Word · CEFR B1 · Frequency #1474
unable
不能；无法
核心释义
not able; lacking a certain ability
- 1.
不能；缺乏某种能力。
Not able; lacking a certain ability.
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
用法In use
She was unable to attend the meeting because of a family emergency.
用法提示：形容词unable后接不定式，表示“不能做某事”。
After the accident, he was unable to walk without pain.
用法提示：unable作表语，描述主语处于“不能”的状态。
The old computer is unable to run the latest software.
用法提示：unable后面接不定式，说明事物不具备某种能力。
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.
相关词与表达Connections
搭配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
学习提示Learner notes
记忆技巧Memory Tip
将"unable"拆为"un"（不）和"able"（能），联想"不能"即可记住。
语境与语域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。
语法说明Grammar Note
不能与否定词连用
发音与拼写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.
高价值词汇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。
用法优先级
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.