · [lˈedi] /ˈlā-dē/ (ame, mw)
lady — 名詞
- ladysingular
- ladiesplural
1. a polite, and sometimes slightly old-fashioned, word for a woman, especially whe
女士；小姐
禮貌或較老派地稱呼女人
a polite, and sometimes slightly old-fashioned, word for a woman, especially when you are speaking respectfully to or about her
The receptionist said a lady from Taipei was waiting in the lobby.
接待員說，有位來自台北的女士正在大廳等候。
a lady + from [place] in polite reference
Please help the elderly lady with her suitcase on the platform.
請幫那位上了年紀的女士把行李箱搬到月台上。
The children thanked the lady who handed back their lost kite.
孩子們向把失物風箏還給他們的那位女士道謝。
A lady at the bakery asked whether the last cake was sold.
麵包店裡有位小姐問，最後一個蛋糕是不是已經賣掉了。
文法句型
a / the lady
lady + relative clause
speak to a lady
用法筆記
Often chosen instead of woman when the speaker wants to sound courteous. In some contexts it can feel slightly old-fashioned, especially when talking about strangers.
常見錯誤
2. someone seen as refined because she stays polite, calm, and well mannered in soc
淑女
舉止文雅、有好教養的女人
someone seen as refined because she stays polite, calm, and well mannered in social situations
At dinner, everyone noticed that Miriam was a real lady with the new waiter.
晚餐時，大家都看得出 Miriam 對新來的服務生很有淑女風度。
a real lady + calm treatment of other people
Even during the argument, Farah remained a lady and never insulted anyone.
即使在爭吵中，Farah 仍保持淑女風度，沒有辱罵任何人。
My grandfather still calls Aunt Rosa a lady because of her perfect manners.
我祖父至今仍稱 Aunt Rosa 是位淑女，因為她的禮儀非常周到。
Nadia behaved like a lady and thanked the host before leaving.
Nadia 表現得像個淑女，離開前還向主人道謝。
- gentlewoman
more formal and often tied to traditional ideas of good breeding
- grande dame
suggests an impressive, highly respected older woman
- lout
a rude person with bad manners
文法句型
be a lady
act like a lady
用法筆記
This sense praises behavior, not social rank. Distinguish it from sense 8, which is about high class or position rather than manners.
常見錯誤
3. used before some job names to show that the person doing the work is a woman, in
女職稱
舊式放在職業名前表示女性
used before some job names to show that the person doing the work is a woman, in wording that now often sounds dated
My grandmother still prefers the phrase lady doctor to female doctor.
我祖母至今仍偏好用女醫生這種說法，而不是 female doctor。
lady + profession noun in older wording
The old newspaper praised the town's first lady mayor in 1954.
那份老報紙稱讚這座城鎮在 1954 年選出了第一位女市長。
Some older customers asked whether a lady pharmacist was on duty.
有些年長顧客會問，今天是否有女藥師值班。
The museum label mentioned a lady painter from Tainan, showing the era's wording.
博物館標牌提到一位來自台南的女畫家，顯出那個年代的用詞。
文法句型
lady + job noun
lady doctor / lady mayor
用法筆記
Now often replaced by neutral wording such as doctor, mayor, or pharmacist without any extra marker. Use this sense mainly when reporting older language or when the speaker intentionally sounds traditional.
常見錯誤
4. a way of calling to a woman that sounds sharp, disrespectful, or rude
喂，小姐
不客氣地對女人喊話
a way of calling to a woman that sounds sharp, disrespectful, or rude
Hey, lady, you dropped your receipt by the self-checkout machine.
「喂，小姐，」你把收據掉在自助結帳機旁邊了。
Hey, lady as abrupt direct address
The cyclist shouted, "Watch it, lady!" before speeding through the light.
那名自行車騎士大喊「看路啊，小姐！」然後就闖燈衝了過去。
A man in the queue snapped, "Move, lady," and everyone stared at him.
排隊中的一名男子不耐煩地吼道：「走開，小姐。」大家都轉頭看著他。
When the clerk called her "lady" in that tone, Yuki looked offended.
店員用那種口氣叫她「小姐」時，Yuki 明顯露出不悅。
- ma'am
polite opposite in many service or public situations
文法句型
Hey, lady
Listen, lady
用法筆記
Commonly heard in complaints, arguments, or impatient street talk. Distinguish it from sense 1, where lady is meant respectfully.
常見錯誤
5. a public toilet for women, usually referred to as the ladies
女廁
公共場所給女性使用的廁所
a public toilet for women, usually referred to as the ladies
Mina asked a waiter where the ladies were before the film began.
