respectful
gb/ɹɪspˈɛktfəl/ us/ɹɪspˈɛktfəl/
B1
Kiingereza
~ 6100
Maana
maana 0
adjective
B1
property
1
showing respect and politeness
Behaving in a polite and kind way that shows you think someone is important.
Muundo wa matumizi:
[someone] is respectful to/toward [someone]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners often confuse 'respectful' with 'respectable'. 'Respectful' describes how someone behaves toward others (e.g., 'a respectful child'), while 'respectable' describes someone who deserves respect or has a good moral or social position (e.g., 'a respectable job'). Another common mistake is using the wrong preposition: say 'respectful to' or 'respectful toward someone', not 'respectful with someone'.
Visawe
polite (Focuses mainly on good manners and correct social behavior, not always on deeper respect.)
|
courteous (Slightly more formal; suggests careful, often traditional politeness.)
|
considerate (Focuses on thinking about other people’s feelings and needs, not just on manners.)
Vinyume
rude (Lacking good manners; often directly offensive in speech or behavior.)
|
disrespectful (Openly showing a lack of respect; stronger and more direct opposite than simply 'not polite'.)
|
insolent (Very rude and disrespectful, especially toward authority figures.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
respectful tone
|respectful attitude
|respectful behavior
|respectful toward others
|respectful language
Mada
social
|emotions
|character
|relationships
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- The students were quiet and respectful during the ceremony.
- Please be respectful to your grandparents when they visit.
- He always speaks in a calm, respectful tone, even when he disagrees.
- The journalist asked tough but respectful questions.
- They tried to keep the discussion respectful despite their strong opinions.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- Children should be respectful to their teachers.
- She is always respectful when she talks to older people.
- We must stay respectful, even when we are angry.
- He was very respectful during the job interview.
- Please be respectful when you post online.
adjective
B2
property
2
careful and considerate toward something
Being careful not to hurt, break, or ignore something, like rules, other people’s wishes, or nature.
Muundo wa matumizi:
[someone] is respectful of [something]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes say 'respectful for' instead of 'respectful of' when talking about rules, feelings, or the environment. Use 'respectful of' for things you take care not to harm or ignore: 'respectful of the law', 'respectful of her wishes'.
Visawe
mindful (Emphasizes being mentally aware and careful about something.)
|
observant (Formal; focuses on following rules or customs closely.)
|
considerate (Stresses caring about how your actions affect others or things.)
Vinyume
careless (Not giving enough attention, so you may damage or ignore something.)
|
disregardful (Formal and rare; means not paying attention to something that should be respected.)
|
insensitive (Not caring about other people’s feelings, beliefs, or needs.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
respectful of boundaries
|respectful of differences
|respectful of the law
|respectful of privacy
|respectful of the environment
Mada
social
|ethics
|environment
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- We must be respectful of other cultures and traditions.
- The company tries to be respectful of the environment in all its projects.
- Please be respectful of your neighbors and keep the noise down after 10 p.m.
- She is very respectful of other people’s time and always arrives early.
- The therapist reminded the group to be respectful of each person’s boundaries.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- You should be respectful of the rules.
- He is always respectful of other people’s ideas.
- Please be respectful of our home and take off your shoes.
- The tour guide asked us to be respectful of the temple.
- We must be respectful of other people’s space.
Sarufi
Umbo la kamusi
respectful
IPA
GB/ɹɪspˈɛktfəl/
US/ɹɪspˈɛktfəl/
Silabi na mkazo
re - spect - ful (silabi 3)
Stress on 2nd syllable (spect)
Maumbo ya neno
Adjective
- Base: respectful
Familia ya neno
Core family
respect
noun B1
respectfully
adverb B2
Related words
respectable
adjective B1
respectably
adverb B2
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
Semi
be respectful of
1/bˈi ɹɪspˈɛktfəl əv/
fixed phrase
show respect or care for something
To act in a way that shows you care about something and do not hurt, ignore, or break it, such as rules, people’s feelings, or the environment.
Mifano
- Please be respectful of other guests and keep your voice down in the hallway.
- We should be respectful of different opinions, even when we disagree.
- The sign asked visitors to be respectful of the animals and not feed them.
keep a respectful distance
1/kˈip ə ɹɪspˈɛktfəl dˈɪstəns/
idiom
stay politely far enough away
To stay far enough away from a person or thing so that they feel comfortable and not bothered, often because you want to show respect.
Mifano
- The reporters kept a respectful distance from the grieving family.
- Please keep a respectful distance from the artwork and do not touch it.
respectful silence
1/ɹɪspˈɛktfəl sˈaɪləns/
fixed phrase
silence kept to show respect
A quiet, serious period with no talking, used to show respect, for example for someone who has died or during a formal event.
Mifano
- The crowd fell into a respectful silence as the names were read.
- We observed a minute of respectful silence for the victims.