With respect…
Formal Depends on context
What it really means
A warning sign in a discussion. It sounds polite, but it usually introduces strong disagreement. The more formal the "respect" phrase, the stronger the disagreement that often follows.
Chinese explanation
讨论中的警示信号。听起来客气，实际通常引出强烈的反对意见。"尊重"说得越正式，后面的反驳往往越激烈。
Example conversation
A: I still think we should launch next week.
B: With respect, the product isn't ready.
A: You mean it would be a disaster.
A：我还是觉得我们下周就该上线。
B：恕我直言，产品还没准备好。
A：你的意思是那会是场灾难。
What you could say back
Related phrases
All Politeness Decoder
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake