Polite is having good manners such as opening a door for somebody. You could say that a person is polite. Respectful is a bit different because while somebody can be called respectful it is usually related to something specific. For example, if you were a child and went to an important meeting with adults and didn't interupt them and sat quietly, your behaviour could be called respectful. It can also be used in other contexts like if you were borrowing something from another person and tried to take care of it and not damage it, you are being respectful of their property. Polite is more general and you don't treat something politely. I hope that helps! It's a good question and I can see where it would be confusing. I struggle with words that are similar in my French studies sometimes : p

Most of the time they are the same, as far as describing your action. However, you can be polite to anyone, even someone you think is a bad person. "respectful" also implies that you have respect for the person, or at least for their position or job. So they may be different as far as what you are thinking.

Nick, Ahha, this is a difficult question, especially if thought about deeply. The dictionary says: Polite- "having or showing behaviour that is respectful and considerate of other people". Respectful - "feeling or showing deference and respect." / "a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements." So these are the definitions, BUT polite = being respectful. Whenever someone asks 'what is politeness?' we usually say (in linguistics) 'it's respect or showing respect to others'. So in other words to be polite is to be respectful. This is one understanding. They are the same meaning. Respect can also be 'mandatory'. "respect your elders etc." the problem with the above definition of 'respect' is that is is 'western' in appearance. Many cultures respect others because there are social and hierarchical divisions in their culture. For instance, the way one speaks to older people and younger people. You are not respecting them because you admire their age :) it's cultural. As for 'polite' well this is also cultural. It would take on the meaning: something is polite when it is considered normal, typical in a social interaction based on social rules. An example; you show politeness in some cultures by bowing, if you do not (when you are expected to) it is considered rude. In some cultures showing the sole of your shoe to another is not polite but rude. Finally, it is polite in some cultures to be 'straight to the point' (direct style) and it's rude to be indirect. This is kind of detailed, so i apologize. I study linguistics and we have studied this question before. You are Chinese? Ask yourself, 'what is considered polite in my home, city, culture?' and 'what is considered rude etc.' Hope this helps

Someone who is polite follows social rules. Someone who is respectful acts with regard for other people's feelings. In the US, if an older person enters a place with limited seats (any sort of waiting area) and a younger person is already seated, a polite young man or young woman will get up so that their elder can have their seat. A respectful young man or young woman will look the elder in the eye and ask, "may I offer you my seat?" A person could, in theory, be polite with little or no emotion. But someone who is respectful is displaying empathy and deference toward the other person. If a police officer pulled me over for speeding, I would answer their questions in as formal and efficient a manner as I could ... in other words, I would be polite. I have always admired the actor Harrison Ford. If he ran up to me and asked if he could borrow a pen and paper I would probably be at at a loss for words. My replies would be short, efficient, and formal (like they would be with the police officer) ... but given how I admire him, even a stranger would recognize my responses as more than mere politeness, they would see my replies as respectfulness because of the admiration that accompanies the replies. It is difficult to define polite without using forms of the word polite or of the word respect. And it is difficult to define respect without using forms of respect or polite. I hope this helps.