B2 noun #26 最常用 1分钟阅读

agility

什么是 Agility? 想象一下武侠电影里的高手,身形如燕,闪转腾挪,这就是physical agility(身体敏捷性)。而在商业世界里,当市场环境瞬息万变,那些能迅速转型、抓住机遇的公司,我们称之为具有business agility...

Agility 是在动态世界中,保持身心灵活、快速应变的智慧。

什么是 Agility?

想象一下武侠电影里的高手,身形如燕,闪转腾挪,这就是physical agility(身体敏捷性)。而在商业世界里,当市场环境瞬息万变,那些能迅速转型、抓住机遇的公司,我们称之为具有business agility(商业敏捷性)。这个词带有一种“轻快”和“聪明”的感觉。它不仅仅是快,更重要的是准和活。如果你形容一个人有 agility,意味着他既不会笨手笨脚,也不会死脑筋。在英语语境中,这是一个非常积极的褒义词,常用于赞美运动员、优秀的程序员或极具潜力的初创公司。掌握这个词,能让你在描述一个人或事物的“灵动感”时,显得非常地道。

词源与演变

Agility 源自拉丁语 agilis,意为“能够行动的、敏捷的”。它与动词 agere(做、驱动)同根。这很有趣,因为在中文里,我们常说“敏于行”,这与 agere 的核心含义不谋而合。在历史演变中,这个词从单纯形容马匹或士兵的作战灵活性,逐渐扩展到了认知心理学和现代管理学领域。这就像中国古代的“兵贵神速”,虽然侧重点略有不同,但都强调了在动态环境中,谁能更灵活地做出调整,谁就能占据主动权。这种跨越千年的智慧,在英语中通过 agility 这个词得到了完美的体现。

如何地道使用

在日常生活中,你可以说:The cat showed great agility in jumping over the fence.(猫在跳过栅栏时展现了极高的灵活性)。在职场中,它常与 mental 或 business 搭配。例如:Mental agility is key to solving complex problems.(思维敏捷是解决复杂问题的关键)。中文里,我们可以将其对应为“灵活性”、“敏捷度”、“应变能力”。如果你想夸奖一个人反应快,除了用 quick-witted,用 He has great mental agility 会显得更有深度。记住,agility 强调的是一种动态的适应过程,而不仅仅是静态的快。

文化差异与共鸣

中国文化中非常推崇“灵动”和“变通”。古语云:“穷则变,变则通,通则久。”这与西方商业语境下的 Agility 不谋而合。西方文化更倾向于将 agility 视为一种可度量的能力,常出现在敏捷开发(Agile development)等管理概念中。而在中国,我们更倾向于用“机灵”、“灵活”、“眼观六路耳听八方”来表达类似的意思。虽然表达方式不同,但核心都是对“变化”的拥抱。学习这个词,能帮你连接中西方的管理思维,让你在跨文化沟通时,既能保留中文的灵活性思维,又能用专业的英语词汇进行精准表达。

给中国学生的学习建议

很多中国学生容易把 agility 和 speed 混淆。请记住:Speed 是速度,而 Agility 是在速度基础上的方向控制能力。建议在练习时,多用“身体灵活性”和“思维应变力”两个维度去造句。尝试将它与 adaptability(适应性)放在一起记忆。另外,注意它的重音在第二个音节 [əˈdʒɪl.ə.ti],多模仿地道发音,感受那种轻快跳跃的节奏感。不要把它仅仅当成一个单词,把它当成一种“灵活应对生活”的哲学态度去体会。

A1

Agility 就是动作很快、很灵活的意思。想象小猫跳来跳去,它就是很有 agility。对于初学者,你可以先把它当作“灵活”来记,比如身体很灵活。

A2

这个词形容人或动物动作敏捷。比如运动员在比赛中跑得很快,而且能迅速改变方向,这就是 agility。它让你的描述更生动。

B1

到了这个阶段,你要理解它不仅指身体,还指思维。一个人如果能在遇到困难时迅速想出新办法,我们就可以说他有 mental agility。这是职场中很受欢迎的素质。

B2

在 B2 水平,你需要掌握它在商业和管理中的用法。比如 Agile methodology(敏捷开发),这是现代软件工程的核心。它强调团队如何快速响应变化,而不是死守计划。

C1

C1 级别需要理解 agility 的深层语境。它不仅是能力,更是一种应对不确定性的战略思维。在高级写作中,用 agility 代替 flexibility,能让你的文章显得更专业、更有逻辑张力。

C2

在 C2 级别,agility 涉及对复杂系统的认知。它代表了一种在动态环境中保持平衡与效率的艺术。无论是政治、经济还是社会学领域,agility 都被视为应对“乌卡时代”(VUCA)最核心的生存智慧。

趣味小知识

It shares a root with 'agent'—both come from the verb 'to do'.

