MODEST1 a modest person2 to be too modest3 modest behaviourRELATED WORDSoppositePROUDBOASTSHOW OFFsee alsoSHY1 a modest person 谦虚的人modest /ˈmɒdɪst, ˈmɒdəstǁˈmɑː-/ [adjective]unwilling to talk about your abilities or achievements and to say that you are good at something, even when you are 谦虚的 Luke was too modest to talk about his past achievements. 卢克非常谦虚，不愿谈论他过去的成就。 She was a shy, modest person, never one to push herself forward. 她是个害羞而又谦虚的人，从来不肯出风头。modestly [adverb] ‘I couldn't have done it without your help,’ Alec replied modestly. “没有你的帮助我不可能完成这件事。”亚历克谦虚地回答说。self-effacing /ˌself ɪˈfeɪsɪŋ/ [adjective]formalnot wanting to talk about yourself or to attract attention 【正式】谦虚的；内敛的 Her husband was a quiet, self-effacing man who spent much of his time in his study. 她的丈夫是个沉默寡言而又谦虚的人，许多时间都待在他的书房里。 In those days women were expected to be quiet, passive and self-effacing. 那时候大家都认为女人就应该安静、顺从和谦虚。unassuming /ˌʌnəˈsjuːmɪŋ◂, -ˈsuː-ǁ-ˈsuː-/ [adjective]not wanting to be noticed and not expecting to be treated in a special way, because you do not think you are important 谦逊的，不招摇的 I often see her in the library. She's such a nice, unassuming person. 我常常在图书馆见到她。她真是个和善谦逊的人。 By now Chapman was famous, but on a social level he remained as unassuming as ever. 查普曼现在是名人了，但他接人待物还是一如既往地谦逊。humble /ˈhʌmbəl/ [adjective]thinking that you are unimportant and not as good or clever as other people, and therefore not expecting to be treated in a special way 谦虚的，谦逊的 Their father was a genuinely humble man, who had worked hard for his family all his life. 他们的父亲是个十分谦虚的人，一辈子都在为全家人辛勤工作。 Stephanie was humble enough to admit that others could probably do the job better than she could. 斯蒂芬妮很谦虚，甚至承认别人来干这工作可能比她更好。humbly [adverb] ‘What do you think I should do?’ Lydia asked humbly. “你认为我该怎么办？”莉迪娅谦卑地问道。unpretentious /ˌʌnprɪˈtenʃəs◂/ [adjective]not trying to seem better than other people, even if you are rich, famous, clever etc 不矫饰的，不装模作样的；谦逊的 Umbria is a wonderful region, where life is simple and the people are unpretentious country folk. 翁布里亚是个令人神往的地区，那里的生活朴素，居民都是谦逊的乡下人。 Jilly was surprised by how pleasant and unpretentious he was. Not like a big star at all. 伊利对于他的和蔼可亲和平易近人感到吃惊。他一点也不像个大明星。2 to be too modest 过于谦虚的put/run yourself down /ˌpʊt, ˌrʌn jɔːʳself ˈdaʊn/ [verb phrase]to tell people that you are less good, skilful etc than you really are 自谦；谦虚 He puts himself down, but he's really very gifted. 他很自谦，其实他的天赋非常高。 You know you're a good teacher. Don't run yourself down all the time. 你是个好教师，你是知道的，别老是这么谦虚好不好。sell yourself short /ˌsel jɔːʳself ˈʃɔːʳt/ [verb phrase]informalto not tell people enough about your skills, ability etc, especially in a situation where other people are deciding whether to offer you a job or choose you for something 【非正式】自谦〔尤指当他人在决定是否给你工作或选择你时〕 If you sell yourself short at the interview, you'll never get the job. Let them know how good you are. 面试时你如果太谦虚了就永远也别想得到工作机会。要让他们知道你有多么优秀。 You're brilliant at tennis - don't sell yourself short. 你网球打得棒极了，不必自谦。underestimate yourself /ˌʌndərˈestɪmeɪt jɔːʳself, ˌʌndərˈestəmeɪt jɔːʳself/ [verb phrase]to believe that you are less clever, good, skilful etc than you really are 低估自己 Don't underestimate yourself -- you can easily win. 不要低估自己—你轻而易举就能赢。 I think you underestimate yourself when you say you couldn't cope with a job like this. 你说自己不能胜任这样一份工作，我认为你是低估了自己。3 modest behaviour 谦虚的行为modesty /ˈmɒdɪsti, ˈmɒdəstiǁˈmɑː-/ [uncountable noun]a modest way of behaving or talking 谦虚 His honesty and modesty endeared him to many people who valued his wise advice. 他诚实谦虚的品格使他深受大家的喜爱，许多人都愿意听他明智的建议。 ‘I'm a bank manager,’ she said, then added with typical modesty, ‘of a very small bank.’ “我是银行经理，”她说道，然后谦虚如常，加上一句：“一家很小的银行。”false modestywhen somebody only pretends to be modest 假装谦逊 Miranda was not one for false modesty. She enjoyed being told that she was beautiful. 米兰达这个人可不会假客气，她喜欢别人当面赞美她长得漂亮。humility /hjuːˈmɪlɪti, hjuːˈmɪləti/ [uncountable noun]when someone is not proud, and does not think that they are more important, clever etc than other people 谦卑；谦逊 As I listened to him speak, I was filled with a sense of humility. 我听他演讲时，心中充满了谦卑感。 Mother Theresa remained a woman of great humility, despite all the attention and praise her work received. 特雷莎修女一直十分谦虚，尽管她的工作备受关注、广受赞扬。