motherly

motherly — adjective

1. showing the kind, caring, and protective behaviour that people associate with a

1.形容詞B1
釋義

showing the kind, caring, and protective behaviour that people associate with a good mother

例句

The old nurse had a motherly way of comforting frightened children.

attributive: motherly + noun (way)

When Jabari felt homesick, his landlady gave him a motherly hug.

collocation: motherly hug

同義詞
  • maternal

    broader term — can refer to biological motherhood or family relations, not just behaviour

  • nurturing

    stresses active care that helps someone grow or develop

  • caring

    more general, lacks the specific mother-like feeling

反義詞
  • cold

    lacking warmth and emotional care

  • unkind

    opposite of the gentle kindness implied by motherly

文法句型

motherly + noun

be + motherly

be + motherly + towards/to + noun

用法筆記

Often used to describe the behaviour or qualities of someone who is not the person's actual mother. Frequently modifies nouns such as 'love', 'care', 'instinct', 'smile', 'hug', or 'concern'.

常見錯誤

❌She visited her motherly grandparents.
✅She visited her maternal grandparents.
💡'motherly' describes caring behaviour, not a family relationship on the mother's side of the family.