dilettante
/ˌdɪl.əˈtæn.ti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdɪl.əˌtɑːnt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdi-lə-ˌtänt -ˌtant; ˌdi-lə-ˈtänt, -ˈtant/ (ame, mw) · /ˌdɪləˈtænti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌdɪləˈtænti/ (ame, ipa)
dilettante — noun
- dilettantesingular
- dilettantesplural
1. a person who takes up a subject or activity for light enjoyment without committi
a person who takes up a subject or activity for light enjoyment without committing to serious study or practice, often appearing to know more than they actually do.
The gallery owner dismissed him as a dilettante who talked about modern art but could not name a single contemporary painter.
often derogatory: dismissed as a dilettante
A young journalist joined the book club hoping to deepen her reading, but the other members thought she was just a dilettante who skimmed the novels.
The history professor warned his students that a dilettante approach to ancient texts leads to shallow conclusions.
When the museum's curator asked for his opinion on the restoration, he gave a vague answer that revealed him as a dilettante.
A few dilettantes in the gardening society could name every rose variety, but they had never planted a single one themselves.
- expert
someone with deep, serious knowledge
- specialist
someone who dedicates serious effort to one field
文法句型
dilettante + in/at [field]
用法筆記
This term is mildly derogatory — it implies that the person lacks genuine expertise despite appearing interested. Calling someone a dilettante can be insulting. The noun is countable (a dilettante, two dilettantes) and often appears with 'in' or 'at' to specify the field: a dilettante in wine, a dilettante at painting.
常見錯誤
dilettante — adjective
- dilettantepositive
- more dilettantecomparative
- most dilettantesuperlative
1. showing a casual or shallow interest in a field without the serious effort neede
showing a casual or shallow interest in a field without the serious effort needed to develop genuine skill or understanding.
His dilettante attitude toward photography meant he owned expensive cameras but could barely take a properly focused picture.
dilettante + attitude toward [field]
The wine critic described the review as dilettante fluff that showed no real understanding of vintages.
The film director warned against a dilettante approach to screenwriting, where clever dialogue masks a weak plot.
Her dilettante interest in languages meant she started five different courses but finished none of them.
- superficial
more general; lacks the pretence element that dilettante carries
- amateurish
focuses on low quality rather than lack of commitment
- serious
committed and dedicated
- professional
showing expert-level skill
文法句型
dilettante + noun (approach/attitude/interest)
用法筆記
The adjective form is less common than the noun. It is almost always used before a noun (attributive position), describing a person's attitude, approach, or manner rather than the person directly. Like the noun, it carries a mildly insulting tone.