1. the maximum amount that something can contain or produce
容量；容積；生產能力
The fuel tank has a capacity of 50 liters.
這個油箱的容量是50公升。
The factory is operating at full capacity.
這間工廠正以最大產能運作。
Capacity Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
capacity
noun
快速理解
What does "Capacity" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Capacity"?
「capacity」主要指容納能力、最大負載量，或指一個人的職位、角色與潛能。
- 1
容納能力 / 最大容量
EN: The maximum amount that something can contain or produce.
翻譯: 某物能容納或產生的最大數量。
- 2
職位 / 身分
EN: A specified role or position in which one functions.
翻譯: 一個人發揮功能的特定角色或職位。
- 3
生產 / 處理能力
EN: The ability or power to do, experience, or understand something.
翻譯: 做某事、經歷某事或理解某事的能力或力量。
- 4
法律資格 / 權限
EN: Legal competence or authority.
翻譯: 法律上的資格或權限。
小提醒：注意「capacity」在指「職位」時，常用搭配是「in one's capacity as...」（以...的身分），例如「in his capacity as manager」（以他經理的身分）。
發音（How to Pronounce "Capacity" in English）
How to pronounce "Capacity" in English?"Capacity" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Capacity" from YouTube Videos
Spain counts the cost of 'nightmare' wildfire summer | BBC News
BBC News
“In August, this area was at full capacity in terms of tourism and people who have second homes here, And then on August 18th it dropped down to 10% >>.”
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Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Capacity"?How does "Capacity" change by context?
2. the ability or power to do, experience, or understand something
能力；才能；理解力
She has a remarkable capacity for learning languages.
她有非凡的語言學習能力。
The course is designed to develop your analytical capacity.
這門課程旨在培養你的分析能力。
3. a particular position or function
身分；職位；職能
He attended the meeting in his capacity as chairman.
他以主席的身分出席了會議。
I'm speaking in a personal capacity, not on behalf of the company.
我是以個人身分發言，不代表公司。
4. the amount of space available for a particular purpose
可容納的空間；承載量
The stadium has a seating capacity of 80,000.
這座體育場的座位容量是八萬個。
The hotel is booked to capacity for the holiday weekend.
這間飯店在假日週末已被預訂一空。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Capacity"?How to make natural sentences with "Capacity"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| capacity + for + noun | 對…的容納力；對…的能力 | The stadium has a capacity for 50,000 spectators. (這座體育場可容納五萬名觀眾。) |
| capacity + of + number/amount | 容量為…；容積為… | The tank has a capacity of 100 liters. (這個水箱的容量為一百公升。) |
| capacity + to + V | 做…的能力 | She has the capacity to learn languages quickly. (她有快速學習語言的能力。) |
| in a + [adjective] + capacity | 以…的身份/職位 | He served in an advisory capacity. (他以顧問的身份提供服務。) |
| at full capacity | 以最大容量；全力運轉 | The factory is operating at full capacity. (這間工廠正全力運轉。) |
| beyond capacity | 超出容量；超載 | The emergency room was beyond capacity. (急診室已超載。) |
| capacity + as + noun | 作為…的身份/能力 | I'm speaking in my capacity as a manager. (我現在是以經理的身份發言。) |
用法說明
How is "Capacity" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Capacity"?
capacity for doing vs capacity to do
- capacity for doing 通常用於描述一種內在的、持續的、或與生俱來的能力或特質，後面常接名詞或動名詞 (gerund)。
- capacity to do 則更常指執行某項特定行動或達成某個具體結果的能力，強調潛在的可能性。
- 在許多情況下，兩者可以互換使用，但 capacity to do 在正式或法律文件中更為常見。
- 當指「物理容積」或「最大負載量」時，通常使用 capacity for 或直接接 of。 EN: The school has a great capacity for nurturing creative talent. 翻譯: 這所學校在培養創意人才方面具有極大的潛力。
EN:The new software increases the system's capacity to process data.
