polite
adjective uk/pəˈlaɪt/ us/pəˈlaɪt/
A2 有礼貌的
behaving in a way that is socially correct and shows understanding of and care for other people's feelings
I'm afraid I wasn't very polite to her. 恐怕那时我对她有点不礼貌。
She sent me a polite letter thanking me for my invitation. 她给我写了一封客气的信，感谢我的邀请。
He was too polite to point out my mistake. 他太客气，没有指出我的错误。
斯文的，文雅的
socially correct rather than friendly
polite conversation 温文尔雅的谈话
polite society/company old-fashioned or humorous 上流社会／上流阶层
people who have been taught how to behave in a socially correct way
in polite society/company Sex never used to be discussed in polite society. 过去在上流社会从来不谈有关性的问题。
Their church shocked polite society by allowing a man to take more than one wife.
This event reminds us that racial tension often lurks just below the surface of polite society.
He does have a nickname, but not one that can be repeated in polite company.
That husband of hers is not fit for polite company.
- More examples
- She was polite but not excessively so.
- "Try to be polite to him." "Like hell I will!"
- He was unusually polite.
- He's usually quite polite in my presence.
- They're very polite in your presence, but you get the feeling they're laughing up their sleeves.