mettle

mettle是英語中表示“在困難情境下展現的能力與決心”的名詞，其核心含義涵蓋精神品質、內在韌性和應對挑戰的魄力。該詞源於“metal”（金屬）的拼寫變體，16世紀時兩者通用，18世紀後逐漸分化出獨立喻義。常見於描述個體或團隊在壓力下展現的才能（如“prove one's mettle”）或激發潛能的習語（如“on one's mettle”）。其近義詞包括fortitude（堅韌）、grit（毅力）等。

基本介紹

• 詞性：名詞
• 詞源：16世紀“metal”的拼寫變體 
• 常見搭配：prove/show one's mettle  
• 近義詞：courage, tenacity  
• 習語：on your mettle（全力以赴）  
• 發音：英[ˈmetl] / 美[ˈmetl]  

詞源與歷史演變

mettle最初作為“metal”（金屬）的變體出現於16世紀，兩者曾互換使用，均隱含“堅固品質”的意象。至18世紀，mettle逐漸獨立為抽象概念，專指“人在逆境中表現出的精神特質”。這一語義分化反映了語言對心理韌性概念的具象化表達需求。

釋義與用法

作為不可數名詞，mettle多用於以下語境：

1. 能力與決心：指個體在競爭或危機中展現的才能，如“The real test of her political mettle came in the May elections”（對政治才能的真正考驗見於五月選舉）。
2. 勇氣與耐力：強調持續面對挑戰的魄力，例句“As preparations were made to bushwhack the Pursuer, the Ref showed its mettle”（遠征軍展現了非凡勇氣）。

習語與固定表達

• on one's mettle：要求某人全力以赴，如“He’ll have to be on his mettle to win the next race”（他需全力應戰才能贏下比賽）。
• prove/show one's mettle：證明自身能力，例句“The team proved its mettle in the final round”（隊伍在決賽中展現了拼搏精神）。

同義詞與關聯詞

近義詞包括：

• fortitude（堅韌）：側重持久忍耐力
• grit（毅力）：強調不屈不撓的特質
• prowess（卓越技能）：多指技術性才能

英英釋義則將其定義為“the courage to carry on”（堅持的勇氣），與nerve（膽量）、spunk（鬥志）等詞存在語義關聯。

雙語例句

• The next game will be a real test of their mettle. 下一場比賽就要看他們的拼搏精神了。《牛津詞典》
• His first important chance to show his mettle came when he opened the new session of the legislature. 當他主持召開新一屆立法會議的時候，讓他顯示魄力的第一次重要機會來了。《柯林斯英漢雙解大詞典》
• Each and every one of these soldiers has proved his mettle. 這些戰士個個都是好樣的。《新英漢大辭典》
• Mettle is dangerous in a blind horse. 瞎馬鼓勇氣，正是危險事。
• As to whether MoUs recover, that depends on their mettle. 至於宇宙主宰者能否復原，這取決於他們的勇氣。
• She showed her mettle by winning in spite of her handicap . 那匹雌馬儘管增加了負重而仍能獲勝， 可見很有耐力。
• Now, everyone will be testing you, your mettle, your resolve. 現在，每個人都會考驗你，你的勇氣、你的決心。
• During the Battle of Endor, Calrissian again proved his mettle. 在恩多戰役中，卡瑞辛再次證明了他的勇氣。
• But the current malaise is more than just a test of management mettle. 但當前的經濟困境不僅僅是對CEO們勇氣的考驗。
• For now, though, ConvNet has proved its mettle in the visual domain. 目前，在視覺領域，迴旋網證明了其重要作用。
• To test his public mettle he then entered debate contests in school. 為了考驗他面對公眾的勇氣，他參加了學校的辯論比賽。
• To test his public mettle, he then entered debate contests in school. 為了考驗他面對公眾的勇氣，他參加了學校的辯論比賽。
• Greece and other peripherals have shown their mettle with austerity plans. 希臘及其它危險國已經顯示出實施財政緊縮方案的勇氣。
• But as the crowd roared for the Italian, li showed her mettle and held firm. 然而，當觀眾為義大利人吶喊時，李娜展現了她的勇氣，穩住了陣腳。
• Test your mettle in Survival mode and defeat as many enemies as you can. 測試你的勇氣和戰勝生存模式中儘可能多的敵人。
• This is the true test of their mettle and the one they most eagerly seek. 對他們勇氣的挑戰正是他們最渴望的。
• Thedeployment will also test the emotional mettle of soldiers and their families. 這次部署也將會是對士兵及其家人心理承受能力的一次考驗。
• Test your holiday mettle against Klaus and his minions for rare and valuable loot. 考驗你們為了稀有而寶貴的戰利品而對抗克勞斯和他的爪牙們的假日勇氣。
• The deployment will also test the emotional mettle of soldiers and their families. 這次部署也將會是對士兵及其家人心理承受能力的一次考驗。
• The two men shared a bond born of their common world view: you tested your mettle in battle. 兩個男人相同的出身背景把他們聯繫在了一起。你在戰鬥中考驗你的勇氣。
• In the meantime, an increase in three sorts of cases is likely to try the court's mettle. 同時，三類案件的增長可能要挑戰法院的鬥志
• During his first mission, he tests the mettle of his new training by bringing down a spider droid. 在其第一次任務里，他放倒一隻蜘蛛機器人來測試他的勇氣。
• Bankers and lawyers can test their corporate mettle in polo, sailing, skiing, golf and shooting. 銀行家和律師們可以在馬球、帆船、滑雪、高爾夫及射擊比賽中測試自己的團隊精神。
• They relay their 69-day ordeal with the pragmatism of men who have proved their mettle to the entire world. 他們通過男子漢的實用主義度過了69天的嚴峻考驗，向世人展示了巨大的勇氣。
• Think of a heavy work load as an exciting opportunity to push yourself, learn new skills and show your mettle. 把大的工作量作為一種推動你自己向前、學習新技能、展示你的精神風貌的好機會。
• Think of a heavy work load as an exciting opportunity to push yourself, learn new skills and show your mettle. 應視重任在身為難得的機會：推動你前行，掌握新技能，表現自己的勇氣。