翻譯:新軟體提升了系統處理資料的能力。
總結建議
在表達抽象或持續性的「能力」時兩者皆可，但若強調執行特定動作，使用「capacity to do」更為精準。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Capacity" and similar words?How to choose "Capacity" vs alternatives?
capacity vs ability
capacity 強調容納或承載的「量」或「潛力」；ability 強調執行某事的「技能」或「才能」。
capacity vs capability
capacity 多指容量、產能或潛在的承載力；capability 強調完成特定目標或任務的綜合「能力」或「性能」。
capacity vs volume
capacity 強調容器、空間或系統的「最大容納量」；volume 指物體所佔的「三維空間大小」或「數量」。
口語用法
How is "Capacity" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Capacity"?
引述
在口語中，常用來引述或轉述他人對某人或某物能力的看法。 EN: She has the capacity to handle much more responsibility, they said. 翻譯: 他們說，她有能力承擔更多的責任。
EN:I'm not sure if the system has the capacity to process this many requests.
翻譯:我不確定這個系統有沒有能力處理這麼多的請求。
語氣強調
用來強調某個限制或最大負荷，常與「full」、「maximum」或「over」等詞連用，語氣較強。 EN: The restaurant is at full capacity, so we'll have to wait. 翻譯: 餐廳已經客滿了，所以我們得等一等。
EN:My brain is over capacity today—I can't take in any more information.
翻譯:我今天腦容量超載了，再也塞不進任何資訊了。
停頓填充
在思考或組織語言時，可作為短暫的停頓填充詞，後面常接更具體的說明。 EN: The capacity... you know, the overall ability of the team to adapt is key. 翻譯: 那個能力…你知道的，團隊整體的適應能力才是關鍵。
EN:We need to consider the venue's capacity—like, how many people it can actually hold.
翻譯:我們得考慮場地的容量—就是，它實際上能容納多少人。
正式寫作注意：在正式或學術寫作中，應避免將「capacity」用作停頓填充詞，並確保其用法精確（如指物理容積、法律權限或抽象能力），而非口語中的隨意強調。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Capacity"?What fixed phrases with "Capacity" should I remember?
at full capacity
at full capacity
以最大容量、滿載運作
capacity to do something
capacity to [verb]
做某事的能力
capacity of
capacity of [noun]
…的容量、…的能力
in one's capacity as
in [possessive] capacity as [role]
以…的身分、職位
capacity for
capacity for [noun/gerund]
對…的容受力、潛能
carrying capacity
carrying capacity
承載力、環境容受力
exceed capacity
exceed [possessive] capacity
超過容量、超出負荷
mental capacity
mental capacity
心智能力、智力
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Capacity"?Which "Capacity" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×The capacity of the room is for 50 persons.
✓The capacity of the room is 50 people.
在英文中，capacity 表示容量或容納量時，後面直接接數字和單位（人或物），不需要使用 'for'。使用 'for' 會使句子聽起來不自然。
×He works in the capacity as a manager.
✓He works in the capacity of a manager.
表達「以...身份/職位」時，固定搭配是 'in the capacity of'，而不是 'as'。'As' 通常用於更簡單的結構，如 'He works as a manager.'。
×My brain capacity is full.
✓I'm at full capacity. / My brain is overloaded.
將 'capacity' 直接與 'brain' 搭配來表示「腦容量已滿」是受母語影響的直譯，在英文中不自然。更地道的說法是描述一個人或系統 'at full capacity'（滿負荷），或用 'overloaded' 來形容大腦。
×This bottle's capacity is big.
✓This bottle has a large capacity.
描述容量大小時，習慣用動詞 'have' 搭配形容詞 'large' 或 'small'，而不是用 'is' 搭配 'big'。'Big' 通常用於具體尺寸，而 'capacity' 作為抽象度量，更常與 'large/small' 搭配。
×I don't have the capacity to do this work.
✓I don't have the capacity for this work. / I don't have the capacity to take on this work.
表示「沒有能力（時間、精力）做某事」時，'capacity' 後面接 'for (something)' 或 'to do (something)'。原句語法沒錯，但 'to do this work' 聽起來有點冗餘，'for this work' 或 'to take on...' 是更簡潔自然的搭配。
×The capacity of his leadership is strong.
✓His leadership capacity is strong. / He has strong leadership capacity.
在表達某人的「...能力」時，通常將能力類型（如 leadership）作為名詞修飾語放在 'capacity' 前面，形成複合名詞結構，而不是使用 'of' 所有格。使用 'of' 會使句子結構笨重且不自然。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Capacity"?What are tense/participle forms of "Capacity"?