credible,creditable
這兩個(gè)詞并非同義詞。credible表示“可信的”(believable or trustworthy)意思,通常指人物、言語、歷史、故事等的可信;creditable表示“可稱譽(yù)的”、“可贊賞的” (honourable,respectable or praiseworthy)意思,通常指人的行為,表現(xiàn)或工作而言。例:
This is hardly credible.
此事難以置信。
His words are credible.
他的話是可信的。
The performance of Broadway Show is highly creditable.
百老匯歌舞團(tuán)的表演是非常值得贊許的。
Credible的反義詞是incredible;creditable的反義詞是discreditable.下面將credible和creditable用在一個(gè)句子中,以便區(qū)分:
The report that Mr.Lin has done a creditable job is credible.
報(bào)告說,林先生做了一件值得贊許的工作,這是可信的。
順便在此指出,credulous一詞與credible有關(guān)。后者是“可信的”,前者是“輕信的”(too willing to believe what you are told)。例:
You’re so credulous that you could be easily fooled.
你這么輕信,你很容易上當(dāng)受騙。