If you are proficient, you can do something well. You have enough skill to handle it without struggling — not a beginner, though not always a master either.

If you are proficient如果你proficient, you can do something well表示你能把某件事做得很好。You have enough skill to handle it without struggling你有足夠的能力應付,不會手忙腳亂 — not a beginner不是初學者, though not always a master either但也不一定是高手。

We say proficient in a language, proficient at a sport, or proficient with a tool. There is also an older, more formal noun use: a proficient, meaning a skilled person. Students will almost always meet the adjective.

We say proficient in a language我們會說proficient in a language(精通某種語言), proficient at a sportproficient at a sport(擅長某項運動), or proficient with a tool或proficient with a tool(熟練使用某項工具)。There is also an older, more formal noun use還有一個比較舊、比較正式的名詞用法: a proficienta proficient, meaning a skilled person意思是熟練的人。Students will almost always meet the adjective學生幾乎都是先遇到形容詞用法。

Though actually, this word is milder than expert, and it is not the same as fluent. Fluent is about language flowing easily; proficient is about being able to do the job.

Though actually不過其實, this word is milder than expert這個字的語氣比expert溫和, and it is not the same as fluent也跟fluent不一樣。Fluent is about language flowing easilyfluent講的是語言說起來很流暢; proficient is about being able to do the jobproficient講的是能把事情做好。

Schools and job ads like it because it sounds neat. In real life people more often say “I’m pretty good at…” or “I can handle…”

Schools and job ads like it學校和求職廣告很愛用這個字 because it sounds neat因為聽起來很整齊體面。In real life people more often say "I'm pretty good at…" or "I can handle…"在真實生活裡,大家更常說「I'm pretty good at…」或「I can handle…」。