quaint

quaint — adjective

1. having a charming quality that comes from looking or feeling old, unusual, or fr

1.形容詞B2
釋義

having a charming quality that comes from looking or feeling old, unusual, or from an earlier time — like a village with cobblestone streets or a cottage with a thatched roof

例句

During her trip, Zuri stayed in a quaint cottage with a thatched roof.

quaint + cottage — typical for describing old buildings

The old town's narrow streets are lined with quaint shops selling handmade goods.

quaint + shops / streets — typical for describing places

同義詞
  • picturesque

    focuses on visual charm, especially of landscapes and buildings; stronger visual emphasis than 'quaint'

  • charming

    broader in use; can describe people, behaviour, and places without the old-fashioned element

  • old-fashioned

    neutral term for something from an earlier time; lacks the approval or affection that 'quaint' carries

反義詞
  • modern

    opposite in time reference — new rather than old

  • sleek

    smooth, polished, and contemporary — opposite of the rustic charm of 'quaint'

用法筆記

Commonly describes buildings, towns, objects, and traditions. Not used directly for people — saying 'a quaint person' usually sounds sarcastic or insulting.

常見錯誤

❌The quaint old teacher told us stories.
✅The charming old teacher told us stories.
💡'quaint' describes things and places, not people; using it for a person often sounds insulting.

2. seeming odd or out of date in a way that makes the speaker mildly critical or di

2.形容詞B2
釋義

seeming odd or out of date in a way that makes the speaker mildly critical or dismissive of the idea, belief, or habit in question

例句

Eli's boss described his handwritten reports as quaint, implying they were out of date.

quaint with dismissive tone — describes methods as outdated

Younger voters found the candidate's views on family roles quaint and out of touch.

quaint + views — describing opinions as oddly old-fashioned

同義詞
  • odd

    strange without necessarily being old; broader and more neutral than 'quaint'

  • outmoded

    outdated but more factual and less emotional than the dismissive 'quaint'

  • peculiar

    unusual in a way that draws attention; can be neutral or negative depending on context

反義詞
  • modern

    up-to-date in style or thinking

  • fashionable

    currently popular or accepted — the opposite of dismissively old-fashioned

用法筆記

Often carries a dismissive or ironic tone. The speaker may sound polite on the surface while subtly criticizing something as outdated. Particularly common with opinions, beliefs, habits, and methods.

常見錯誤

❌She described his idea as quaint, meaning she liked its creativity.
✅She described his idea as quaint, meaning she found it oddly old-fashioned.
💡In this usage, 'quaint' is dismissive, not complimentary.