talent

/ˈtælənt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtælənt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈta-lənt/ (ame, mw)

talent — noun

  • talentsingular
  • talentsplural

1. a quality that a person is born with, which helps them do a certain activity — s

1.名詞A2
釋義

a quality that a person is born with, which helps them do a certain activity — such as painting, singing, or solving maths problems — much better than most people, often without needing much instruction

例句

Young Darius showed a remarkable talent for drawing long before he started school.

talent + for + gerund (showing ability area)

Wei's talent in mathematics was clear to everyone in the class.

talent + in + field/subject

同義詞
  • gift

    suggests a special ability given by nature, often used for artistic or creative abilities; warmer and more personal than talent

  • aptitude

    focuses on the potential to learn or do something well; more technical and often used in educational contexts

  • ability

    a broader term that can describe learned skills as well as natural ones; does not carry the 'born-with' implication that talent does

文法句型

talent + for + noun/gerund

talent + in + field/subject

用法筆記

Frequently followed by 'for' with a gerund ('talent for singing') or 'in' with a subject area ('talent in mathematics'). 'For' is more common with specific activities; 'in' is more common with academic or professional fields.

常見錯誤

❌She has a talent of singing.
✅She has a talent for singing.
💡Use 'for', not 'of', after 'talent'.
❌He has a big talent for music.
✅He has great talent in music.
💡Use 'great' or 'remarkable', not 'big', to describe talent.

2. someone whose inborn capacity lets them perform at a very high level in a specif

2.名詞B1
釋義

someone whose inborn capacity lets them perform at a very high level in a specific area, such as sports, music, or business

例句

Rodrigo is a real talent on the football field and has been scouted by several clubs.

countable: a + (adjective) + talent

The music school accepts only a few new talents each year after a competitive audition.

plural: talents

同義詞
  • genius

    implies an exceptionally high level of talent, often in a creative or intellectual field; much stronger than talent

  • prodigy

    refers specifically to a young person with extraordinary ability; narrower and more dramatic than talent

文法句型

a + (adjective) + talent + in/at + field

用法筆記

Countable and often preceded by an adjective ('a rare talent', 'an emerging talent') or a modifier ('young talent', 'local talent'). 'Talent' in this sense refers to the person themselves, not their ability.

常見錯誤

❌She is a big talent in painting.
✅She is a great talent in painting.
💡Use 'great' rather than 'big' to describe a talented person.
❌The school found many new talent.
✅The school found many new talents.
💡When referring to individual talented people, 'talent' is countable and can be plural.

3. people with skill and ability who work for an organisation, considered as a grou

3.名詞B2
釋義

people with skill and ability who work for an organisation, considered as a group

例句

The company is trying to attract top talent by offering better salaries and flexible hours.

collocation: attract / top talent

Jenna was hired by a tech firm that recruits the best talent from around the world.

collocation: recruit / best talent

同義詞
  • workforce

    a broader term that includes all workers, not only the skilled ones; more neutral and less evaluative

  • human resources

    the formal department or function; less personal and more administrative than talent

文法句型

recruit / attract / retain + talent

top / best + talent

用法筆記

Uncountable in this sense — 'talent' refers to a group of skilled people, not individuals. Frequently used in human-resources and management contexts. Common in compounds such as 'talent pool', 'talent management', and 'talent acquisition'.

常見錯誤

❌The company hired three new talents this month.
✅The company hired three new employees this month.
💡'Talent' as a group of staff is uncountable; use 'employees' or 'staff' when counting individuals.
❌We need to keep our best talents from leaving.
✅We need to keep our best talent from leaving.
💡'Talent' is uncountable when referring to skilled workers as a group.

4. individuals whom others find sexually appealing — used informally in social cont

4.名詞B2
釋義

individuals whom others find sexually appealing — used informally in social contexts such as bars, clubs, or parties

例句

The new club on Fifth Street is supposedly full of talent on weekend nights.

informal register: be full of talent

Sivan laughed when her friend said there was no talent at the party.

informal register: no talent (referring to attractive people)

用法筆記

Informal, slang usage that can be considered crude or objectifying. Used almost exclusively in casual conversation among younger speakers. Not appropriate in formal or professional contexts.

5. a unit of weight used in ancient times, especially by the Greeks, Romans, and Ba

5.名詞C2
釋義

a unit of weight used in ancient times, especially by the Greeks, Romans, and Babylonians, varying in size but often around 25 to 35 kilograms

例句

In the Bible story, a servant received five talents of gold from his master.

Biblical reference: talents of gold

Archaeologists found an inscription recording a payment of three talents of silver.

用法筆記

Now mostly encountered in ancient texts, the Bible, or historical writing. The modern meaning of 'talent' as 'natural ability' actually derives from a metaphorical reinterpretation of this monetary sense in the Parable of the Talents.