forte
forte — noun
- fortesingular
- fortesplural
1. a particular activity or skill at which someone naturally does very well, especi
a particular activity or skill at which someone naturally does very well, especially one that stands out clearly from their other abilities.
Chess was never Elara's forte, but she enjoyed playing with her nephew anyway.
negative pattern: 'not someone's forte'
Public speaking is Dr. Okonkwo's forte — his lectures draw standing-room-only crowds.
affirmative pattern: 'is someone's forte'
Cooking was never Javier's forte, so the family orders takeout when it is his turn.
Organising large events is Amara's forte; she planned the entire conference in just three weeks.
- strength
more general; 'strength' can be a personal quality rather than a specific skill
- specialty
emphasises a chosen or trained area, whereas 'forte' suggests natural talent
- strong suit
informal; interchangeable with 'forte' in most contexts
- weakness
the opposite — something a person does poorly
文法句型
someone's forte
not someone's forte
用法筆記
Often used in negative constructions ('not my forte', 'never his forte') to indicate that someone lacks skill in a particular area. In affirmative sentences it emphasises an exceptional ability.
常見錯誤
2. in fencing, the section of a sword from the crossguard forward to roughly the bl
in fencing, the section of a sword from the crossguard forward to roughly the blade's midpoint, which is the heaviest part and thus excellent for blocking an opponent's strokes.
In fencing, the forte is the strongest part of the blade, closest to the hand.
definitional example — explains the term
A skilled fencer uses the forte to parry an opponent's strike during a match.
forte used for parrying (blocking)
The fencer learned to defend with the forte rather than the weaker blade tip.
Koji learned from his coach to angle the forte so the opponent's blade slides away.
- foible
the opposite, weaker part of the blade near the tip
用法筆記
Distinguish from 'foible' — the foible is the weaker, thinner part of the blade near the tip, while the forte is the strong part near the hilt.
3. a section or passage within a musical composition that is designed and performed
a section or passage within a musical composition that is designed and performed at a high volume, or the technique of playing such a passage loudly.
The orchestra played the finale's forte with tremendous energy and power.
orchestral context
The pianist emphasised every forte in the score, filling the concert hall with sound.
performer acting on the written forte
In the second movement, a sudden forte interrupts the quiet melody of the strings.
The conductor asked the brass section to hold the forte for an extra two beats.
- loud passage
plain English equivalent, but not a single-word substitute
- piano
a quiet passage in music; the opposite dynamic level
用法筆記
As a noun in music, 'forte' names the passage or the volume itself, whereas the adverb form instructs how to play. Do not confuse the noun 'forte' (the loud section) with the adverb 'forte' (a performance direction on the score).
forte — adverb
1. a word written on a musical score to instruct the performer that a section shoul
a word written on a musical score to instruct the performer that a section should be played or sung loudly.
The conductor marked 'forte' at the top of the third page of the score.
forte as a written instruction
Young musicians learn to watch for forte written above the staff in their sheet music.
The composer instructed 'forte' at the start of the chorus to signal a powerful entrance.
If the score says forte, the violins must not hold back during that section.
用法筆記
Applies only to the written notation on a musical score, not to the actual sound of the performance. When describing how loudly music is played, use adverb sense 2 (PLAYED LOUDLY).
常見錯誤
2. in a loud and powerful manner during musical performance, indicating that notes
in a loud and powerful manner during musical performance, indicating that notes or passages are to be played with strong volume.
The choir sang forte during the chorus, their voices rising above the organ.
forte describing actual performance
The trumpets played forte while the flutes stayed soft in the background.
contrast within an ensemble
Lucia performed the passage forte, exactly as the composer had intended.
The cello section played forte, producing a deep, resonant sound across the hall.
- loudly
the plain English equivalent; 'forte' is the formal Italian music term
- piano
means softly or quietly in music performance
用法筆記
Describes the actual loudness of the performance, not the written notation on the page. If the focus is on the marking in the sheet music, use adverb sense 1 (WRITTEN MUSIC DIRECTION).
forte — adjective
- fortepositive
- more fortecomparative
- most fortesuperlative
1. describing a note, passage, or section of music that is played or sung at a loud
describing a note, passage, or section of music that is played or sung at a loud volume.
The forte passage in the symphony requires the brass section to play at full power.
adjective describing a passage
The composer wrote a series of forte chords for the finale of the piece.
The young violinist struggled with the forte sections because they demanded so much strength.
During rehearsal, the choir practised the forte parts until every voice blended perfectly.
用法筆記
As an adjective, 'forte' modifies a musical element (note, chord, passage). As an adverb it modifies the verb of performance. Compare: 'a forte section' (adjective) vs. 'play it forte' (adverb).