competent

Compared meaning: having the ability to do something (adjective).

比较义项：有能力、能够做某事（形容词）。

• able

  The everyday, general word for having the skill or power to do something; often follows a modal (be able to) and typically describes actually succeeding at a specific task, especially after effort.

  最普通、最一般的说法，表示有能力或力量做某事；常跟在情态动词后（be able to），通常指在付出努力后实际完成了某项具体任务。

  After extra lessons, he was finally able to read the whole book alone.

  上了额外的课程后，他终于能够独自读完整本书了。

• capable

  Emphasizes a person's underlying capacity or potential to do something well, even if not yet fully shown; used with 'of' plus a gerund, and often praises someone's overall abilities.

  强调一个人内在的能力或潜力，即使尚未完全展现出来；常用“of＋动名词”结构，往往是对某人整体能力的称赞。

  The new intern is capable of handling much more responsibility than we expected.

  这位新实习生有能力承担比我们预期多得多的责任。

• competent 本词

  Describes skill that is adequate and meets a required standard, often for a job or a specific skill area; can sound modest, implying 'good enough' rather than outstanding.

  表示技能达到所需标准、足够胜任，常用于工作或某项具体技能领域；语气较为保守，暗示“足够好”而非“出类拔萃”。

  He's a competent cook, but nothing about his meals is memorable.

  他是个称职的厨师，但他做的菜没有一样让人印象深刻。

Able, capable, and competent all mean having the ability to do something. Able is the everyday word, often following a modal, as in be able to. Capable stresses a person's natural capacity or potential. Competent means skill good enough for a job, modest, not outstanding.

这三个词都表示“有能力做某事”，但语气和使用场合不同：able 最普通、最常用，常跟在情态动词后；capable 强调内在的能力或潜力，常与“of”搭配；competent 强调达到所需标准、足够胜任，语气较为保守，暗示“够格”而非“出色”。