Explanation at your level:
A capsule is a small thing. You take medicine in a capsule. It is like a small box for medicine. You swallow it with water. It is very common in hospitals and at home.
A capsule is a container for medicine. It is usually round or long. You can also have a 'time capsule' where you put old things to remember the past. It is a very useful word to know for health and science.
In English, a capsule is a small, sealed case. We use it for medicine, but also for space ships. Astronauts live in a space capsule when they travel. You might also hear about a 'capsule collection' in fashion, which means a small set of clothes that all work well together.
The word capsule often implies protection and containment. Beyond the medical pill, it refers to a self-contained unit. In academic or business writing, a 'capsule summary' is a concise overview. It is a precise word that conveys efficiency and compact design.
The term capsule functions as both a literal container and a metaphorical concept of condensation. When we describe an event as a 'capsule of history,' we mean it represents a larger era in a small, concentrated form. Its Latin root, capsula, highlights its historical role as a vessel for preservation.
Etymologically, capsule bridges the gap between the biological and the technological. From the botanical 'capsule' of a poppy to the pressurized 'capsule' of a lunar module, the word denotes a boundary between an internal, protected environment and an external, often hostile, space. Its usage in contemporary marketing—such as 'capsule wardrobe'—reflects a modern desire for minimalism and curated essentialism.
30秒でわかる単語
- A small container for medicine.
- A protective unit for space travel.
- A concise summary or collection.
- Comes from the Latin for 'little box'.
When you hear the word capsule, think of something small, enclosed, and protected. It is a versatile word used in medicine, science, and even everyday life.
In the medical world, a capsule is a smooth, often gelatin-based shell that holds powdered or liquid medicine. Because it is easy to swallow, it is a very popular way to take vitamins and prescriptions.
Beyond medicine, the term describes a contained unit. Think of a space capsule, which keeps astronauts safe in the harsh environment of space. It is a self-contained, protective environment.
The word capsule comes from the Latin word capsula, which is a diminutive form of capsa, meaning 'box' or 'case'. It literally translates to 'little box'.
It entered the English language in the early 17th century. Originally, it was used primarily in botany to describe the seed-bearing part of a plant. As technology progressed, the meaning expanded to include medical containers in the 19th century and eventually space travel in the 20th century.
It is fascinating how a word meaning 'little box' has evolved to describe everything from a tiny pill to a massive vehicle designed to orbit the Earth!
You will most often hear capsule used in medical contexts. Phrases like 'take one capsule daily' are standard in pharmacy instructions.
In a more figurative sense, we use it to describe something condensed or summarized. A 'capsule summary' is a very short, concise version of a longer story or report.
The register is generally neutral to formal. You wouldn't use it in casual slang, but it is perfectly appropriate in professional, scientific, or medical settings.
While 'capsule' isn't the base of many common idioms, it is used in specific phrases:
- In a capsule: Used to mean 'in a very concise or summarized form.' Example: 'The whole report is presented in a capsule for the busy CEO.'
- Time capsule: A container storing objects from the present to be opened by future generations. Example: 'We buried a time capsule in the school yard.'
- Capsule collection: A small, curated selection of items, often in fashion. Example: 'The designer released a limited capsule collection for spring.'
- Capsule hotel: A hotel with tiny, pod-like rooms. Example: 'I stayed in a capsule hotel in Tokyo to save money.'
- Space capsule: The specific vessel for space travel. Example: 'The space capsule splashed down safely in the ocean.'
Capsule is a countable noun. You can have one capsule or many capsules. It is typically used with the indefinite article 'a' or the definite article 'the'.
Pronunciation varies slightly between regions. In the US, it is often pronounced /ˈkæpsəl/, while in the UK, it is more commonly /ˈkæpsjuːl/. The stress is always on the first syllable.
Rhyming words include tassel, vassal, and hassle. It is a straightforward noun that follows standard English pluralization rules by adding an 's'.
Fun Fact
It comes from 'capsa', the same root as 'case'.
Examples by Level
I take one capsule every morning.
take = swallow
singular noun
The medicine is in a capsule.
in = inside
preposition
Is this a capsule?
is = question
interrogative
I need a capsule for my cold.
need = want/require
article usage
The capsule is small.
small = not big
adjective
He swallowed the capsule.
swallowed = ate
past tense
Where is my capsule?
where = place
question word
One capsule is enough.
enough = sufficient
quantifier
The doctor gave me a capsule for my headache.
We buried a time capsule in the garden.
The astronaut climbed into the space capsule.
This medicine comes in capsule form.
She designed a small capsule collection.
The seeds are inside the plant capsule.
Please take two capsules with food.
The capsule protects the delicate parts.
The space capsule landed safely in the Pacific Ocean.
I am trying to build a capsule wardrobe with only ten items.
The news report provided a capsule summary of the entire event.
He prefers capsules over tablets because they are easier to swallow.
The museum opened a time capsule from 1950.
The company launched a capsule collection for the summer season.
The plant's seed capsule burst open in the wind.
The capsule hotel was surprisingly comfortable.
