flexible

Compared meaning: easy to bend, not stiff (adjective).

比较义项：容易弯曲、柔软（形容词）。

• flexible 本词

  The general, neutral word for anything that bends without breaking; used for materials, objects, or the body, and often extends metaphorically to plans or schedules (not compared here).

  指任何能弯曲而不折断的事物的通用中性词，可用于材料、物体或身体，也常引申指计划或时间安排（但该引申义不在此比较之列）。

  This flexible hose can bend around tight corners without kinking or breaking.

  这根柔韧的软管可以弯过狭窄的转角而不会打结或损坏。

• supple

  Describes something soft and pliant that bends or moves gracefully, especially skin, leather, or a body after exercise; more literary in tone and never used for plans or schedules.

  形容柔软而易弯曲、能顺畅活动的事物，尤指皮肤、皮革或经过锻炼的身体；语气更文学化，绝不用于计划或时间安排。

  Daily stretching keeps a dancer's muscles supple and easy to move.

  每天拉伸能让舞者的肌肉保持柔软，活动自如。

Flexible and supple both mean easy to bend. Flexible is the general word for anything that bends, used for materials, objects, or the body. Supple describes something soft that bends gracefully, especially skin or leather. Not compared: flexible meaning adjustable, as in flexible hours.

这两个词在“容易弯曲”这一义项上意思相近，但风格和用法有所不同：flexible是中性通用词，可用于材料、物体或身体，也常引申指计划或时间安排；supple更偏文学化，多形容皮肤、皮革或身体等柔软而易弯曲之物，语气更细腻。这里不比较flexible表示“灵活可调整”的常见引申义（如flexible hours表示时间安排灵活）。

Compared meaning: able to change to suit new needs (adjective).

比较义项：能灵活改变、适应不同情况或需求（形容词）。

• flexible 本词

  Describes plans, schedules, rules or people that can change readily to suit circumstances; often a personality trait (open-minded, willing to adjust), not used for a manually set physical mechanism.

  指计划、时间安排、规则或人能够轻易改变以适应情况；常用来形容一种性格特点（思想开放、愿意变通），不用来形容可手动调节的机械装置。

  Our teacher is flexible about deadlines if you explain your situation.

  如果你说明情况，我们的老师在截止日期上是很通融的。

• adjustable

  Describes an object or mechanism with a part that can be manually set to different positions or values; it is a physical, mechanical property, not a description of personality or plans.

  指某个物品或装置带有可手动调至不同位置或数值的部件；这是一种物理、机械上的特性，而不是用来形容性格或计划。

  The wrench has an adjustable jaw that fits several bolt sizes.

  这把扳手带有可调节的钳口，能适配好几种螺栓尺寸。

• adaptable

  Describes people, organisms or systems that can adjust themselves over time to cope with new or changing conditions or environments, rather than being manually set by someone else.

  指人、生物或系统能够随时间调整自身，以应对新的或不断变化的条件或环境，而不是被别人手动调节。

  Migrating birds are remarkably adaptable to changing food supplies.

  候鸟对不断变化的食物供应有着惊人的适应能力。

Flexible, adjustable, and adaptable all mean able to change for new needs: flexible describes plans or people who change readily, adjustable describes an object set to different positions, and adaptable describes people or systems that adjust to new conditions. Not compared: flexible meaning bendable material.

这三个词都表示“能够改变以适应新情况”，但侧重点不同：flexible强调计划、时间安排或人乐于变通，也可形容性格开放；adjustable专指机械装置或物品可手动调节到不同位置或数值；adaptable强调人、生物或系统能随时间调整自身以应对新环境或条件。这里不比较flexible表示“（材料）柔韧的，易弯曲的”这一义项。