promising

Compared meaning: likely to happen or to succeed (adjective).

比较义项：很可能发生或很可能成功（形容词）。

• likely

  The most neutral, everyday word for saying something has a good chance of happening; used in ordinary speech and writing without any special formality or legal sense.

  语气最中性、最常用的词，表示某事很可能发生，日常口语和书面语中普遍使用，没有特殊的正式感或法律含义。

  She is likely to win the election next month.

  她很可能在下个月的选举中获胜。

• promising 本词

  Describes a person, work or situation whose early signs suggest future success, not simply that something will happen; focuses on quality and potential rather than probability.

  用来形容一个人、作品或情况的早期迹象显示未来可能取得成功，强调的是素质和潜力，而不仅仅是发生的概率。

  The young violinist showed promising talent at just twelve years old.

  这位年轻的小提琴手在年仅十二岁时就展现出了有前途的才华。

• probable

  A more formal word for saying something is very likely to be true or to happen, often used in careful, analytical or written contexts rather than casual speech.

  语气更正式的词，表示某事很可能是真的或会发生，常用于严谨、分析性或书面语境，而不是随意的口语。

  Investigators listed engine failure as the probable cause of the crash.

  调查人员将发动机故障列为这起坠机事故很可能的原因。

• liable

  Focuses on legal or financial responsibility for a bad outcome, typically followed by 'for'; separate from simple probability and carries a negative, often official tone.

  着重于对不良后果承担法律或经济责任，后面通常接for，与单纯的概率不同，带有负面、较正式的语气。

  The airline is liable for lost luggage if you report it within 24 hours.

  如果你在24小时内报告，航空公司将对丢失的行李承担责任。

Likely, promising, probable, and liable all suggest a good chance of happening or succeeding. Likely is the most common, neutral choice. Promising means early signs suggest future success. Probable is more formal, used in written contexts. Liable often means legally responsible for a bad outcome.

这几个词都表示“有可能发生或成功”，但语气和用法不同：likely最常用、语气中性；promising强调迹象良好、未来有潜力，而不只是概率；probable语气更正式，多用于书面或分析性语境；liable则常带负面色彩，多指容易招致不良后果或需承担法律责任，常与for或to连用。