If something is controllable, you can keep it in hand.

If something is controllable如果某樣東西是controllable（可控制的），you can keep it in hand代表你可以掌握得住它。

A fire may still be controllable if firefighters can hold it. A fear can be controllable if you have ways to calm it. A disease can be controllable if doctors can stop it running free, even when they cannot make it vanish.

A fire may still be controllable一場火還算是controllable（可控制的），if firefighters can hold it如果消防員壓得住。A fear can be controllable一種恐懼也算是可控制的，if you have ways to calm it如果你有辦法讓自己冷靜下來。A disease can be controllable一種疾病也算是可控制的，if doctors can stop it running free如果醫生能阻止它到處蔓延，even when they cannot make it vanish就算沒辦法讓它完全消失。

The word does not mean the thing is already under control — only that control is possible. The opposite is uncontrollable: a laugh, a crowd, a storm that will not listen.

The word does not mean the thing is already under control這個字不是說東西已經被控制住了——only that control is possible只是說控制是有可能的。The opposite is uncontrollable它的反義字是uncontrollable（無法控制的）：a laugh, a crowd, a storm that will not listen像是控制不住的笑聲、失控的群眾、不聽話的暴風雨。

You can use it for machines, feelings, children, costs, and situations. It is an ordinary, useful word, not a fancy one.

You can use it for machines, feelings, children, costs, and situations你可以用它來形容機器、情緒、小孩、費用，還有各種狀況。It is an ordinary, useful word, not a fancy one它是個普通、實用的字，不是什麼花俏的用詞。

Though actually, people stretch it: “The risk is controllable” often means “we think we can live with it,” not “we have mastered it.” Listen for that softer, slightly hopeful use in news and offices.

Though actually不過其實，people stretch it人們會把這個字用得寬鬆一點：“The risk is controllable” often means “we think we can live with it,”「The risk is controllable（風險是可控的）」常常是「we think we can live with it（我們覺得自己承受得住）」的意思，not “we have mastered it.”不是「we have mastered it（我們已經完全掌握了）」。Listen for that softer, slightly hopeful use in news and offices留意新聞和辦公室裡這種比較溫和、帶點樂觀的用法。