capacity

capacity — 名詞

1. the greatest amount that a container, space, machine, or system can hold or prod

1.名詞B2
釋義

容量；容積

容器或空間能容納或產出的最大量

the greatest amount that a container, space, machine, or system can hold or produce — for example, the number of litres a fuel tank can hold, or the number of people a theatre can seat.

例句

The fuel tank of Kofi's car has a capacity of fifty litres.

Kofi 的汽車油箱容量是五十公升。

capacity of + volume measure

The concert hall was filled to capacity with cheering fans.

音樂廳擠滿了歡呼的歌迷，達到最大容納人數。

filled to capacity

同義詞
  • volume

    focuses on three-dimensional space rather than an abstract maximum

  • size

    more general — can refer to dimensions without implying a maximum limit

  • output

    used for the amount produced by a factory or machine, not for containers

反義詞
  • shortage

    a situation where there is less than the capacity

文法句型

capacity + for + noun/gerund

capacity + of + number

in/at + full capacity

用法筆記

When talking about the total amount a space can hold, capacity is usually uncountable (The airport reached its capacity). It is countable when you give a specific measurement (a capacity of two hundred seats).

常見錯誤

❌The bottle has a big capacity
✅The bottle has a capacity of one litre.
💡Use a specific number rather than a vague adjective with capacity.
❌The meeting room is at the capacity
✅The meeting room is at full capacity.
💡Use full before capacity when the space is completely filled.

2. a person's natural or learned ability to do, understand, or produce something —

2.名詞B2
釋義

能力；潛力

人做某事或理解某事的才能

a person's natural or learned ability to do, understand, or produce something — for example, a child's capacity to learn new languages quickly, or an athlete's capacity for hard training.

例句

Young children have an amazing capacity to absorb new information.

幼兒有驚人的能力吸收新資訊。

capacity + to-infinitive — natural ability

Leila showed a remarkable capacity for patience when dealing with difficult customers.

Leila 在面對難纏的顧客時表現出非凡的耐心承受力。

capacity for + noun/gerund

同義詞
  • ability

    more general and more common; capacity often implies a potential that may not yet be fully used

  • capability

    similar to capacity but slightly more formal; often used for machines or systems

  • aptitude

    focuses on a natural talent for a specific type of activity, e.g. musical aptitude

反義詞
  • inability

    the lack of ability or means to do something

  • incapacity

    formal term for being unable to function normally

文法句型

capacity + to-infinitive

capacity + for + noun/gerund

用法筆記

This sense is always singular. The to-infinitive pattern (capacity to do something) is more common than the for + gerund pattern. Distinguish from sense 1 (AMOUNT CONTAINED): sense 2 is about a person's mental or physical ability, not about how much something holds.

常見錯誤

❌He has the capacity of solving the problem
✅He has the capacity to solve the problem.
💡Use the to-infinitive, not of + gerund.
❌Her capacities are improving
✅Her capacity is improving.
💡This sense is uncountable/singular; do not use the plural.

3. the official position, job, or role that someone holds, especially when stating

3.名詞C1
釋義

職位；身分

正式職務或官方角色

the official position, job, or role that someone holds, especially when stating how they are acting in a particular situation — for example, speaking in your capacity as the company lawyer, or working in a voluntary capacity.

例句

Dr. Okafor attended the meeting in her capacity as head of research.

Okafor 醫生以研究主管的身分出席了會議。

in her capacity as + role

Theo signed the contract in his capacity as managing director.

Theo 以總經理的身分簽署了合約。

in his capacity as + formal job title

同義詞
  • role

    less formal than capacity; used in everyday speech

  • position

    emphasises the job title or rank rather than the function being performed

  • function

    focuses on what a person actually does rather than their official title

文法句型

in + possessive + capacity + as + noun

in a/your capacity as + noun

acting in a + adjective + capacity

用法筆記

Frequently appears in the fixed expression in one's capacity as (someone/something). The adjective before capacity often marks the kind of role: official, professional, personal, private, judicial, advisory, etc. This sense is formal and most common in workplace, legal, or official contexts.

常見錯誤

❌He joined the team as a capacity of manager
✅He joined the team in his capacity as manager.
💡Use in one's capacity as, not as a capacity of.
❌She works in voluntary capacity
✅She works in a voluntary capacity.
💡Always include the article a or possessive pronoun.