worldly-wise

/ˌwɜːldli ˈwaɪz/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌwɜːrldli ˈwaɪz/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈwərl(d)-lē-ˌwīz How to pronounce worldly-wise (audio)/ (ame, mw)

worldly-wise — adjective

1. having practical knowledge of how people and the real world operate, gained thro

1.形容詞C1
釋義

having practical knowledge of how people and the real world operate, gained through direct experience, so that you are not easily shocked, fooled, or taken advantage of.

例句

After living in six different countries, Lakan had become worldly-wise about navigating unfamiliar cultures.

worldly-wise about + noun phrase

The worldly-wise diplomat handled the tense negotiation without losing his calm for a moment.

同義詞
  • experienced

    broader term; worldly-wise adds a stronger sense of shrewdness and immunity to deception

  • sophisticated

    emphasises cultured refinement and knowledge of social codes; worldly-wise focuses more on practical life wisdom

  • streetwise

    informal, implying survival knowledge in urban or tough environments; worldly-wise covers a wider range of situations

  • savvy

    informal, with a sharper sense of practical intelligence in business or social dealings

反義詞
  • naive

    lacking experience and therefore easily convinced or deceived

  • innocent

    implies a lack of knowledge of the unpleasant aspects of life

  • green

    informal, suggests someone new to a situation and therefore inexperienced

文法句型

worldly-wise (about + noun phrase)

a worldly-wise + noun

用法筆記

Worldly-wise describes practical wisdom gained from life experience, not from formal education or book learning. It often carries a positive or neutral connotation of sensible skepticism — the person is hard to fool but not necessarily cynical. Distinguish from world-weary (tired of life) and streetwise (focused on urban survival).

常見錯誤

❌My professor is very worldly-wise because she has read thousands of books.
✅My professor is very worldly-wise because she has lived and worked in a dozen countries.
💡Worldly-wise comes from direct life experience, not from reading.
❌After the long illness she felt worldly-wise and exhausted.
✅After decades of traveling for work, he became worldly-wise about cultural differences.
💡Worldly-wise means knowing how the world works, not being worn out by it.