能力强

When you describe someone as capable, you are giving them a high compliment. It means they have the skills, intelligence, or strength to handle a job or a challenge successfully.

Think of it as the opposite of being helpless. A capable student finishes their homework on time, while a capable mechanic knows exactly how to fix a car engine without needing a manual.

It is a word that suggests reliability. You trust a capable person because you know they have the tools—whether mental or physical—to get the job done. It is not just about having talent; it is about the practical application of that talent in real-world scenarios.

The word capable has a fascinating journey through time. It comes from the Late Latin word capabilis, which is derived from capere, meaning to take or to hold.

In its earliest sense, it meant 'able to hold' or 'receptive.' Over the centuries, the meaning shifted from physically holding something to metaphorically 'holding' the capacity to perform a task. It entered the English language in the late 16th century via Middle French.

Interestingly, it shares a root with words like capture, capacity, and recipient. All these words revolve around the idea of taking something in or being able to contain a certain amount of power or skill. It is a classic example of how a physical concept evolved into an abstract adjective describing human talent.

You will hear capable used most often in professional settings. Employers love to hire capable staff because they require little supervision and deliver consistent results.

Common collocations include highly capable, perfectly capable, and a capable leader. Notice how we often use adverbs to intensify the meaning, showing just how much skill someone has.

While it is common in business, it is also used in casual conversation to describe someone's ability to handle daily life. For example, 'She is quite capable of looking after herself' is a standard way to express confidence in someone's independence.

While 'capable' itself isn't always the center of an idiom, it appears in phrases that highlight ability. 1. More than capable: Extremely well-suited for a task. 'He is more than capable of handling the presentation.' 2. Capable of anything: Used to describe someone unpredictable. 'In this mood, he is capable of anything.' 3. A capable pair of hands: Someone reliable. 'We are in capable hands with her as our guide.' 4. To be capable of: Showing potential. 'I didn't know you were capable of such kindness.' 5. Fully capable: Having all necessary skills. 'The team is fully capable of meeting the deadline.'

Capable is a three-syllable adjective: CA-pa-ble. The stress falls on the first syllable. In IPA, it is written as /ˈkeɪpəbəl/ in both British and American English, though the 't' sound in American English might be slightly softer.

Grammatically, it is usually followed by the preposition of + a gerund (verb + -ing). For example, 'She is capable of solving the problem.' It is rarely used before a noun (e.g., 'a capable person'), preferring the predicative position after the verb 'to be'.

It does not have a plural form because it is an adjective. It rhymes with words like palpable and staple (though the latter is a stretch). Remember to keep the 'a' sounds crisp and clear.