礼貌 lǐmào courtesy
courtesy; politeness; manners
How to remember 礼貌: 礼 gift + 貌 countenance = courtesy.
Characters
How it is used
- Politeness / manners, or polite - 讲礼貌 (jiǎng lǐmào) mind one's manners; 很有礼貌 (hěn yǒu lǐmào) very polite.
- Pairs with 有/没有 and 讲; 没礼貌 = rude/ill-mannered.
- Contrast 客气 (kèqi), being courteous/formal in a specific interaction (别客气 = don't stand on ceremony); 礼貌 is the general quality of good manners.
Example sentences
- 那位先生很有礼貌。 Nà wèi xiānsheng hěn yǒu lǐmào.That man is extremely polite.
- 用手指点别人不礼貌。 Yòng shǒuzhǐ diǎn biérén bù lǐmào.It's bad manners to point at people.
- 那个护士人很好，又有礼貌。 Nàge hùshì rén hěn hǎo, yòu yǒu lǐmào.That nurse is very kind and polite.