1. A basic or apparent level of skill or ability that lacks depth, thorough understanding, or mastery of underlying principles
He demonstrated surface competence in programming, able to write simple scripts but unable to solve complex algorithmic problems.
Ele demonstrou competência superficial em programação, capaz de escrever scripts simples, mas incapaz de resolver problemas algorítmicos complexos.
2. The ability to perform tasks adequately on the surface level without genuine expertise or deep knowledge
The student's surface competence in mathematics allowed her to pass the basic exams, but she struggled with advanced concepts.
A competência superficial da estudante em matemática permitiu que ela passasse nos exames básicos, mas ela teve dificuldades com conceitos avançados.