hands-on

/ˌhændz ˈɒn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌhændz ˈɑːn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhan(d)z-ˈȯn -ˈän/ (ame, mw)

hands-on — adjective

1. doing the practical work and making the day-to-day decisions yourself rather tha

1.形容詞B2
釋義

doing the practical work and making the day-to-day decisions yourself rather than leaving these tasks to other people

例句

Renata took a hands-on approach to running her bakery, kneading dough beside her staff every morning.

collocation: hands-on approach

The new principal is very hands-on, often eating lunch with students and joining science classes.

predicative use: be very hands-on

同義詞
  • involved

    broader; doesn't imply taking practical action, just being engaged.

  • active

    general energy or participation; less specific about doing the work yourself.

  • interventionist

    formal; often negative, suggests too much interference rather than helpful involvement.

反義詞
  • hands-off

    lets others run the day-to-day work; delegates rather than getting involved.

  • detached

    shows little personal interest or emotional connection to the work.

文法句型

hands-on + noun (approach/manager/role/style)

用法筆記

Almost always attributive (hands-on approach/role/manager) or predicative after 'be' (is/was hands-on). Subject is typically a person in a leadership or parenting position, or the style/approach they take.

常見錯誤

❌She handed-on the project to her team.
✅She took a hands-on role in the project.
💡hands-on is an adjective, not a verb.
❌a hands on manager
✅a hands-on manager
💡written with a hyphen when used before a noun.

2. involving you actually doing or using something with your own hands, instead of

2.形容詞B2
釋義

involving you actually doing or using something with your own hands, instead of only reading or hearing about it

例句

The nursing course gives students hands-on experience by sending them to local hospitals each week.

collocation: hands-on experience

Layla wanted hands-on training, so she chose a workshop where she could build a small engine herself.

collocation: hands-on training

同義詞
  • practical

    general; covers any real-world application, not necessarily doing it personally.

  • applied

    more academic; focuses on using theory in real settings (applied research).

  • experiential

    educational register; learning through direct experience of doing things.

反義詞
  • theoretical

    based on ideas and study, not on actually doing the task.

  • academic

    based on reading and discussion in a classroom rather than real practice.

文法句型

hands-on + noun (experience/training/practice)

用法筆記

Almost always attributive: hands-on experience / training / practice / activities / work. Distinguish from sense 1 — sense 2 is about the LEARNER doing real tasks, while sense 1 is about a LEADER being closely involved in running things.

常見錯誤

❌I have hands-on with this software.
✅I have hands-on experience with this software.
💡hands-on usually needs a following noun like experience, training, or practice.
❌Theory class gives hands-on knowledge.
✅Lab class gives hands-on knowledge.
💡hands-on implies you physically do the task, not just learn about it.