incapable
incapable 30秒で
- Incapable means unable or incompetent in French.
- It is followed by the preposition 'de' before a verb.
- The word is the same for both masculine and feminine genders.
- It has a specific legal meaning for people unable to manage themselves.
- Physical Inability
- This refers to a person being unable to perform a physical action due to injury, exhaustion, or lack of skill. For example, after a long race, one might be incapable of taking another step.
- Intellectual or Professional Incompetence
- In a workplace setting, calling someone 'incapable' is a serious allegation. It suggests they lack the necessary skills or intelligence to fulfill their duties. It is much stronger than saying someone is simply 'slow'.
Il est absolument incapable de mentir à ses parents, car sa conscience est trop forte.
Le témoin était incapable de se rappeler les détails de l'accident.
- The Preposition 'De'
- Always remember to include 'de' before the verb. If the following verb starts with a vowel, 'de' becomes 'd' '. For example: 'Il est incapable d'agir' (He is unable to act).
Elle se sentait incapable de pardonner une telle trahison.
Les enfants sont parfois incapables de rester en place pendant une heure.
- Agreement with Plural
- Je suis incapable, Tu es incapable, Il/Elle est incapable, Nous sommes incapables, Vous êtes incapables, Ils/Elles sont incapables.
- The Corporate World
- It is used in performance reviews to describe a lack of required competencies. It is a 'heavy' word that signifies a fundamental failure rather than a minor mistake.
La loi protège les personnes incapables afin d'éviter tout abus de faiblesse.
- Daily Life and Relationships
- In arguments, it is a sharp weapon. Saying 'Tu es incapable de m'écouter' (You are incapable of listening to me) expresses a deep-seated frustration with a partner's behavior.
- Preposition Confusion
- Incorrect: Il est incapable pour faire ça. Correct: Il est incapable de faire ça. The preposition 'de' is non-negotiable here.
Ne dites pas : 'Je suis incapable à comprendre'. Dites : 'Je suis incapable de comprendre'.
- Confusion with 'Inapte'
- While 'incapable' is general, 'inapte' is often used for physical fitness or specific job qualifications. Saying someone is 'incapable' sounds like a personal insult, whereas 'inapte' sounds like a medical or technical judgment.
- Inapte
- This word is often used in medical or professional contexts to mean 'unfit'. A soldier might be 'inapte au service' (unfit for service). It is less about character and more about physical or technical suitability.
- Impuissant
- This means 'powerless' or 'helpless'. While 'incapable' suggests a lack of skill or ability, 'impuissant' suggests that external circumstances are preventing you from acting. 'Je suis impuissant face à cette situation' means you have no control over it.
Il est incompétent dans son travail, ce qui est différent d'être simplement incapable de le faire par fatigue.
- Incompétent
- This is the direct equivalent of 'incompetent'. It is strictly used for skills and knowledge, especially in a professional setting. You wouldn't say someone is 'incompétent de courir', but you would say they are an 'incompétent ingénieur'.
豆知識
The word entered the French language in the 14th century and originally had a strong legal connotation before becoming a common descriptive adjective.
発音ガイド
- Pronouncing the 'n' in 'in' as a hard consonant.
- Pronouncing the final 'e' as a loud 'ay' sound.
- Stressing the first syllable instead of the last.
- Making the 'ble' sound like 'bull' in English.
- Forgetting to keep the 'a' sounds short and crisp.
レベル別の例文
Je suis incapable de nager.
I am incapable of swimming.
Uses 'être' + 'incapable' + 'de' + infinitive.
Il est incapable de courir vite.
He is unable to run fast.
Agreement with masculine singular 'il'.
Elle est incapable de chanter.
She is unable to sing.
Incapable is the same for masculine and feminine.
Nous sommes incapables de venir.
We are unable to come.
Plural agreement adds an 's'.
Tu es incapable de dormir ?
Are you unable to sleep?
Question form using intonation.
Le chat est incapable de sauter.
The cat is unable to jump.
Used with an animal subject.
Vous êtes incapables de manger ça.
You (plural) are unable to eat that.
Plural 'vous' requires 'incapables'.
Je ne suis pas incapable.
I am not incapable.
Negative form using 'ne... pas'.
Il est incapable de réparer son vélo.
He is unable to repair his bike.
Common A2 verb 'réparer'.
Ma sœur est incapable de rester tranquille.
My sister is unable to stay still.
Feminine subject 'ma sœur'.
Ils sont incapables d'arriver à l'heure.
