kindness
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kindness
The quality of being friendly, nice, and courteous in dealing with other people.
Ihre Freundlichkeit und Hilfsbereitschaft werden von allen Kollegen geschätzt.
Her kindness and helpfulness are appreciated by all her colleagues.
courtesy
A single friendly action or remark. Often used in the plural to refer to the exchange of polite phrases.
Nachdem sie die üblichen Freundlichkeiten ausgetauscht hatten, kamen sie zum Geschäftlichen.
After they had exchanged the usual courtesies, they got down to business.
The noun 'Freundlichkeit' is derived from the adjective 'freundlich' (friendly). The ending '-keit' is a typical way to form abstract nouns from adjectives that describe a quality.
Die Freundlichkeit der Mitarbeiter hat uns sehr beeindruckt.
The kindness of the staff impressed us very much.
'Freundlichkeit' is usually uncountable and describes the general quality. In the plural ('Freundlichkeiten'), it refers to individual polite actions or words, often at the beginning of a conversation.
Seine Freundlichkeit macht die Zusammenarbeit sehr angenehm.
His kindness makes working together very pleasant.
In the plural, the word is often used in the fixed expression 'Freundlichkeiten austauschen' (to exchange courtesies). This describes the exchange of polite, often formulaic greetings or compliments.
Die beiden Präsidenten tauschten vor dem Gespräch die üblichen Freundlichkeiten aus.
The two presidents exchanged the usual courtesies before the conversation.
goodness / quality
Both words describe a person who treats others in a friendly way. Güte emphasizes a deep, benevolent, and forgiving attitude, while Freundlichkeit is shown more strongly in visible behavior and in the way someone interacts with others. Use Güte for a person’s character and Freundlichkeit for a specific pleasant manner.
Ihre Freundlichkeit zeigte sich darin, dass sie dem neuen Nachbarn sofort half.
Her kindness was shown by the fact that she immediately helped the new neighbor.
Trotz seines eigenen Problems zeigte er große Güte und hörte geduldig zu.
Despite his own problem, he showed great goodness and listened patiently.
