ladylike
ladylike — adjective
1. describing behavior, appearance, or manners that follow older, traditional expec
describing behavior, appearance, or manners that follow older, traditional expectations of how a woman should act — with politeness, quietness, and a calm sense of dignity.
Aoi's grandmother taught her a ladylike posture — back straight, hands folded.
collocation: ladylike posture / ladylike manners
The old etiquette manual described ladylike conduct as speaking softly and never interrupting others.
subject: etiquette manual + describing ladylike conduct
Roya chose a ladylike dress with a high neckline for the traditional ceremony.
Min’s dance teacher showed her a ladylike way to sit — knees together, ankles crossed.
Gita wore a ladylike blouse with a lace collar to meet her boyfriend’s parents.
- refined
focuses on cultured elegance without the gender-specific expectation that ladylike carries
- graceful
emphasizes physical poise and ease of movement; applies to anyone, not just women
- dignified
stresses calm, serious self-respect; usable for any gender or situation
- elegant
highlights stylish, tasteful appearance or manners; broader and more modern than ladylike
- unladylike
direct opposite, but carries the same old-fashioned gender assumptions
文法句型
ladylike + noun
be + ladylike
find + object + ladylike
consider + object + ladylike
用法筆記
This word is tied to older, traditional ideas about how women should behave. In modern English, calling a woman or girl 'ladylike' — or telling her that something is 'not ladylike' — can sound old-fashioned or sexist. It is less likely to cause offense when applied to one's own preferences ('She likes ladylike clothing') than when used to judge or correct someone else's behavior. Younger speakers in particular often use the word with irony or avoid it altogether.