My American teacher said "diligent" doesn't mean a person's characteristic, but...

[registered]

My American teacher said "diligent" doesn't mean a person's characteristic, but...

We (Chinese students) often describe a student "diligent", and we think it means "hardworking".
An American teacher corrected in a speach: "diligent" doesn't mean a person's characteristic, but it's used to refer the way a single task or job is done.
I looked up "diligent" in the dictionaries, but I think the definitions tell me "diligent" indeed means a person's characteristic, unless I misunderstood these definitions:
Definition in Collins Dictionary: Someone who is diligent works hard in a careful and thorough way.
Definition in Merriam-Webster: characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort.

I don't doubt this teacher's words, but I hope somebody can give me more examples to help me understanding this word.
Doesn't "diligent" mean "hardworking"?

 

[Barb_D]

Re: My American teacher said "diligent" doesn't mean a person's characteristic, but..

I have no idea why your teacher said this.
A diligent student, a diligent worker - these are both fine.

However, the teacher corrected you in a speech. not a speach.

 

[registered]

Re: My American teacher said "diligent" doesn't mean a person's characteristic, but..

Oh, mistake by carelessness! Thanks for your pointing out!

 

[Tdol]

Re: My American teacher said "diligent" doesn't mean a person's characteristic, but..

And did you mean in a speech or in speech? Were you just talking (in speech) or speaking formally in public (a speech)?

 

[MikeNewYork]

Re: My American teacher said "diligent" doesn't mean a person's characteristic, but..

We (Chinese students) often describe a student "diligent", and we think it means "hardworking".
An American teacher corrected in a speach: "diligent" doesn't mean a person's characteristic, but it's used to refer the way a single task or job is done.
I looked up "diligent" in the dictionaries, but I think the definitions tell me "diligent" indeed means a person's characteristic, unless I misunderstood these definitions:
Definition in Collins Dictionary: Someone who is diligent works hard in a careful and thorough way.
Definition in Merriam-Webster: characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort.

I don't doubt this teacher's words, but I hope somebody can give me more examples to help me understanding this word.
Doesn't "diligent" mean "hardworking"?

I think that your teacher was trying to draw a distinction between who someone is and what someone does. The term "diligent" mostly describes how a person acts. The problem with the attempt at distinction is that the way a person acts, if it is habitual, is part of who the person is.

 

[registered]

Re: My American teacher said "diligent" doesn't mean a person's characteristic, but..

And did you mean in a speech or in speech? Were you just talking (in speech) or speaking formally in public (a speech)?

I meant speaking formally in public.
Thanks for your reminding.

 

[5jj]

Re: My American teacher said "diligent" doesn't mean a person's characteristic, but..

I think that your teacher was trying to draw a distinction between who someone is and what someone does. The term "diligent" mostly describes how a person acts. The problem with the attempt at distinction is that the way a person acts, if it is habitual, is part of who the person is.

I agree.

We may describe someone as a diligent student/clerk, but we are less likely to say they are a diligent person, in my opinion. If I say that someone is diligent, I am normally referring to how hard they work in the role in which I see them.