tangible

Definitions

tang- (touch) + -ible (able to be) = "able to be touched." From there it extended naturally: if you can touch it, it's real and solid — so tangible came to mean concrete and demonstrable, as opposed to vague or imagined. Tangible results are ones you can point to.

Common Collocations

• 1.tangible results切实的成果
• 2.tangible evidence确凿的证据
• 3.tangible benefits实实在在的好处
• 4.tangible assets有形资产

Example Sentences

• 1.

  After months of work, we finally have tangible results.

• 2.

  There was no tangible evidence linking him to the crime.

• 3.

  A handshake gives a deal a tangible sense of commitment.

Easily Confused

tangible vs concrete — both mean "real and solid," but tangible literally invokes touch and is the natural word for assets and evidence (tangible assets, tangible proof). concrete stresses being specific rather than vague, especially for plans and proposals (concrete plans, a concrete example). You give concrete suggestions, but you want tangible results.