They are unable to arrive on time.
'De' becomes 'd'' before a vowel.
Je me sens incapable de finir ce livre.
I feel unable to finish this book.
Using 'se sentir' instead of 'être'.
Le bébé est incapable de marcher seul.
The baby is unable to walk alone.
Describing developmental stages.
Elle semble incapable de comprendre la consigne.
She seems unable to understand the instruction.
Using 'sembler' (to seem).
Nous étions incapables de trouver la clé.
We were unable to find the key.
Imperfect tense 'étions'.
Pourquoi es-tu incapable de m'aider ?
Why are you unable to help me?
Interrogative with 'pourquoi'.
Il est totalement incapable de mentir à sa femme.
He is totally incapable of lying to his wife.
Adverb 'totalement' modifies the adjective.
Cette machine est incapable de traiter ces données.
This machine is unable to process this data.
Applied to an object/machine.
Je suis incapable de prendre une décision maintenant.
I am unable to make a decision now.
Expressing mental/emotional state.
Ils se sont montrés incapables de gérer la crise.
They proved unable to manage the crisis.
Reflexive verb 'se montrer'.
Elle est incapable de faire du mal à une mouche.
She is incapable of hurting a fly.
Idiomatic expression of kindness.
Il est devenu incapable de travailler après l'accident.
He became unable to work after the accident.
Using 'devenir' (to become).
L'enfant était incapable de retenir ses larmes.
The child was unable to hold back his tears.
Describing emotional lack of control.
Êtes-vous incapable de suivre le règlement ?
Are you unable to follow the rules?
Formal inversion question.
Le gouvernement est incapable de freiner l'inflation.
The government is unable to curb inflation.
Political/Economic context.
Il est incapable de se projeter dans l'avenir.
He is unable to project himself into the future.
Abstract psychological use.
Sa blessure le rend incapable de toute activité physique.
His injury makes him incapable of any physical activity.
Using 'rendre' (to make/render).
Je suis incapable de dire si elle a raison ou non.
I am unable to say if she is right or not.
Expressing uncertainty.
Les deux parties sont incapables de trouver un compromis.
The two parties are unable to find a compromise.
Negotiation context.
Elle n'est pas incapable d'un geste de générosité.
She is not incapable of a gesture of generosity.
Litotes (double negative for effect).
Il s'est avéré incapable de remplir ses obligations.
He turned out to be unable to fulfill his obligations.
Formal phrase 's'avérer'.
Le système est incapable de supporter une telle charge.
The system is unable to support such a load.
Technical/Engineering context.
Il demeure incapable de surmonter son traumatisme d'enfance.
He remains unable to overcome his childhood trauma.
Using 'demeurer' (to remain) for persistence.
L'artiste se disait incapable de créer sans souffrance.
The artist said he was unable to create without suffering.
Reflexive 'se dire' (to claim to be).
La justice l'a déclaré pénalement incapable.
The justice system declared him criminally incapable.
Legal terminology.
Elle est incapable de la moindre hypocrisie.
She is incapable of the slightest hypocrisy.
Using 'la moindre' for emphasis.
Le texte est incapable de rendre compte de la réalité.
The text is unable to account for reality.
Philosophical/Literary context.
Ils sont incapables de concevoir un monde sans technologie.
They are unable to conceive of a world without technology.
Abstract conceptualization.
Son orgueil le rend incapable de reconnaître ses torts.
His pride makes him unable to admit his wrongs.
Psychological motivation.
L'entreprise est incapable de s'adapter aux mutations du marché.
The company is unable to adapt to market changes.
Business strategy context.
L'esprit humain est-il incapable d'appréhender l'infini ?
Is the human mind unable to grasp the infinite?
Philosophical inquiry.
Il est frappé d'une incapacité juridique totale.
He is struck by a total legal incapacity.
Noun form 'incapacité' in a formal idiom.
La langue française est incapable d'exprimer ce sentiment précis.
The French language is unable to express this precise feeling.
Linguistic limitation.
Le dictateur s'est révélé incapable de contenir la révolte.
The dictator proved unable to contain the revolt.
Historical/Political analysis.
Elle est incapable de s'affranchir du regard des autres.
She is unable to free herself from the gaze of others.
Using 's'affranchir de' (to free oneself from).
Une âme incapable de haine est une âme sainte.
A soul incapable of hatred is a holy soul.
Spiritual/Moral aphorism.
L'appareil d'État est incapable de se réformer de l'intérieur.
