英语相似词辨析 disability，inability

disability，inability

这一对词都表示“无能”之意，但涵义有细微的差异。

Disability着重表示“因受伤而变残废所引起的无能”（lacking ability caused by injury）或“因天生的缺陷而导致的无能”（inherent defect）；用于法律方面，它表示“不够资格”、“不合格”（legal disqualification）之意。例：

He has a disability pension because he lost his legs while he was in the army．

他领取伤残抚恤金，因为他在军队服役时失去了双腿。

He was always cheerful in spite¹ of his disability．

他虽然有残疾（残废），但心情一直很愉快。

Inability 着重表示“缺少能力”或“缺乏手段”（lack of power or means）的意味。如：

His inability to undertake the work is due to his physical

disabilities．

他没有能力承担该工作，是由于他的残疾。

Can you account for your inability to pay the debt？

您能否解释无法偿债的原因吗？

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n.（用于短语）虽然，不顾，尽管

参考例句：

• He has modern ideas in spite of his great age.尽管他年事很高，但思想观念却很入时。
• In spite of his anger,his remarks were restrained.他尽管生气，说的话还是有节制的。