发音指南

英式 /əˈdʒɪl.ə.ti/

Uh-JIL-uh-tee

美式 /əˈdʒɪl.ə.t̬i/

Uh-JIL-uh-tee

常见错误

  • Misplacing the stress
  • Adding an extra 'l'
  • Pronouncing the 'g' as 'g' (hard) instead of 'j' (soft)

押韵词

ability utility fragility docility virility

难度评级

阅读 2/5

Easy to read

写作 2/5

Easy to use

口语 2/5

Easy to say

听力 2/5

Easy to hear

接下来学什么

前置知识

fast quick move

接下来学习

flexible adaptable nimble

高级

dexterity versatility

需要掌握的语法

Uncountable Nouns

Agility is important.

Noun Suffixes

-ity suffix

Adjective to Noun

Agile -> Agility

按水平分级的例句

1

The cat has great agility.

名词用法,形容身体素质。

2

He is very agile.

这是形容词形式 agile。

3

The dog is agile.

形容词用法。

4

She moves with agility.

介词短语修饰动词。

5

He runs with agility.

形容动作状态。

1

The gymnast showed incredible agility.

2

Agility is important for sports.

3

The monkey's agility is amazing.

4

He needs agility to play soccer.

5

She has the agility of a dancer.

1

Mental agility helps in exams.

2

The company needs more business agility.

3

Agility is required for this job.

4

He showed great mental agility during the debate.

5

The team improved their agility.

1

Agile teams adapt to change quickly.

2

We need to improve our organizational agility.

3

The startup's agility allowed it to survive.

4

Mental agility is a key trait of leaders.

5

The strategy requires high agility.

1

The firm's agility in the market is unmatched.

2

He possesses a rare combination of physical and mental agility.

3

Agility is the antidote to bureaucratic stagnation.

4

The project requires constant agility from the team.

5

Her intellectual agility is evident in her writing.

1

In a volatile economy, agility is the ultimate competitive advantage.

2

The organization's agility stems from its decentralized structure.

3

He demonstrated remarkable cognitive agility under pressure.

4

The agility of the system allows for rapid scaling.

5

True agility requires both speed and strategic foresight.

近义词

nimbleness dexterity quickness litheness suppleness alertness

反义词

clumsiness stiffness sluggishness

常见搭配

physical agility
mental agility
show agility
lack of agility
improve agility
strategic agility
demonstrate agility
require agility
agility training
high degree of agility

容易混淆的词

agility 对比

语法模式

{"why":"Agility \u672c\u8eab\u5305\u542b\u5feb\uff0c\u4e0d\u9700\u8981\u7528 fast \u4fee\u9970\u3002","correct":"He has great agility.","mistake":"He has fast agility."} {"why":"Agility \u591a\u6307\u4eba\u548c\u751f\u7269\uff0c\u7269\u4f53\u901a\u5e38\u7528 maneuverability\u3002","correct":"The maneuverability of the car is good.","mistake":"The agility of the car is good."} {"why":"Agility \u662f\u540d\u8bcd\uff0c\u5f62\u5bb9\u4eba\u8981\u7528\u5f62\u5bb9\u8bcd agile\u3002","correct":"He is agile.","mistake":"He is agility."} {"why":"\u642d\u914d\u66f4\u5730\u9053\u3002","correct":"I need more mental agility.","mistake":"I need more agility in my brain."} {"why":"\u5ffd\u7565\u4e86\u7075\u6d3b\u6027\u8fd9\u4e00\u6838\u5fc3\u3002","correct":"Agility is about being fast and flexible.","mistake":"Agility is about being fast."}

习语与表达

"on the ball"

Alert and quick to react.

He is really on the ball today.

casual

"quick on the draw"

Fast to react.

She is quick on the draw with answers.

casual

"keep your wits about you"

Stay alert.

You need to keep your wits about you.

neutral

"think on your feet"

React fast.

She can think on her feet.

neutral

"hit the ground running"

Start fast.

He hit the ground running.

neutral

"sharp as a tack"

Very intelligent.

She is sharp as a tack.

casual

容易混淆

agility 对比 ability

Similar sound

Ability is general; agility is specific to speed/flexibility.

He has the ability to run with agility.

agility 对比 fragility

Rhymes

Fragility is weakness; agility is strength/speed.

The vase has fragility, the athlete has agility.

agility 对比 utility

Rhymes

Utility is usefulness; agility is nimbleness.

The tool has utility, the cat has agility.

agility 对比 docility

Rhymes

Docility is being calm/obedient; agility is being active.

The dog shows docility, the cat shows agility.

句型

A1

Subject + has + agility

He has agility.

A2

Subject + shows + agility

She shows agility.

B1

Subject + requires + agility

It requires agility.

B2

Subject + demonstrates + agility

They demonstrate agility.

C1

Subject + lacks + agility

The firm lacks agility.

