polite

/pəˈlaɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /pəˈlaɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /pə-ˈlīt/ (ame, mw)

polite — 形容詞

  • politepositive
  • more politecomparative
  • most politesuperlative

1. using good manners and trying not to upset or embarrass other people.

1.形容詞A2
釋義

有禮貌的

言行得體並顧及他人感受

using good manners and trying not to upset or embarrass other people.

例句

Nina was polite to the waiter, even after the wrong order arrived.

Nina 對服務生很有禮貌，即使送錯餐點也是如此。

be polite to + person

A polite email thanked every volunteer after the school market.

那封有禮貌的電子郵件在園遊會後感謝了每位志工。

polite + communication noun

同義詞
  • courteous

    more formal; common in service or official situations

  • respectful

    focuses more on showing regard, especially to authority or older people

  • well-mannered

    describes a person's general upbringing and habits

  • considerate

    goes further by suggesting active thought about other people's comfort

反義詞
  • rude

    not showing basic good manners

  • impolite

    a direct opposite, often used in slightly more formal contexts

文法句型

be polite to + person

a polite question/request/answer

be polite when + clause

用法筆記

Often followed by 'to' when you name the person receiving the behaviour: be polite to a teacher, neighbour, or customer. Distinguish from sense 2, which can describe correct but distant behaviour with little real warmth.

常見錯誤

❌Be polite with the driver.
✅Be polite to the driver.
💡use 'polite to' for the person you are speaking to.

2. acting properly and speaking pleasantly, but without real warmth or friendship.

2.形容詞B2
釋義

表面客氣的

應對得體但不見得友善

acting properly and speaking pleasantly, but without real warmth or friendship.

例句

Lena's polite smile ended the talk, but she did not invite us in.

Lena 那個表面客氣的笑容結束了談話，但她沒有請我們進去。

polite smile with social distance

The clerk gave a polite reply and turned to the next customer.

店員給了表面客氣的回覆，接著就轉向下一位顧客。

polite reply without continued interest

同義詞
  • civil

    correct and controlled, often when people are not close

  • formal

    focuses on stiffness or distance more than manners

  • correct

    stresses following social rules

  • diplomatic

    suggests careful wording to avoid conflict

反義詞
  • warm

    friendly and emotionally open

  • friendly

    shows real welcome or personal liking

文法句型

a polite smile/reply/refusal

stay polite

polite but + adjective

用法筆記

Often used with nouns like 'smile', 'interest', 'conversation', and 'refusal'. Distinguish from sense 1: here the speaker may sound correct on the surface, but the behaviour can feel distant or merely formal.

常見錯誤

❌The receptionist was polite, so she wanted to chat with us.
✅The receptionist was polite, but she did not want to chat with us.
💡in this sense, 'polite' does not imply warmth or personal interest.

3. used for upper social circles that see themselves as refined, proper, and above

3.形容詞C1
釋義

上流圈子的

用於自認高雅的上層圈子

used for upper social circles that see themselves as refined, proper, and above ordinary people.

例句

The scandal shocked polite society across London that summer.

那件醜聞在那年夏天震驚了倫敦的上流圈子。

fixed phrase: polite society

In polite company, Grandpa never mentioned money or politics.

在上流圈子的場合裡，爺爺從不提錢或政治。

fixed phrase: polite company

同義詞
  • high-society

    closer to modern everyday wording for fashionable upper-class circles

  • upper-class

    broader; refers to social rank, not specifically manners or social circles

  • elite

    can refer to powerful or successful groups, not only social class

文法句型

polite society

polite company

in polite society

用法筆記

Mostly found in fixed expressions such as 'polite society' and 'polite company'. It refers to an upper-class social world with ideas about proper behaviour, not simply to any group of well-mannered people.

常見錯誤

❌My neighbourhood is polite society.
✅Several members of polite society attended the charity ball.
💡this sense names an upper-class social circle, not society in general.