competent /ˈkɔmpitənt/ adj. 胜任，称职，有能力做某事(有时后面可跟不定式)：a competent clerk 一个称职的职员；make a competent use of… 充分利用好…； get a competent electrician for the job找个能胜任这工作的电工 Is Miss X competent in her work? X小姐能胜任她的工作吗? He is competent to judge/in judging. 他有能力做出判断。

 

competition /ˌkɔmpiˈtiʃən/ n. 1.［u］竞争: Competition among youths to enter the best colleges is intense. 为进入名牌大学,年轻人的竞争很激烈。There was keen competition between the various teams fighting for first place. 为了争夺冠军，几个队之间竞争激烈。2.［c］比赛: win a handwriting competition 在书法竞赛中获胜；enter for the competition 报名参加比赛；boxing competitions 拳击比赛 in competition with 和…竞赛: They found themselves in competition with people much more experienced than they were. 他们得知自己在跟比自己经验多得多的对手比赛。


［辨析］competition着重双方因受到奖品、奖金等刺激而展开竞争；contest常指辩论、争论、演讲方面的竞赛。match指速度、力量或其它运动比赛。