servile

IPA/ˈsɜːvaɪl/
KK[sˈɚvəl]IPA/ˈsɜːrvl/

servile — 形容詞

  • servilepositive
  • servilercomparative
  • servilestsuperlative

1. showing an excessive willingness to obey or please someone, suggesting you have

1.形容詞B2
釋義

諂媚；卑屈

過度討好、失去自尊的

showing an excessive willingness to obey or please someone, suggesting you have little self-respect — like agreeing to every unfair request without complaint just to be liked

例句

Theo's servile smile vanished as soon as the manager turned his back.

Theo 臉上諂媚的笑容在經理轉身後立刻消失。

attributive: servile + noun (smile, tone, behaviour)

Deepak refused to behave with servile obedience even though the client demanded special treatment.

Deepak 拒絕為了討好客戶的特殊要求而表現出卑屈的順從。

collocation: servile obedience / servile flattery

同義詞
  • obsequious

    stronger, suggests grovelling and flattery in a more theatrical way

  • subservient

    broader; can describe a role or position without negative judgement

  • fawning

    more informal; suggests exaggerated praise and attention

  • sycophantic

    more formal and intellectual; suggests flattery for personal gain

反義詞

文法句型

servile + noun

be + servile + (to + noun)

用法筆記

Frequently carries a negative judgement of the person or behaviour described. The object of the deference is typically a person in authority (boss, manager, client, minister). Distinguish from sense 2: sense 1 describes an attitude or behaviour, while sense 2 describes the nature of work or conditions.

常見錯誤

❌He was very servile to help his elderly neighbour.
✅He was very helpful to his elderly neighbour.
💡'servile' implies excessive and negative obedience, not ordinary helpfulness.
❌The slave had no choice but to be servile.
✅The slave had no choice but to obey.
💡Sense 1 implies a voluntary attitude of excessive deference; forced obedience is better expressed by other words.

2. relating to work, conditions, or roles that are suitable for a servant or slave

2.形容詞C1
釋義

僕役；卑微

適合僕人或奴隸的工作或角色

relating to work, conditions, or roles that are suitable for a servant or slave — involving low-status tasks that require little skill and offer no respect, such as scrubbing floors or carrying heavy loads all day

例句

The kitchen staff did servile tasks like washing dishes and peeling vegetables all day.

廚房員工每天做十小時的僕役工作，像是洗碗和削馬鈴薯皮。

attributive: servile + tasks / work / labour

Kwame grew tired of the servile laundry work and began looking for a new job.

Kwame 對洗衣房裡卑微的工作感到厭倦，開始尋找更好的工作。

同義詞
  • menial

    more common and neutral; describes low-skill, low-status work without the strong historical link to slavery

  • lowly

    softer, less formal; describes a humble position without implying exploitation

  • subordinate

    focuses on rank in a hierarchy, not on the nature of the tasks

反義詞

文法句型

servile + noun (work, labour, task, role)

用法筆記

Typically describes the nature of the work or role itself, not the attitude of the person performing it. Distinguish from sense 1: a person doing servile work (sense 2) may or may not have a servile attitude (sense 1). Often used in historical or social commentary contexts.

常見錯誤

❌The maid's servile duties included cleaning the bathrooms.
✅The maid's duties included cleaning the bathrooms.
💡'servile duties' is correct in meaning but can sound dated or judgemental; use only when you want to emphasise the low-status nature of the work.