Word · CEFR B1 · Frequency #1474
unable
不能；无法
not able; lacking a certain ability
- 1.
Not able; lacking a certain ability.
不能；缺乏某种能力。
不能；缺乏某种能力。；不能的；不会的；[法] 无能力的；无资格的；没有办法的
In use
She was unable to attend the meeting because of a family emergency.
After the accident, he was unable to walk without pain.
The old computer is unable to run the latest software.
be unable to do sth
He is unable to attend the meeting.
他无法参加会议。
be unable to do sth because of sth
注意：'because of'后接名词或名词短语。
She was unable to sleep because of the noise.
她因为噪音而无法入睡。
Common mistakes
I unable to attend the meeting.I am unable to attend the meeting.
在英语中，'unable'是形容词，不能单独作谓语，必须与系动词be连用。中文常说'我不能'，但英语需要'be unable'结构。
She was unable to finished the work.She was unable to finish the work.
'unable'后接不定式时，动词必须用原形，不能用过去式。英语中'to'后接动词原形，这是固定语法规则。
Connections
Collocations
- unable to do something
- 无法做某事
- She was unable to finish her homework on time.她无法按时完成家庭作业。
- unable to move
- 不能移动
- The injured bird was unable to move.那只受伤的鸟不能动弹。
- unable to speak
- 说不出话
- He was so shocked that he was unable to speak.他震惊得说不出话来。
- unable to sleep
- 无法入睡
- I was unable to sleep because of the noise.因为噪音我无法入睡。
- unable to attend
- 不能参加
- Due to illness, he was unable to attend the meeting.由于生病，他无法参加会议。
- unable to access
Learner notes
Memory Tip
将"unable"拆为"un"（不）和"able"（能），联想"不能"即可记住。
Context & Register
通常为中性，常与“to”连用，表示缺乏能力或条件做某事，广泛用于正式或非正式语境。
Grammar Note
不能与否定词连用
Pronunciation & Spelling
Words ending in '-able' that rhyme with 'unable' (stress on the second syllable) include enable, disable, unstable. Words like able, cable, table have stress on the first syllable, so they sound different despite sharing the same ending spelling.
High-value vocabulary
该词属于 Oxford 核心词汇，值得优先掌握常见搭配和句型。
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 3，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.