The project serves as a capsule of the company's innovation over the last decade.
She managed to condense her entire research into a capsule presentation.
The capsule design ensures that the sensitive equipment remains sterile.
Critics praised the designer's minimalist capsule collection.
The time capsule contained letters, photos, and a newspaper from the era.
The capsule's heat shield was tested under extreme conditions.
He offered a capsule critique of the film's major flaws.
The mission control monitored the capsule's descent through the atmosphere.
The exhibition acts as a capsule of 20th-century artistic movements.
His lecture provided a capsule history of the Industrial Revolution.
The capsule wardrobe philosophy encourages quality over quantity.
The space agency is developing a next-generation crew capsule.
The data was stored in a digital capsule for long-term preservation.
Her writing style is often described as a capsule of complex emotions.
The seed capsule is a marvel of evolutionary engineering.
The capsule of the drug slowly releases the medication over twelve hours.
The novel functions as a capsule of the social anxieties of the interwar period.
The architect designed the building as a capsule of urban sustainability.
The capsule, in its botanical sense, is a dry fruit that dehisces to release seeds.
The time capsule was an attempt to freeze a moment of cultural zeitgeist.
The capsule of his life's work was contained in a single leather-bound journal.
Modern capsule hotels are a response to the hyper-density of metropolitan living.
The capsule's trajectory was calculated with extreme precision.
The designer's capsule collection was a testament to timeless elegance.
よく使う組み合わせ
Idioms & Expressions
"in a nutshell"
in a few words
In a nutshell, we are moving.
casual"time capsule"
a container of historical items
We buried a time capsule.
neutral"capsule history"
a brief account
Here is a capsule history of the war.
formal"capsule wardrobe"
a small collection of essential clothes
I love my capsule wardrobe.
neutral"capsule summary"
a very short version
The capsule summary was perfect.
formalEasily Confused
both are pills
tablets are pressed powder
I take a tablet for pain.
both are containers
case is larger
Put the laptop in the case.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + take + a + capsule
I take a capsule daily.
The + capsule + verb + location
The capsule landed in the sea.
Subject + build + a + capsule + noun
She built a capsule wardrobe.
The + capsule + acts + as + noun
The room acts as a capsule.
It + is + a + capsule + of + noun
It is a capsule of history.
語族
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
関連
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
よくある間違い
Capsules have a shell; tablets are compressed powder.
The 'u' sound is important.
Casket is for burial.
It follows standard rules.
Capsule is strictly a noun.
Tips
Little Box
Remember it means 'little box' in Latin.
Medical vs. Space
Context is key to knowing the meaning.
Time Capsules
They are a common school project.
Pluralization
Just add 's'.
The 'u' sound
Don't skip the 'u' in British English.
Don't use as verb
Use 'encapsulate' instead.
Seed pods
Botanists use it for seeds.
Word Web
Link it to 'container'.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
CAP-SULE: A CAP that holds a SULE (soul/substance).
Visual Association
An astronaut inside a round, protective ball.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Describe your day in a 'capsule summary' of 3 words.
語源
Latin
Original meaning: little box
文化的な背景
None, but ensure medical context is accurate.
Commonly associated with medical prescriptions and space exploration.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Pharmacy
- take one capsule
- swallow with water
- prescription capsule
Space
- space capsule
- re-entry capsule
- life support
Fashion
- capsule wardrobe
- capsule collection
- seasonal capsule
History
- time capsule
- buried capsule
- historical capsule
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever opened a time capsule?"
"Do you find it hard to swallow capsules?"
"What would you put in a time capsule?"
"Do you have a capsule wardrobe?"
"What is the most interesting capsule you have seen?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you had to take medicine.
If you could design a time capsule, what would you put in it?
Describe your ideal capsule wardrobe.
How do you think space capsules will change in the future?
よくある質問
8 問Yes, it is a type of pill with a shell.
Only if your doctor says so.
A hotel with very small rooms.
Cap-syool or Cap-sul.
Yes, one capsule, two capsules.
A small set of essential clothes.
Latin 'capsula'.
It means any small container.
自分をテスト
I take my medicine in a ___.
Capsule is the correct medical container.
What is a time capsule?
It holds items for the future.
A capsule is always a type of food.
It is usually medicine or a container.
Word
意味
These are common collocations.
Standard SVO structure.
スコア： /5
Summary
A capsule is a small, protective container used for everything from medicine to space travel.
- A small container for medicine.
- A protective unit for space travel.
- A concise summary or collection.
- Comes from the Latin for 'little box'.
Little Box
Remember it means 'little box' in Latin.
Medical vs. Space
Context is key to knowing the meaning.
Time Capsules
They are a common school project.
Pluralization
Just add 's'.
Related Content
この単語を他の言語で
Pronunciation Guide
Starts with 'cap', ends with 'syool'.
Starts with 'cap', ends with 'sul'.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 'u'
- Stress on the second syllable
- Adding an extra syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy
easy
easy
easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
上級
Grammar to Know
Countable Nouns
one capsule, two capsules
Indefinite Articles
a capsule
