If someone is patronizing, they talk to you as if you were smaller, younger, or slower than they are. The words may sound kind — “let me explain it in simple terms” — but the feeling underneath is “I am above you.” People bristle at it, because it does not only disagree; it looks down.

If someone is patronizing如果有人是 patronizing 的 they talk to you as if you were smaller, younger, or slower than they are他們講話的方式好像你比他們矮小、年輕，或反應慢 The words may sound kind話聽起來可能很客氣 "let me explain it in simple terms"像「讓我用簡單一點的方式解釋」 but the feeling underneath is "I am above you."但底下的感覺其實是「我比你高一等」 People bristle at it大家會因此不爽 because it does not only disagree因為這不只是意見不同 it looks down而是帶著俯視的態度

This is the unkind sense of the verb patronize. Though actually, that verb has another, older, perfectly polite sense, especially in American English: to patronize a shop is to go there as a customer. So “She patronized the café for years” may mean she ate there, not that she talked down to the waiter.

This is the unkind sense of the verb patronize這是動詞 patronize 比較不客氣的那個意思 Though actually不過其實 that verb has another, older, perfectly polite sense這個動詞還有另一個更古老、完全客氣的意思 especially in American English尤其在美式英語裡 to patronize a shop patronize 一家店 is to go there as a customer意思是去那裡當顧客光顧 So所以 "She patronized the café for years"「她這家咖啡館光顧了好幾年」 may mean she ate there可能只是說她常去那裡吃東西 not that she talked down to the waiter不是說她對服務生說話高高在上

The adjective patronizing, used of a person or a tone, almost always means the rude talking-down. British spelling is often patronising, with an s.

The adjective patronizing形容詞 patronizing used of a person or a tone用來形容一個人或一種語氣時 almost always means the rude talking-down幾乎都是指那種無禮的居高臨下 British spelling英式拼法 is often patronising, with an s常常寫成 patronising，多一個 s

The rude sense grew from the old social picture of a patron: someone higher, handing down help. Help from above can turn into a smile from above.

The rude sense這個無禮的意思 grew from the old social picture of a patron是從舊時「patron／恩主」的社會形象演變來的 someone higher, handing down help一個地位較高的人向下施予幫助 Help from above來自上面的幫助 can turn into a smile from above也可能變成一種居高臨下的微笑