喜樂美語

核心畫面

Picture someone holding a door, letting you speak first, saying thank you to the driver. None of it was owed to you; each small act says the other person counted. courtesy is that whole style of behaving — and from there, anything handed over in the same spirit: not paid for, just given.

可以想成有人替你按住門、讓你先講話、下車前跟司機說聲謝謝。這些他都沒有義務要做，每一個小動作都在說「我有把你放在眼裡…更多收起可以想成有人替你按住門、讓你先講話、下車前跟司機說聲謝謝。這些他都沒有義務要做，每一個小動作都在說「我有把你放在眼裡」。courtesy 就是這整套待人的方式；再往外一步，凡是用同樣的心意遞出來的東西，也用這個字——不是你花錢買的，是人家給的。

From the word’s history

Courtesy came into English around 1200 from Old French cortoisie, from curteis 'courteous', built on curt 'court'. It first meant courtly ideals — the manners expected at a royal court — and by 1300 had widened to 'good will, kindness'. That is why the word still carries a slight air of the formal and the gracious, rather than plain friendliness.

courtesy 約在 1200 年從古法文 cortoisie 進入英文，來自 curteis（有禮的），而 curteis 的字根是 curt「宮廷」。它最早指的是宮廷裡該有的那一套舉止和風度，到 1300 年前後才擴大成「善意、親切」。這也是為什麼這個字到今天還帶著一點正式、講究的味道，跟單純的「friendly（友善）」感覺不太一樣。

Online Etymology Dictionary — https://www.etymonline.com/word/courtesy

From the picture

出於好意給的，不是你付錢買的

把「客氣待人」從舉止延伸到東西上：這樣東西之所以到你手上，是因為對方的好意或允許，而不是因為你付了錢。

complimentary, free · adjective · B1

provided free by a company for its customers, such as a bus, car, or phone.

免費的

Also in this word

politeness · noun · B1

polite behaviour that shows care and respect for other people.

禮貌

polite gesture · noun · B2

a polite thing you say or do, especially in a formal or social situation.

客氣話；禮節

courtesy (formal, polite) · adjective · B2

done to be polite or to show respect, not for deep business or a long stay.

禮節性的

原始詞典資料9 筆記錄

以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，原文照列，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。

courtesynoun/ˈkɜːtəsi/

  • 1

    Polite behavior.

    • Please extend them the courtesy of your presence.
    • He was always known for his grace, kindness, and courtesy to people of every rank.
  • 2

    A polite gesture or remark, especially as opposed to an obligation or standard practice.

    • I offered them a ride simply as a courtesy.
    • My lord, for your many courtesies I thank you.
  • 3

    Consent or agreement in spite of fact; indulgence.

    • They call this pond a lake by courtesy only.
  • 4

    Willingness or generosity in providing something needed.

    • They received free advertising through the courtesy of the local newspaper.
    • [on a label, caption, etc.] Courtesy the Smith Foundation: [e.g.] use of this image was allowed through the courtesy of the Smith Foundation.
  • 5

    datedA curtsey.

    • The lady drops a courtesy in token of obedience, and the ceremony proceeds as usual.
    • [I]t was her favorite amusement to array herself in the faded brocades, and parade up and down before the long mirror, making stately courtesies, and sweeping her train about, with a rustle which delighted her ears.
  • 6

    lawThe life interest that the surviving husband has in the real or heritable estate of his wife.

courtesyadj/ˈkɜːtəsi/

  • 1

    Given or done as a polite gesture.

    • We paid a courtesy visit to the new neighbors.
  • 2

    Supplied free of charge.

    • The event planners offered courtesy tickets for the reporters.

這個拼法也被記錄為下列字的變化形：

資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。