Mina 在電影開始前先問服務生女廁在哪裡。
where are the ladies? for restroom location
The sign beside the stairs pointed left to the ladies.
樓梯旁的指示牌往左指向女廁。
Sheena left her bag outside the ladies while washing her hands.
Sheena 洗手時把包包放在女廁外面。
There was a long line for the ladies during the concert break.
音樂會中場休息時，女廁外排起了長隊。
- ladies' room
a fuller version with the same meaning
- women's room
more direct and widely understood
- the gents
the matching men's toilet
文法句型
go to the ladies
where are the ladies?
用法筆記
Normally used in the plural with the. In many places, restroom or women's room is more common, especially in American English.
常見錯誤
6. used to address the women in an audience, especially in the fixed opening ladies
女士們
對觀眾中的女性所用稱呼
used to address the women in an audience, especially in the fixed opening ladies and gentlemen
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to tonight's charity concert.
各位女士們、先生們，晚安，歡迎來到今晚的慈善音樂會。
fixed public opening: ladies and gentlemen
The pilot began, "Ladies and gentlemen, we will land in ten minutes."
機長開口說：「女士們、先生們，我們將在十分鐘後降落。」
After the lights dimmed, the host greeted the audience as ladies and gentlemen.
燈光暗下後，主持人以「女士們、先生們」向觀眾致意。
On the school stage, Hana said, "Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy the show."
在學校舞台上，Hana 說：「女士們、先生們，請欣賞今天的表演。」
文法句型
Ladies and gentlemen
ladies, ...
用法筆記
Most often appears as part of a set phrase rather than as an ordinary plural noun. Some speakers now prefer more inclusive openings such as everyone or guests.
常見錯誤
7. a title used in Britain for some women of noble rank, for women given that honor
Lady
英國有頭銜女性姓名前的稱號
a title used in Britain for some women of noble rank, for women given that honor, or for the wives of certain titled men
Lady Eleanor opened the new village library with the mayor.
Lady Eleanor 與市長一起為新村立圖書館揭幕。
Lady + first name as a title
The letter was addressed to Lady Patel at the London office.
那封信是寄給倫敦辦公室的 Lady Patel。
Guests bowed slightly when Lady Amelia entered the old hall.
當 Lady Amelia 走進古老的大廳時，賓客們都微微行禮。
Sir Thomas and Lady Grant hosted the garden party on Sunday.
Sir Thomas 與 Lady Grant 在星期天舉辦了花園茶會。
文法句型
Lady + surname
Sir ... and Lady ...
用法筆記
Usually written with a capital L when it is part of a title before a name. Distinguish it from sense 8, which describes a socially important woman rather than the formal title itself.
常見錯誤
8. a socially important woman from the upper class, especially in historical or lit
上流女士
屬於上層階級或地位很高的女人
a socially important woman from the upper class, especially in historical or literary settings
In the novel, the young lady refused to eat with the servants.
在那本小說裡，那位上流女士拒絕和僕人同桌吃飯。
lady as a woman of rank in fiction
People in the village spoke of her as a great lady with influence.
村裡的人都把她看作一位很有影響力的上流女士。
The hotel portrait showed a lady in silk gloves beside a carriage.
飯店裡的肖像畫畫著一位戴絲手套、站在馬車旁的上流女士。
He bowed stiffly, believing every wealthy lady deserved formal respect.
他拘謹地鞠躬，認為每位富有的上流女士都值得正式敬重。
- gentlewoman
formal word for a woman of good family or high social position
文法句型
great lady
young lady of high rank
用法筆記
This sense focuses on social standing. It can overlap in old novels with sense 7, but here the idea is status or class, not the official title.
9. one of the devotional titles for Jesus's mother Mary, especially in Catholic wor
聖母稱號
對耶穌母親瑪利亞的尊稱
one of the devotional titles for Jesus's mother Mary, especially in Catholic worship
The choir sang a hymn to Our Lady before the evening Mass.
唱詩班在晚間彌撒前先唱了一首獻給聖母的聖歌。
Our Lady as a fixed religious title
A candle burned beneath a small statue of Our Lady in the chapel.
小教堂裡，一尊聖母像下方點著一支蠟燭。
Maria wore a medal showing Our Lady and the infant Jesus.
Maria 戴著一枚刻有聖母與聖嬰耶穌的紀念章。
The priest invited the children to pray to Our Lady for comfort.
神父邀請孩子們向聖母祈禱，求得安慰。
- the Virgin Mary
full religious name rather than the shorter title
文法句型
Our Lady
pray to Our Lady
用法筆記
Usually capitalized and often preceded by Our. This is a fixed religious title, not the ordinary noun in sense 1.