basic skill
مهارة أساسية
Use `basic skill` to describe the essential, foundational abilities required to perform a task or job effectively.
In 15 Seconds
- An essential ability needed for a task.
- The foundation for learning more advanced things.
- Commonly used in job descriptions and education.
Meaning
A basic skill is a simple but necessary ability you need to do something well. It is like a building block that helps you learn more difficult things later.
Key Examples
3 of 6Talking about a new job
Coding is now considered a basic skill in the tech industry.
Coding is now considered a basic skill in the tech industry.
Teaching a friend to cook
Learning to chop an onion is a basic skill every chef needs.
Learning to chop an onion is a basic skill every chef needs.
Texting about a hobby
I'm struggling with the basic skills of photography, like focus.
I'm struggling with the basic skills of photography, like focus.
Cultural Background
The concept of 'basic skills' is deeply tied to the Western education system's focus on 'core competencies.' In recent years, there has been a cultural trend called 'back to basics,' where people try to relearn manual skills like gardening or sewing that were lost to the digital age. It reflects a desire for self-sufficiency in a complex world.
Use it to sound humble
When starting something new, say 'I'm just working on the basic skills.' It makes people more willing to help you!
Careful with 'Lacks'
Saying someone 'lacks basic skills' is quite a strong criticism in English. Use it carefully in professional emails.
In 15 Seconds
- An essential ability needed for a task.
- The foundation for learning more advanced things.
- Commonly used in job descriptions and education.
What It Means
Think of a basic skill as the foundation of a house. Without it, the whole thing falls down. It refers to the most essential abilities in a specific area. In life, this might be cooking or driving. In a job, it could be typing or using a phone. It is something people expect you to know already. It is the 'starting line' for any activity.
How To Use It
You use this phrase to describe requirements or simple talents. You can say someone lacks a basic skill if they cannot do something easy. You can also say you are learning the basic skills of a new hobby. It usually comes before a noun or at the end of a sentence. It sounds natural in both professional and casual talk. Don't worry about being too formal with it. It is a workhorse phrase that fits everywhere.
When To Use It
Use it when discussing job requirements in an interview. Use it when teaching your friend how to play a video game. It is perfect for talking about education, like reading and math. If you are starting a pottery class, tell the teacher you want to learn the basic skills first. It shows you are humble and ready to learn. It also helps clarify what is expected in a new situation.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for something very advanced or specialized. Performing heart surgery is not a basic skill. Do not use it to insult someone’s intelligence directly. Saying "You don't even have basic skills" can sound very mean. Avoid it when talking about natural talents like 'being tall.' Those are traits, not skills you practice. If something is a 'gift,' call it a gift instead.
Cultural Background
In English-speaking cultures, there is a big focus on 'life skills.' These are the basic skills needed to survive as an adult. Things like balancing a budget or boiling an egg. Lately, people use the term 'adulting' to describe using these skills. There is a cultural shift toward valuing these simple abilities again. Many people feel that technology has made us forget some basic skills like map reading.
Common Variations
You might hear people say fundamental skills in a more formal setting. In sports, coaches often just say the basics. If you are talking about school, you might hear the three Rs (Reading, Writing, Arithmetic). In the tech world, people talk about digital literacy. All of these point back to the same idea: the essential stuff you need to know first.
Usage Notes
The phrase is very versatile. It works in almost any setting, but be careful not to sound condescending when applying it to others.
Use it to sound humble
When starting something new, say 'I'm just working on the basic skills.' It makes people more willing to help you!
Careful with 'Lacks'
Saying someone 'lacks basic skills' is quite a strong criticism in English. Use it carefully in professional emails.
The 'Soft Skills' Connection
In the US and UK, 'basic skills' often refers to math/reading, while 'soft skills' refers to people skills. Don't mix them up!
Examples
6Coding is now considered a basic skill in the tech industry.
Coding is now considered a basic skill in the tech industry.
Shows how expectations change over time.
Learning to chop an onion is a basic skill every chef needs.
Learning to chop an onion is a basic skill every chef needs.
Focuses on a foundational task.
I'm struggling with the basic skills of photography, like focus.
I'm struggling with the basic skills of photography, like focus.
Admitting a learning curve to a friend.
My brother lacks the basic skill of putting his socks in the bin.
My brother lacks the basic skill of putting his socks in the bin.
Using the phrase to make a lighthearted joke about laziness.
You have mastered the basic skills required for this role.
You have mastered the basic skills required for this role.
A formal way to give positive feedback.
Don't worry, riding a bike is just a basic skill you'll learn soon.
Don't worry, riding a bike is just a basic skill you'll learn soon.
Providing comfort by making the task sound manageable.
Test Yourself
Choose the best word to complete the sentence about a job interview.
The manager said that communication is a ___ skill for this position.
`Basic skill` is a standard collocation used to describe necessary abilities in a workplace.
Complete the sentence about learning something new.
Before you try to bake a wedding cake, you need to learn the ___ skills of baking.
You must learn the simple, foundational things (`basic skills`) before moving to advanced tasks.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality Spectrum of 'Basic Skill'
Talking to friends about hobbies.
I'm just learning the basic skills of guitar.
General everyday use.
Cooking is a basic skill everyone should have.
Job descriptions or academic reports.
The candidate lacks the basic skills for this entry-level role.
When to use 'Basic Skill'
Job Interview
Listing your computer abilities.
Cooking Class
Learning how to use a knife.
Parenting
Teaching a child to tie shoes.
School
Discussing reading and writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsA basic skill is something you learn through practice, like typing. A talent is often something you are born with, like a beautiful singing voice.
No, that would be confusing. For difficult things, use advanced skill or specialized expertise.
Yes, in casual speech, people often say I'm learning the basics. It means the same thing.
It is okay, but words like core competencies or foundational skills sound a bit more professional on a resume.
Not at all. It can refer to anything from basic survival skills in the woods to basic social skills at a party.
This is an old English expression for the basic skills of school: Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic.
No, basic is usually an adjective here. You need the noun, like basic skill or the basics.
It can be. It implies they are missing something very simple. It is better to say Let's start with the fundamentals.
You can say I have a solid grasp of the basic skills. This sounds very confident.
They overlap. Life skills are the specific basic skills you need to live independently, like cooking and cleaning.
Related Phrases
The fundamentals
The primary rules or aspects of something.
Core competency
A defining capability or advantage of a person or organization.
Groundwork
Preliminary or basic work that forms the foundation.
The ABCs of something
The simplest or most basic facts of a subject.
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