greenhorn

/ˈɡriːnhɔːn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɡriːnhɔːrn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgrēn-ˌhȯrn/ (ame, mw)

greenhorn — noun

  • greenhornsingular
  • greenhornsplural

1. a person who has just started a new job, hobby, or way of life and therefore doe

1.名詞B2
釋義

a person who has just started a new job, hobby, or way of life and therefore does not yet have the practical skills or understanding that more experienced people have

例句

As a greenhorn at the law firm, Theo spent his first week reading old case files.

collocation: greenhorn at [place]

The experienced sailors laughed at the greenhorn who tied the rope to the wrong cleat.

contrast between experienced and greenhorn

同義詞
  • novice

    more formal and neutral; used in official contexts like exams or sports rankings

  • beginner

    most common and neutral; fits any skill level

  • rookie

    informal, common in sports and police/military settings

  • newcomer

    focuses on recency of arrival rather than lack of skill

反義詞
  • veteran

    someone with long experience, especially in a job or military role

  • expert

    someone with advanced knowledge or skill in a particular area

用法筆記

Informal term. Can be mildly critical if used to dismiss someone's abilities, but often used playfully or encouragingly ('We were all greenhorns once'). Common in North American English, especially in workplace and outdoor-skill contexts.

常見錯誤

❌I am a greenhorn from five years ago.
✅Five years ago I was a greenhorn.
💡greenhorn describes the very start of a learning period, not someone with any length of experience.
❌She is a greenhorn waitress.
✅She is a greenhorn working as a waitress.
💡greenhorn is a noun, not an adjective; avoid placing it before another noun as a modifier.