professionals
professionals — adjective
- professionalspositive
- more professionalscomparative
- most professionalssuperlative
1. connected to a job that demands specific study, formal training, or recognized q
connected to a job that demands specific study, formal training, or recognized qualifications
Aaron enrolled in a professional development course to improve his project management skills.
collocation: professional development
The hospital provides professional training for all new nurses during their first three months.
collocation: professional training
Greta's professional qualifications were accepted by the medical board in Ireland.
Hamza decided to seek professional advice before signing the business partnership agreement.
After a major scandal in 2022, the accounting board in Tokyo raised professional standards for all auditors.
- vocational
more specific to hands-on training for a particular trade
- career
used as an adjective only in compounds like 'career development'
- amateur
done without formal training or payment
文法句型
professional + noun
用法筆記
This sense is used directly before a noun, as in professional training, professional qualifications, or professional development. It describes the nature of the work or study itself.
常見錯誤
2. showing the skill, careful organization, and proper behaviour that people expect
showing the skill, careful organization, and proper behaviour that people expect from someone trained for a job
Sade handled the angry customer's complaint in a very professional way.
The violin repair was done to a professional standard that impressed the orchestra.
collocation: professional standard
Caio's presentation to the hospital board was clear, well organized, and thoroughly professional.
Keeping patient information private is part of being a professional nurse.
Quinn took a very professional approach to resolving the dispute between the two teams.
- competent
focuses on having the necessary ability, not the manner
- businesslike
emphasizes efficiency and lack of unnecessary emotion
- unprofessional
failing to meet expected standards of behaviour or skill
- amateurish
done without skill or proper organization
文法句型
professional + noun (manner/approach/standard)
be + professional
用法筆記
This sense describes how someone behaves or performs their duties, not what type of job they have. Common in phrases like 'in a professional manner' and 'professional approach.'
常見錯誤
3. doing an activity as a paid job, rather than as a hobby — used especially for sp
doing an activity as a paid job, rather than as a hobby — used especially for sports, music, and the arts
Hana decided to turn professional after winning her first national tennis championship.
phrase: turn professional
The city orchestra is hiring professional musicians for its upcoming world tour.
Niran quit his office job to become a professional photographer in Nairobi.
Olympic swimmers like Mei-Lin spend six hours in the pool every day as professional athletes.
The art competition is open to both amateur and professional painters this year.
- amateur
done for enjoyment rather than payment
- recreational
done for leisure purposes
文法句型
professional + noun (athlete/musician/photographer)
turn + professional
用法筆記
This sense contrasts with 'amateur.' An amateur does an activity for enjoyment; a professional does it to earn a living.
常見錯誤
4. used to describe jobs or people with jobs that enjoy a high reputation because t
used to describe jobs or people with jobs that enjoy a high reputation because they demand many years of academic study — for example, doctors, lawyers, and engineers
Eitan comes from a professional family — his father a surgeon, his mother a judge.
Many professional people in Taipei, such as architects and engineers, often stay at their desks past eight in the evening.
collocation: professional people
Padma decided to pursue a professional career in law rather than going into business.
Dr. Okonkwo spent eleven years in university and residency training before starting her medical practice.
The job fair in Taipei attracted mostly professional workers looking for new opportunities.
- white-collar
broader term for office-based work; not limited to highly educated roles
- manual
involving physical work rather than academic training
文法句型
professional + noun (career/family/person)
professionals — noun
- professionalssingular
- professionalsesplural
1. a person whose occupation demands extensive academic education and specialist tr
a person whose occupation demands extensive academic education and specialist training, for example a doctor, lawyer, or engineer
The hospital hired several healthcare professionals to staff the new emergency wing.
collocation: healthcare professionals
As a legal professional, Lakan must keep all client information strictly confidential.
collocation: legal professional
The conference brought together education professionals from more than twenty different countries.
Constanza worked as a finance professional in Milan before moving to Singapore.
A recent survey of young professionals in Singapore found that most wanted to start their own businesses within five years.
- specialist
emphasizes deep knowledge in a narrow area
- expert
focuses on high skill level, not necessarily formal qualifications
文法句型
a professional
the professionals
healthcare/legal/medical professional
用法筆記
Often used with a preceding noun that specifies the field, such as healthcare professional, legal professional, or IT professional.
常見錯誤
2. a person who has developed great skill through many years of experience in a par
a person who has developed great skill through many years of experience in a particular field, and can handle even the most difficult situations
After thirty years in the business, Lin is a true professional who handles any crisis.
phrase: true professional
The event went smoothly because the entire team were seasoned professionals who knew their jobs.
Aaron proved himself a real professional by finishing the project ahead of schedule despite setbacks.
The airline's mechanics are all experienced professionals who check every part of the aircraft.
When the server crashed, the IT team were true professionals — they restored it in an hour.
文法句型
a true/real professional
用法筆記
This sense is about a person's skill and reliability, not their formal qualifications. Often used with 'true' or 'real' for emphasis.
常見錯誤
3. someone who earns money doing an activity that many people do simply for enjoyme
someone who earns money doing an activity that many people do simply for enjoyment, especially in sports or the arts
The tournament is open to both amateurs and professionals from around the region.
contrast: amateurs and professionals
Sade decided to become a professional after winning several local dance competitions.
The conservatory in Berlin offers separate master classes for amateurs and professional musicians.
Caio worked as a professional in the esports industry for over seven years.
Many talented runners never become professionals because there is not enough prize money.
- paid player
specific to sports; less formal
- pro
informal shortening of professional
文法句型
become a professional
professional in [sport/art/field]
用法筆記
This sense is commonly used in the plural (professionals) when referring to a category of people, as in 'the competition is open to amateurs and professionals.'
4. a paid teacher of a sport who works at a club or sports centre and gives lessons
a paid teacher of a sport who works at a club or sports centre and gives lessons to members
The club's golf professional gives private lessons every morning before the course opens.
collocation: golf professional
Quinn worked as a tennis professional at a resort in the south of France.
collocation: tennis professional
The sports centre hired a new squash professional to run its training programme.
Constanza booked a session with the club professional to improve her backhand swing.
The resort's golf professional organized a weekend tournament for the hotel guests.
- instructor
more general; can refer to any kind of teaching
- coach
common for team sports; broader role than a club professional
文法句型
golf/tennis/squash professional
用法筆記
This sense is specific to sports where a club employs an expert to train members. Most common with golf and tennis.