know-how

/ˈnəʊ haʊ/ (bre, ipa) · [nˈohˌaʊ] /ˈnəʊ haʊ/ (ame, ipa) · [nˈohˌaʊ] /ˈnō-ˌhau̇ How to pronounce know-how (audio)/ (ame, mw)

know-how — noun

1. The practical skill and experience needed to do a job or solve a problem well.

1.名詞B2
釋義

The practical skill and experience needed to do a job or solve a problem well.

例句

Elise had the know-how to fix the cafe's broken coffee machine.

the know-how to + verb for needed ability

Joaquin shared his farming know-how with neighbours after the dry summer.

share know-how with + noun

同義詞
  • expertise

    More formal and often suggests deeper specialist mastery.

  • skill

    Broader and more general; know-how stresses usable, practical ability.

  • experience

    Emphasises time spent doing something, not necessarily the practical method itself.

反義詞
  • inexperience

    Lack of practical background from doing the work before.

  • incompetence

    Stronger word for not being able to do the work properly.

文法句型

know-how + in + noun/gerund

the know-how to + verb

share know-how with + noun

用法筆記

Usually uncountable. It often follows a field noun such as 'computer' or 'farming', and commonly appears in patterns like 'have the know-how to...' or 'share know-how with...'.

常見錯誤

❌She has many know-hows in marketing.
✅She has a lot of know-how in marketing.
💡The noun is usually uncountable, so it normally does not take a plural form.
❌We need know-how for solve this problem.
✅We need the know-how to solve this problem.
💡Use 'the know-how to + verb' for the ability needed for a task.