practical
practical — 形容詞
1. based on doing real tasks or working in real situations, not just learning the t
實作的
靠實際操作而非僅讀理論的
based on doing real tasks or working in real situations, not just learning the theory from books or lectures.
Maya wanted a job that gave her practical experience with patients, not just lectures.
Maya 想找一份能讓她真正接觸病人、累積實務經驗的工作，而不是只聽課。
collocation: practical experience (vs theoretical)
The cooking course mixes classroom study with practical work in a real restaurant kitchen.
這門烹飪課把課堂學習和真實餐廳廚房裡的實作練習結合在一起。
collocation: practical work
Nursing students need months of practical training before they can work alone on a ward.
護理科學生要先經過好幾個月的實作訓練，才能獨自在病房值班。
Carlos prefers practical lessons where he can fix a real engine instead of reading about it.
Carlos 比較喜歡能真的動手修引擎的實作課，不喜歡光看書。
The driving test has both a written part and a practical part on the road.
駕照考試分成筆試和上路的實際操作兩部分。
- hands-on
more informal; emphasises personally doing the task
- applied
more academic; common in 'applied science / linguistics'
- experiential
formal; used in education theory
- theoretical
based on ideas rather than doing
- academic
of book learning, sometimes implying remote from real life
文法句型
practical experience
practical training
practical work
用法筆記
Often contrasted directly with 'theoretical' or 'academic'. Frequently appears in fixed phrases such as 'practical experience', 'practical training', and 'practical work'.
常見錯誤
2. describing what is actually true once you ignore theory or official statements;
實質上的
撇開理論或名義後真實的情況
describing what is actually true once you ignore theory or official statements; how something turns out in real, everyday life.
On paper Lina is the manager, but in practical terms her assistant runs the team.
名義上 Lina 是經理，但實際上是她的助理在帶整個團隊。
fixed phrase: in practical terms
The new rule sounds strict, but the practical effect on small shops is almost zero.
新規定聽起來很嚴，但對小店家的實質影響幾乎是零。
collocation: practical effect
For all practical purposes, the old factory closed when its last two workers retired.
說到底，這家舊工廠在最後兩個工人退休那天就形同關閉了。
The treaty looks fair, but the practical reality for farmers in the south is much harder.
條約看起來公平，但對南方農民來說實際的處境艱困得多。
- theoretical
true only in theory, not in real life
- nominal
formal; in name only
文法句型
in practical terms
for (all) practical purposes
用法筆記
Almost always used before a noun (practical terms, practical effect, practical reality). Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is not about doing tasks but about what actually happens, often opposed to 'on paper' or 'in theory'.
3. well designed for everyday use, so that an object, room, or piece of clothing wo
實用的
為日常使用而設計、好用的
well designed for everyday use, so that an object, room, or piece of clothing works well in the situation people actually need it for.
These boots look plain, but they are very practical for long walks in wet weather.
這雙靴子外型樸素，但拿來在雨天長途走路非常實用。
pattern: practical for + activity
Sarah chose a small white car because it is practical for narrow city streets.
Sarah 挑了一台白色小車，因為在狹窄的市區街道很實用。
A round table is more practical than a square one when you have guests of different sizes.
招待身材高矮不一的客人時，圓桌比方桌實用得多。
The kitchen has a practical layout, with the fridge, sink, and stove close together.
這間廚房動線很實用，冰箱、水槽和爐子都靠在一起。
Cotton trousers are more practical than silk ones for hiking in summer.
夏天健行時，棉布長褲比絲質長褲實用得多。
- functional
stresses that something works well, with no extra decoration
- useful
wider; not always about good design
- handy
informal; convenient and easy to use
- impractical
looks nice but does not work well in real use
- decorative
made for looks, not for use
文法句型
practical for + noun
practical to + infinitive
用法筆記
Subject is usually a concrete object, garment, vehicle, or layout. Often paired with 'for + activity' or compared with another option using 'more practical than'.
4. describing a person, or the way they think, as down-to-earth: focused on what ca
務實的
想法腳踏實地、不空想的
describing a person, or the way they think, as down-to-earth: focused on what can really be done and on solving problems, rather than on dreams, feelings, or perfect ideas.
Be practical, Marcus — we cannot afford a new car this year, however much you want one.
Marcus，務實一點吧——再怎麼想要，今年我們也買不起新車。
imperative: 'be practical' meaning 'be realistic'
Aunt Rosa is a very practical woman who always knows how to fix a problem in the house.
Rosa 阿姨是個非常務實的女人，家裡有問題她總知道怎麼解決。
We need a practical approach to the budget, not big speeches about future success.
我們需要對預算採取務實的做法，而不是高談闊論未來會多成功。
Dr. Tanaka took a practical view of the illness and explained exactly what the family should do next.