The state apparatus is unable to reform itself from within.
Sociopolitical critique.
Il est incapable de la moindre concession diplomatique.
He is incapable of the slightest diplomatic concession.
High-level negotiation context.
よく使う組み合わせ
よく使うフレーズ
— To be extremely kind and gentle. It describes someone who wouldn't hurt anyone.
Ne t'inquiète pas, il est incapable de faire du mal à une mouche.
— To feel overwhelmed or lacking the strength to do something. It expresses self-doubt.
Je me sens incapable de réussir cet examen.
— A very insulting way to call someone completely incompetent. Usually used in anger.
Quel grand incapable, il a encore tout gâché !
— Unable to keep a secret. Describes someone who talks too much.
Elle est incapable de tenir sa langue.
— To be restless or very energetic. Often used for children.
Cet enfant est incapable de rester en place.
— To be too kind or weak to refuse a request. Describes a lack of assertiveness.
Il est incapable de dire non à ses amis.
— Unable to deal with a difficult situation. Expresses being overwhelmed.
Il est incapable de faire face à ses dettes.
— Indecisive. Unable to make a choice.
Je suis incapable de me décider pour mes vacances.
— Usually used to describe intense emotion or a physical state like asthma.
Elle était incapable de respirer tant elle riait.
— Used in medical certificates to indicate a person is unfit for work.
Le médecin l'a déclaré incapable de travailler.
慣用句と表現
— To be unable to multi-task. Often used humorously or critically.
Mon mari est incapable de faire deux choses à la fois.
Informal— Short-sighted. Unable to think about the future or others.
Il est incapable de voir plus loin que le bout de son nez.
Common— Unable to make ends meet financially.
Avec ce petit salaire, ils sont incapables de joindre les deux bouts.
Common— Extremely lazy. Refusing to help at all.
Il est incapable de lever le petit doigt pour aider à la maison.
Informal— To be so calm that one is unable to get angry.
Elle est incapable de piquer une crise, elle est trop douce.
Informal— Exhausted or very drunk. Unable to walk.
Après la fête, il était incapable de mettre un pied devant l'autre.
Informal— Unable to let go of an idea or a situation.
Il est incapable de lâcher prise sur cette affaire.
Neutral— Unable to stay calm under pressure.
Le pilote était incapable de garder son sang-froid.
Neutral— Addicted or very attached to something.
Elle est incapable de se passer de son téléphone.
Common— Unable to distinguish between different aspects of a problem.
Il est incapable de faire la part des choses dans son travail.
Neutral語族
名詞
動詞
形容詞
関連
暗記しよう
記憶術
Think of an 'IN-CAPable' person as someone who is 'IN' a 'CAP' (a bottle cap) and cannot get out to do anything.
視覚的連想
Imagine a person trying to lift a giant weight that says 'TASK' and failing—this is the visual of being incapable.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Try to write three sentences today using 'incapable de' with three different verbs: one physical, one mental, and one emotional.
語源
The word comes from the Latin 'incapax', which combines the prefix 'in-' (not) and 'capax' (able to hold or contain).
元の意味: Originally, it meant 'not having the capacity to hold' or 'not containing enough space'.
It belongs to the Italic branch of the Indo-European family, evolving through Vulgar Latin into Old French.文化的な背景
The English 'incapable' is often more formal, whereas the French 'incapable' is used very frequently in daily emotional speech.
Summary
The word 'incapable' is a versatile adjective used to describe a lack of ability or legal standing. Always remember the structure 'incapable de + infinitive', such as 'incapable de parler' (unable to speak).
- Incapable means unable or incompetent in French.
- It is followed by the preposition 'de' before a verb.
- The word is the same for both masculine and feminine genders.
- It has a specific legal meaning for people unable to manage themselves.
関連コンテンツ
この単語を他の言語で
generalの関連語
à cause de
A2「〜のせいで」や「〜が原因で」を意味する前置詞句。通常、否定的または中立的な原因を説明する際に使われます。
à côté
A2〜の隣に;〜のそばに。
à côté de
A2Next to, beside.
À droite
A2右へ、または右側に。例:「次の角を右に曲がってください」。
À gauche
A2To the left; on the left side.
à la
A2前置詞「à」と女性定冠詞「la」の組み合わせで、「〜へ」や「〜に」を意味します。
à laquelle
B2To which; at which (feminine singular).
à mesure que
B2〜するにつれて。
abrégé
B1An abstract, summary, or abridgment.
absence
A2The state of being away from a place or person.