possible

Compared meaning: able to happen or work (adjective).

比较义项：某事有可能发生或可以行得通（形容词）。

• possible 本词

  The broadest and most neutral word: just says something can happen or exist, with no comment on ease, likelihood, or practicality; often used in the pattern 'it is possible to/that'.

  语气最中性、最笼统：只表示某事有可能发生或存在，不评价是否容易或实际可行；常用于“it is possible to/that”这种句型。

  It's not possible to be in two places at the same time.

  一个人不可能同时出现在两个地方。

• feasible

  Stresses that something can be done successfully with the resources, time, or methods available; common in contexts like plans, budgets, or engineering, often questioning or assessing practicality.

  强调在现有资源、时间或方法下“能够顺利做成”；常用于计划、预算或工程等场景，常用来评估或质疑某事是否切实可行。

  The engineers are studying whether the underwater tunnel is technically feasible.

  工程师们正在研究这条海底隧道在技术上是否可行。

• viable

  Emphasizes that something can work and continue successfully over time, especially plans, businesses, or options; suggests long-term soundness, not just momentary possibility.

  强调某事能够长期维持并取得成功，尤其用于方案、选项或商业活动；强调的是长期的可行性和稳健性，而不只是眼前有没有可能。

  Solar power is now a viable alternative to fossil fuels in many countries.

  在许多国家，太阳能现在已经是化石燃料的一种可行替代方案。

All three words mean something can happen or work. Possible is the most general word, with no comment on ease. Feasible means it can be done with the resources available. Viable means it can keep working successfully over time, often for plans or businesses.

这三个词都表示某件事“能够实现”，但语气强弱不同：possible 只是笼统地说“有可能”，不涉及是否容易或实际可行；feasible 强调在现有条件下“做得到、行得通”，常用于评估计划或方案；viable 强调“长期可行、能维持下去”，常用于方案、选项或商业活动，这里不比较 viable “能存活、能生长”的生物学义项。

Compared meaning: not yet real, but able to exist or happen (adjective).

比较义项：尚未成为现实，但可能存在、发生或具备的（形容词）。

• possible 本词

  States plain feasibility of an action or fact, usually in patterns like “it is possible to/that…”; it implies nothing about any inherent capacity, only that something could happen or be true.

  只是笼统地说明某件事有可能发生、存在或成立，常用来表示做某事是可能的；它不涉及任何内在能力或迹象，只表示单纯的可能性。

  It is possible to finish the report by Friday if the whole team helps.

  如果全体团队都帮忙，星期五之前完成报告是可能的。

• potential

  Points to a capacity for future development based on someone's or something's own qualities; not yet real but promising, and commonly placed before nouns such as customers, risk or growth.

  强调凭借自身条件、将来有可能发展出的能力或机会；尚未成为现实却带有前景，常放在名词前面，例如客户、风险、增长等词之前。

  Emerging markets offer real potential growth for the company next year.

  新兴市场为这家公司明年带来了真正的潜在增长。

• latent

  Describes something that already exists inside a person or thing but stays hidden, inactive or unnoticed, often used in medical, psychological or technical contexts until a trigger makes it appear.

  指某种特质或状态其实已经存在于人或事物之中，只是隐藏、不活跃或未被察觉，常见于医学、心理或技术语境，直到某个触发因素使其显现。

  The virus can remain latent in the body for years before symptoms appear.

  这种病毒可以在体内潜伏多年，之后才会出现症状。

Possible, potential, and latent all describe something not yet real. Possible just says something could happen, with no idea of ability. Potential means a capacity for future development. Latent means something already exists but stays hidden. Potential meaning ability itself is not compared.

这三个词都能表示某种尚未成为现实的可能性，但侧重点不同；possible 只泛泛地说某事有可能发生或存在，不涉及任何潜在的能力；potential 强调凭借自身条件、将来有可能发展出的能力或机会；latent 强调这种特质或状态其实已经存在，只是被隐藏、尚未显现，多用于医学、心理等专业语境。此处不比较 potential 作名词表示潜力本身的用法。