gruffness(名词):指说话或态度粗声粗气、显得生硬甚至有点粗鲁的特质或程度(常用于描述声音、语气、举止给人的感觉)。
/ˈɡrʌfnəs/
His gruffness disappears when he talks to children.
他跟孩子说话时,那种粗声粗气的样子就消失了。
Despite his gruffness, his advice was thoughtful and surprisingly kind.
尽管他态度生硬,他的建议却很周到,而且出人意料地善意。
gruffness 由形容词 gruff(粗声粗气的;生硬的)加名词后缀 -ness(表示“性质/状态”)构成。gruff 可能与荷兰语 grof(粗糙的、粗鲁的)等日耳曼语词有关,整体带有“粗糙、不圆滑”的语感。