How do you use "Respectable" in a sentence?

A respectable family. Keeping up a respectable appearance. She wanted to be respectable.

Respectable

Q: What does "Respectable" mean?

Conforming to middle-class values and appearances Describes conformity to conventional middle-class standards of behaviour, appearance, and morality. Can be genuine or ironic.

Slang Term BritishAmerican ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

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Meaning: Conforming to middle-class values and appearances

符合中产阶级的价值观和外表

Que se ajusta a los valores y apariencias de la clase media

中流階級の価値観や外見に合致する

중산층 가치관과 외양에 부합하는

Describes conformity to conventional middle-class standards of behaviour, appearance, and morality. Can be genuine or ironic.

形容符合传统中产阶级行为、外表和道德标准。可以是真诚的，也可以是讽刺的。

Describe la conformidad con los estándares convencionales de comportamiento, apariencia y moralidad de la clase media. Puede usarse de forma genuina o irónica.

行動、外見、道徳における従来の中流階級的な基準への適合を表す。本気でも皮肉でも使われる。

전통적인 중산층의 행동, 외모, 도덕 기준에 부합하는 것을 묘사한다. 진심일 수도 있고 아이러니하게 쓰일 수도 있다.

Examples

A respectable family.
一个体面的家庭
una familia respetable
立派な家庭
반듯한 가정.
Keeping up a respectable appearance.
保持体面的外表
mantener una apariencia respetable
きちんとした外見を保つ
단정한 외모를 유지하는 것.
She wanted to be respectable.
她想成为一个体面的人
quería ser respetable
彼女はまともな人間になりたかった
그녀는 점잖은 사람이 되고 싶었다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: social commentary, everyday

Tone: can be genuine or ironic

✓ Do Say

Respectable family
体面的家庭
familia respetable
立派な家庭
반듯한 가정
Perfectly respectable
完全体面
perfectamente respetable
まったくもって立派
더할 나위 없이 반듯한

✗ Don't Say

Can seem judgemental
可能显得评判意味太强
Puede sonar crítico
批判的に聞こえることがある
판단적으로 들릴 수 있음

Common Mistakes

Using too seriously in modern context

Origin & History

From the Victorian obsession with respectability as the key middle-class virtue—appearing morally upright and conforming to social expectations.

Etymology: Respect + able (worthy of respect)

First recorded: Victorian era emphasis

Cultural Context

Era: Victorian onwards

Generation: All generations

Social background: Middle-class value

Pop culture: Victorian society; Period dramas

Regional notes: British emphasis, universal concept.

Variations

RespectableRespectability