If a reason, argument, or explanation is cogent, it is clear, well ordered, and it pulls you toward agreeing.

If a reason, argument, or explanation如果一個理由、論點或解釋 is cogent是 cogent 的, it is clear, well ordered它會是清楚、有條理的, and it pulls you toward agreeing而且會讓你不自覺被說服。

It does not only “sound nice.” It fits the facts and moves step by step, so you think, “Yes, that holds.” People use this word in careful writing, law, and school essays, not much in everyday chat. You might hear a teacher say “a cogent point.” Though actually, some writers stretch it to mean little more than “convincing” or even “good,” without that sense of tight reasoning.

It does not only “sound nice.”它不只是「聽起來不錯」而已。It fits the facts and moves step by step它會跟事實相符，而且一步一步推進, so you think, “Yes, that holds.”讓你覺得「對，這站得住腳」。People use this word人們會用這個字 in careful writing, law, and school essays在講究的寫作、法律和學校作文裡, not much in everyday chat日常聊天比較少用。You might hear a teacher say你可能會聽到老師說 “a cogent point.”「a cogent point」（有說服力的論點）。Though actually不過其實, some writers stretch it有些作者會把它用得比較鬆, to mean little more than “convincing” or even “good,”幾乎只是「有說服力」甚至「不錯」的意思, without that sense of tight reasoning而少了那種嚴謹推理的意涵。

A loud speech can still fail to be cogent; a quiet, careful case can succeed. The word is almost always about ideas, not about people. Calling a person cogent sounds odd; calling their case cogent is the usual way.

A loud speech一場聲音很大的演講 can still fail to be cogent還是可能完全不 cogent; a quiet, careful case反而一個安靜、周密的論述 can succeed可能才是成功的。The word這個字 is almost always about ideas幾乎都是用在「想法」上, not about people而不是用在「人」身上。Calling a person cogent sounds odd說一個人是 cogent 聽起來很怪; calling their case cogent is the usual way說他的論述 cogent 才是常見的用法。