intelligence

/ɪnˈtelɪdʒəns/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈtelɪdʒəns/ (ame, ipa) · /in-ˈte-lə-jən(t)s/ (ame, mw)

intelligence — 名詞

1. The natural mental capacity that allows a person to learn new things, understand

1.名詞A2
釋義

智力

學習、理解和理性判斷的能力

The natural mental capacity that allows a person to learn new things, understand concepts, and reach sensible decisions using logical thinking.

例句

The researchers tested the intelligence of fifty children between the ages of six and ten.

研究人員測試了五十名六歲到十歲兒童的智力。

test + intelligence + of [group]

Ritu has shown remarkable intelligence in solving puzzles since she was very young.

Ritu 從很小的時候就展現出在解謎方面的卓越智力。

同義詞
  • intellect

    emphasises the thinking and reasoning faculty specifically, often in formal or academic contexts

  • cleverness

    more informal; stresses quickness and practical problem-solving rather than deep reasoning

  • brainpower

    informal; refers to mental ability in a practical, everyday sense

反義詞
  • stupidity

    opposite end of the mental-ability spectrum; more blunt and less clinical than low intelligence

  • ignorance

    lack of knowledge rather than lack of ability to reason

常見錯誤

❌She has a high intelligence.
✅She has high intelligence.
💡intelligence is uncountable and does not take the article 'a'.
❌His intelligences are impressive.
✅His intelligence is impressive.
💡intelligence is uncountable; it has no plural form.
❌The dog has a lot of intelligences.
✅The dog has a lot of intelligence.
💡even when referring to animals, intelligence remains uncountable.

2. Secret facts gathered about a foreign government, especially an enemy one; also

2.名詞B2
釋義

情報

關於外國或敵方的秘密資訊

Secret facts gathered about a foreign government, especially an enemy one; also used to refer to the organizations or people who collect such facts.

例句

British intelligence warned the navy that enemy submarines had entered the North Sea.

英國情報機構警告海軍，敵方潛艇已經進入北海。

intelligence + warned [someone] + that-clause

Theo works for an intelligence agency that monitors signals from satellites around the world.

Theo 在一家監控全球衛星訊號的情報機構工作。

collocation: intelligence agency

同義詞
  • espionage

    refers to the activity of spying rather than the information itself

  • surveillance

    the act of close observation, not the intelligence product

  • classified information

    broader term for any officially secret data, not limited to foreign governments

反義詞
  • disinformation

    false information deliberately spread to mislead, especially by governments or intelligence agencies

用法筆記

Frequently appears in compound nouns such as intelligence agency, intelligence report, and intelligence officer. When referring to the organization (e.g., 'Intelligence believes the threat is real'), the word functions as a collective noun and takes a singular verb.

常見錯誤

❌The newspaper published intelligence about the earthquake.
✅The newspaper published news about the earthquake.
💡intelligence meaning 'secret information' is for classified data, not general events. Use sense 3 for non-secret news.
❌The intelligence are working on the case.
✅Intelligence is working on the case.
💡when referring to the organisation, use a singular verb.

3. News or facts about recent happenings that are considered important or noteworth

3.名詞B1
釋義

消息

關於重要時事的資訊

News or facts about recent happenings that are considered important or noteworthy.

例句

According to intelligence from the region, the peace talks between the two sides have resumed.

根據來自該地區的消息，雙方之間的和平談判已經恢復。

according to + intelligence + from [place]

The investment firm had no intelligence of the merger until the deal was made public.

這家投資公司直到交易公開時才得知合併的消息。

have no intelligence of [event]

同義詞
  • news

    more common and neutral; everyday term for recent events

  • information

    broader; can refer to any facts, not necessarily recent or important

  • report

    a structured account of events, often from an official source

用法筆記

This sense overlaps with news and information. It is less common in everyday conversation than sense 1 or sense 2 and appears mostly in formal or journalistic registers. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 3 refers to general (non-secret) information about events, while sense 2 is limited to classified or confidential material.

常見錯誤

❌I heard some intelligence about the party tonight.
✅I heard some news about the party tonight.
💡this sense is too formal for casual social contexts; use 'news' or 'information' instead.
❌The company shared its intelligence with rivals.
✅The company shared its information with rivals.
💡intelligence in this sense is one-directional (received or gathered), not something you actively distribute like information.