Showing that you think someone or something deserves no respect. A contemptuous look, a contemptuous laugh, a contemptuous remark — the feeling sits on the face, in the voice, in the words.

Showing that you think someone or something deserves no respect表現出你覺得某個人或某件事不值得尊重。 A contemptuous look輕蔑的眼神, a contemptuous laugh輕蔑的笑, a contemptuous remark輕蔑的話 — the feeling sits on the face, in the voice, in the words這種感覺就寫在臉上、藏在語氣裡、也藏在話語裡。

It is formal but still used. In everyday talk people say looking down on someone, or talking as if they were nothing.

It它 is formal but still used是個正式的字，但還是有人在用。 In everyday talk在日常對話裡, people say looking down on someone, or talking as if they were nothing大家會說「看不起某人」，或「講話好像對方不算什麼」。

Though actually it is about the attitude you show, not about whether the other person truly deserves it. You can be contemptuous of something perfectly decent; the word names your looking-down, not their worth.

Though actually不過事實上, it is about the attitude you show這個字講的是你表現出來的態度, not about whether the other person truly deserves it而不是對方是否真的該被這樣對待。 You can be contemptuous of something perfectly decent你可以對一件完全正當的事表現出輕蔑; the word names your looking-down, not their worth這個字講的是你的輕視，不是對方的價值。

You are often contemptuous of a person or an idea. Do not mix it with contemptible: you are contemptuous; the thing you look down on may be contemptible.

You are often contemptuous of a person or an idea你常常是對某個人或某個想法感到contemptuous。 Do not mix it with contemptible不要跟contemptible搞混：you are contemptuous你是那個感到輕蔑的人; the thing you look down on may be contemptible而你看不起的那個東西可能才是contemptible（可鄙的）。