adept
/əˈdept/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈdept/ (ame, ipa) · /ə-ˈdept also ˈa-ˌdept/ (ame, mw)
adept — 形容詞
1. very capable at carrying out a task that calls for practice, training, or quick
擅長的;熟練
因經驗或訓練而做某事很拿手
very capable at carrying out a task that calls for practice, training, or quick judgement, often in a way that looks effortless to others.
Mei is adept at calming nervous patients before surgery.
美擅長在手術前安撫緊張的病人。
adept at + -ing/noun: name a skill area
The young goalkeeper is adept at reading where the striker will shoot.
這位年輕的守門員很擅長判讀前鋒會往哪邊射門。
adept at + reading/spotting: noticing patterns
Beatriz became adept in the kitchen after working at her uncle's noodle shop.
碧翠絲在叔叔的麵店工作幾年後,廚藝變得相當熟練。
Few teachers are as adept as Ms. Chen at explaining hard ideas in plain words.
很少有老師像陳老師那樣擅長用簡單的話解釋難懂的觀念。
After years of street markets, Grandma is remarkably adept at spotting a fake pearl.
在傳統市場走跳多年後,外婆挑出假珍珠的本事相當厲害。
- skilled
more neutral and far more common; works without a preposition.
- proficient
stresses meeting a competent standard; often pairs with 'in'.
- deft
highlights physical or verbal nimbleness rather than overall competence.
- skillful
general praise; lacks the slightly bookish tone of 'adept'.
文法句型
adept at + noun/-ing
adept in + noun
用法筆記
Almost always paired with 'at' or 'in'; standalone use ('she is adept') sounds incomplete to most readers. 'At' is far more common and pairs with both nouns and -ing forms; 'in' is rarer and prefers a field, area, or place.
常見錯誤
adept — 名詞
1. a person who has reached a very high level in a craft, art, or area of knowledge
高手;行家
在某領域中公認造詣很高的人
a person who has reached a very high level in a craft, art, or area of knowledge through long practice, and is widely recognised for it.
Master Lin is an adept in calligraphy and has trained students for forty years.
林老師是書法行家,已經教學生四十年。
an adept in + field: classic noun pattern
Only a true adept can tune this old harpsichord by ear alone.
只有真正的高手才能單憑耳朵調好這台老大鍵琴。
'a true adept' — common intensifier
The chess club invited several adepts to play against its junior members.
西洋棋社請了幾位高手來和社上的青少年棋手對弈。
Dr. Okafor is an adept at solving puzzles that have stumped other historians.
歐卡佛博士是解開難題的好手,許多歷史學者都束手無策。
文法句型
an adept at + -ing
an adept in + field
用法筆記
Distinguish from the adjective sense (adjective/1): the noun names a specific person, while the adjective describes ability. The noun is uncommon in everyday speech and feels literary; in casual writing, prefer 'expert' or 'master'.