amateurs
amateurs — noun
- amateurssingular
- amateursesplural
1. people who take up a hobby, sport, or creative work simply for the enjoyment it
people who take up a hobby, sport, or creative work simply for the enjoyment it brings them, rather than being paid to do it.
Minho is one of the amateurs who play violin in a local orchestra on weekends.
the + amateurs for non-professional group
The annual photography competition is open to both amateurs and seasoned professionals.
both amateurs and [professionals] — contrast pair
Ayesha started as an amateur photographer, but her nature pictures soon caught an editor's attention.
The community theatre group welcomes amateurs who love acting but work other day jobs.
Kabir's band is made of amateurs who practice every Thursday after work.
- non-professional
A direct synonym that emphasises the absence of paid status; slightly more formal.
- hobbyist
Focuses on the activity as a hobby rather than a profession; often used for crafts, photography, or computing.
- enthusiast
Puts the emphasis on strong interest and passion rather than the unpaid status.
- professional
Someone who is paid for their work and has formal training or qualifications.
文法句型
amateur + noun
the + amateurs
用法筆記
Typically used in plural form when referring to a group; the singular 'amateur' is also common. This sense carries no negative judgement — it simply describes the status of not being paid.
常見錯誤
2. people who carry out a task or activity with very little skill or experience, of
people who carry out a task or activity with very little skill or experience, often producing unsatisfactory results.
The shelf was built by amateurs and fell when we put a book on it.
work of + amateurs / passive construction
Ramón called the opposing team amateurs after they missed three easy scoring chances.
The website looked like the work of amateurs, with broken links and spelling errors everywhere.
Amateurs organised the event and could not handle such a big crowd, Valentina said.
Those amateurs cannot even send a proper invoice without leaving out half the details.
- novice
Focuses on being new to an activity rather than lacking inherent skill; less harsh.
- beginner
Emphasises that someone has just started learning; neutral or encouraging in tone.
- dilettante
Suggests a superficial interest without commitment; more formal and literary.
- expert
Someone with deep knowledge and skill gained through training and experience.
- professional
Someone who is paid and has formal qualifications; also implies competence.
文法句型
the + amateurs
a bunch of + amateurs
work of + amateurs
用法筆記
Always derogatory in this sense — it judges the person's ability harshly. The subject is usually the product of their work (a badly built shelf, a poorly designed website) or a direct insult directed at the person.