cultured / cultivated
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cultured
Describes a person who is educated, has good manners, and has refined taste in art and culture.
Er ist ein sehr kultivierter Mann, mit dem man sich gut unterhalten kann.
He is a very cultured man, and he is easy to have a good conversation with.
The adjective 'kultiviert' (cultured/cultivated) is the past participle of the verb 'kultivieren' (to cultivate). This origin explains the different meanings: something—a person, a piece of land, a plant—has been brought into a refined or usable state through work and care.
Die Bauern kultivieren auf diesen Feldern seit Jahrhunderten Wein.
Farmers have been cultivating wine grapes in these fields for centuries.
You can always recognize the exact meaning of 'kultiviert' (cultured/cultivated) from the noun it describes. If it refers to a person, it means educated and well-mannered. If it refers to land or plants, it means farmed or bred/cultivated.
Sie führt einen sehr kultivierten Lebensstil.
She leads a very cultured lifestyle.
When a person is being described, 'kultiviert' (cultured) is often found in combinations such as 'kultivierte Umgangsformen' (cultured/refined manners), 'ein kultiviertes Gespräch' (a cultured conversation), or 'ein kultiviertes Auftreten' (a refined manner/appearance). It emphasizes education and good behavior.
Trotz der hitzigen Debatte blieb die Diskussion stets kultiviert.
Despite the heated debate, the discussion always remained cultured.
wild
'wild' and 'kultiviert' are opposites here when talking about nature, land, or plants. 'wild' means that something lives or grows in nature without deliberate care or breeding. 'kultiviert' means that people work the land or deliberately grow or breed plants. When used about people, 'kultiviert' means something different: cultured and well-mannered. That sense is not the direct opposite of 'wild' in nature.
Auf dem kultivierten Feld wachsen dieses Jahr Kartoffeln.
Potatoes are growing this year in the cultivated field.
Am Waldrand wachsen viele wilde Kräuter.
Many wild herbs grow at the edge of the forest.