ability　capacity　faculty　talent　skill　competence　aptitude

　　These nouns denote the qualities in a person that permit or facilitate achievement or accomplishment.

　　这些名词都表示某人具有取得进步或成功的素质。

　　Ability is the power，mental or physical，to do something：

　　Ability 是指智力或体力上具有做某事的能力：

　　“To make a fortune some assistance from fate is essential. Ability alone is insufficient” (Ihara Saikaku)。

　　“要致富，光靠能力是不够的，还得看机遇”(伊哈拉。塞科古)。

　　Capacity refers to an innate potential for growth，development，or accomplishment：

　　Capacity 指天赋的，如生长、发展或成功的潜力：

　　“Not by age but by capacity is wisdom acquired” (Plautus)。

　　“智慧的获得是依靠才能而不是年龄”(普洛提斯)。

　　Faculty denotes an inherent power or ability：

　　Faculty 指内在的力量或能力：

　　An unerring faculty for detecting hypocrisy is one of her most useful attributes.

　　能无误地看出伪善的能力是她身上最有用的特征之一。

　　Talent emphasizes inborn ability，especially in the arts：

　　Talent 强调天生的才能，尤其是在艺术方面：

　　“There is no substitute for talent. Industry all the virtues are of no avail” (Aldous Huxley)。

　　“勤奋及其他的品质都不能弥补天分的不足”(阿尔多斯。赫胥黎)。

　　Skill stresses ability that is acquired or developed through experience：

　　Skill 强调由经验而获得或发展的能力：

　　“The intellect，character skill possessed by any man are the product of certain original tendencies the training which they have received” (Edward L. Thorndike)。

　　“任何人的知识、性格和能力都是由起初的兴趣加上后来接受的训练而得到的。”(爱德华L.桑戴克)。

　　Competence suggests the ability to do something satisfactorily but not necessarily outstandingly well：

　　Competence 指能做到使人满意但并不一定特别出众的能力：

　　The concerto was performed by a violinist of unquestioned competence but limited imagination.

　　小提琴家所演奏的协奏曲毫无疑问是出色的，但是缺乏想像力。

　　Aptitude implies inherent capacity for learning，understanding，or performing：

　　Aptitude 暗指内在的学习、理解和表演的才能：

　　Even as a child he showed an unusual aptitude for mathematics.

　　甚至孩童时他就显露出非同一般的数学才能。