词族

名词

agility the state of being agile

动词

agilize to make agile (rare)

形容词

agile able to move quickly

相关

agile adjective form

如何使用

frequency

7

正式程度

academic/business neutral casual

常见错误

[{"mistake": "He has fast agility.", "correct": "He has great agility.", "why": "Agility 本身包含快,不需要用 fast 修饰。"}, {"mistake": "The agility of the car is good.", "correct": "The maneuverability of the car is good.", "why": "Agility 多指人和生物,物体通常用 maneuverability。"}, {"mistake": "He is agility.", "correct": "He is agile.", "why": "Agility 是名词,形容人要用形容词 agile。"}, {"mistake": "I need more agility in my brain.", "correct": "I need more mental agility.", "why": "搭配更地道。"}, {"mistake": "Agility is about being fast.", "correct": "Agility is about being fast and flexible.", "why": "忽略了灵活性这一核心。"}]

小贴士

💡

词根记忆法

记住 ag- 代表做(act),agility 就是做得快且灵活。

💡

重音位置

注意重音在第二音节:a-GIL-i-ty,读起来要有节奏感。

🌍

中西对比

理解它在西方商业语境下的专业色彩。

💡

名词与形容词

Agility (n.) vs Agile (adj.),不要混用。

💡

搭配习惯

多用 mental agility 和 business agility。

💡

场景化学习

在看体育比赛或科技新闻时留意这个词。

💡

同义词辨析

区分 agility 和 speed 的细微差别。

💡

造句练习

每天尝试用这个词描述一个灵活的人或事。

记住它

记忆技巧

A-G-I-L-E: Always Get Into Lively Exercise.

视觉联想

A gymnast jumping over a hurdle.

Word Web

speed flexibility adaptability nimbleness

挑战

Describe a time you had to change your plans quickly.

词源

Latin

原始含义: Agilis (nimble)

文化背景

None.

Common in business and sports contexts.

Agility training for dogs is a popular sport.

在生活中练习

真实语境

at work

  • organizational agility
  • need for agility
  • strategic agility

sports

  • physical agility
  • agility training
  • show agility

school

  • mental agility
  • test of agility
  • improve agility

general

  • high agility
  • lack of agility
  • demonstrate agility

对话开场白

"Do you think you have good physical agility?"

"Is mental agility more important than physical agility?"

"How can a company improve its agility?"

"What is the most agile animal you know?"

"Can you learn to be more agile?"

日记主题

Write about a time you had to change your plans quickly.

Describe an athlete you admire for their agility.

How does mental agility help in your daily life?

What does 'agility' mean to you in a workspace?

常见问题

5 个问题

Speed 是纯粹的快,Agility 是在快的同时能灵活控制方向和应对变化。

不是,它在商业、职场和心理学中也非常常用。

不是,Agile 是形容词,Agility 才是名词。

可以使用 mental agility 或 quick-witted。

非常好用,特别是在讨论商业管理或个人素质时,能体现词汇深度。

自我测试

fill blank A1

The cat has great ___.

正确! 不太对。 正确答案: agility

Agility fits the context of a cat.

multiple choice A2

What does agility mean?

正确! 不太对。 正确答案: being fast

Agility means being fast and nimble.

true false B1

Agility is an uncountable noun.

正确! 不太对。 正确答案: 正确

Correct, we don't say 'agilities'.

match pairs B1

Word

意思

全部匹配!

They are synonyms.

sentence order B2

点击下方的词语来组成句子
正确! 不太对。 正确答案:

Business needs more agility.

得分: /5

相关内容

在语境中学习

更多Other词汇

abate

C1

指强度或严重程度减轻。常用于描述自然现象、情感或某种干扰因素逐渐平息。

abcarndom

C1

有意偏离固定的顺序或既定模式,转而采用随机或非线性的方法,常用于技术分析。

abcenthood

C1

The state, condition, or period of being absent, particularly in a role where one's presence is expected or required. It often refers to a prolonged or systemic lack of participation in a social, parental, or professional capacity.

abcitless

C1

指的是事物缺少了最关键的部分,导致计划或想法无法正常进行。

abcognacy

C1

The state of being unaware or lacking knowledge about a specific subject, situation, or fact. It describes a condition of non-recognition or a gap in cognitive awareness, often used in technical or specialized academic contexts.

abdocion

C1

形容背离中心轴的运动、力量或逻辑过程。常用于技术语境,描述肢体或物体向外偏离。

abdocly

C1

Abdocly 形容那些被隐藏、嵌入或处于凹处,不容易被直接观察到的事物。

aberration

B2

A departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome. It refers to a temporary change or a deviation from the standard path or rule.

abfacible

C1

To systematically strip or remove the external surface or facade of a structure or material for analysis, restoration, or cleaning. It specifically refers to the technical act of uncovering underlying layers while preserving the integrity of the core material.

abfactency

C1

指与事实或客观现实完全脱节的状态。通常用于描述那些逻辑自洽但与现实毫无关联的理论或论点。

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