Tanaka 醫師以務實的角度看待這個病，仔細告訴家屬接下來該怎麼做。
Try to be practical about the wedding costs before you start choosing flowers.
在開始挑花之前，先務實地考量一下婚禮的花費吧。
- realistic
very close; emphasises accepting facts as they are
- sensible
more about good judgement in daily choices
- down-to-earth
informal; describes a friendly, simple personality
- pragmatic
more formal; common in politics or business
- idealistic
guided by perfect ideas, not by reality
- impractical
of a person: bad at handling daily life
- unrealistic
expects results that cannot really happen
文法句型
a practical person
be practical about + noun
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 5 (POSSIBLE): sense 4 describes a mindset or person ('she is practical'), while sense 5 describes whether a plan can be done ('the plan is not practical'). With people, 'practical' is a compliment; calling an idea practical means it could realistically work.
常見錯誤
5. of a plan, idea, or solution: possible to carry out successfully with the time,
可行的
計畫或辦法在現實中辦得到的
of a plan, idea, or solution: possible to carry out successfully with the time, money, and resources you actually have.
Carlos found it wasn't practical to drive across Manila during rush hour, so he took the metro.
Carlos 發現尖峰時段開車穿越馬尼拉並不可行，於是改搭捷運。
pattern: it is (not) practical to + verb
The committee chose a practical plan that the small village could finish within one year.
委員會選了一個小村莊一年內就能完成的可行方案。
collocation: practical plan
Solar panels are now a practical solution for many homes in southern Taiwan.
對台灣南部的許多家庭來說，太陽能板現在已經是個可行的選擇。
Walking to school is only practical if you live within a kilometre of the gates.
走路上學只有在你住校門一公里以內時才可行。
- impractical
cannot really be done with current resources
- unworkable
stronger; the plan is sure to fail
文法句型
it is practical to do something
a practical plan / solution
用法筆記
Often used with 'it is (not) practical to + infinitive'. Distinguish from sense 4: sense 5 judges a plan or action ('the plan is practical'), while sense 4 describes a person's mindset ('she is practical').
6. used before a noun to say that something is so close to being complete or total
近乎完全的
差距小到不重要、近乎全部的
used before a noun to say that something is so close to being complete or total that the small difference does not matter — for example, a practical certainty is one tiny step short of a guarantee.
After two perfect seasons, winning the league seemed a practical certainty for the team.
在連續兩個完美的賽季之後，奪下聯賽冠軍對這支球隊來說已形同板上釘釘。
collocation: practical certainty
The old company has a practical monopoly on bus routes between the two villages.
這家老公司在兩個村子之間的公車路線上幾乎形同獨佔。
collocation: practical monopoly
Crossing the snowy pass alone in winter is a practical impossibility for most hikers.
對大多數登山客來說，冬天獨自翻越這座雪山隘口幾乎是不可能的事。
By midnight the result was a practical victory, even though a few votes were still being counted.
到午夜時雖然還有幾張票在點，但結果已形同勝利。
文法句型
a practical monopoly / certainty / impossibility
用法筆記
Only used before a noun, and chiefly with abstract nouns like 'certainty', 'monopoly', 'impossibility', 'victory'. Close in meaning to 'virtual' (a virtual monopoly) and to the adverb 'practically' (= almost).
常見錯誤
practical — 名詞
1. a school or college session — either a lesson or a test — in which students must
術科考試
需要實際動手操作的課程或考試
a school or college session — either a lesson or a test — in which students must actually do an experiment or task with their hands instead of writing about it.
Maya has a chemistry practical on Friday, so she is reviewing how to use the bunsen burner.
Maya 星期五有化學實作考試，所以她正在複習本生燈的使用。
collocation: chemistry / biology practical
Half of our biology grade comes from written exams and half from the practicals in the lab.
我們生物的成績一半來自筆試，另一半來自實驗室裡的實作課。
plural: practicals
Carlos failed his driving practical the first time because he forgot to check the mirrors.
Carlos 第一次駕照路考沒過，因為他忘記看後照鏡。
During the nursing practical, students take a real patient's blood pressure under a teacher's eye.
在護理術科考試中，學生要在老師的注視下幫真正的病人量血壓。
- lab
American English; refers to a science class with experiments
- practical exam
the test sense; common in both UK and US
- workshop
wider; any hands-on session, not always assessed
- theory paper
the written part of an exam, opposed to the practical
文法句型
a chemistry / biology / driving practical
pass / fail a practical
用法筆記
Mainly British English. American English usually says 'lab' for the lesson and 'practical exam' or 'skills test' for the test. The plural 'practicals' is common in school contexts.