a couple of
a couple of — 慣用語
1. A phrase used before a plural noun to mean an approximate small number of people
幾個
指大約二至三個的不明確數量
A phrase used before a plural noun to mean an approximate small number of people or things — somewhere around two or three, but not an exact count.
Asher asked if he could borrow a couple of dollars for the bus.
Asher 問是否可借幾個美金搭公車。
collocation: a couple of + [plural noun]
Kemi said she would be ready to leave in a couple of minutes.
Kemi 說她幾分鐘內就可以準備好出門。
The garden centre sold a couple of different types of rose bushes.
這家園藝中心販售幾種不同的玫瑰叢。
Rania bought a couple of new shirts for her trip to Japan.
Rania 買了幾件新襯衫，準備帶去日本旅行。
Felix and his neighbours had a couple of meetings about the garden wall.
Felix 和鄰居為了花園圍牆開了幾次會議。
- a few
more neutral about the exact number; can mean three or more
- several
suggests more than two, often four or more
- two or three
explicitly names the range instead of using an idiom
- many
suggests a large quantity rather than a small one
文法句型
a couple of + [plural noun]
用法筆記
Unlike 'several' or 'a few', this phrase strongly suggests the number is close to two. It is most common in informal and everyday conversation.
常見錯誤
2. A phrase used before a plural noun to indicate exactly two items or people, espe
兩個
指正好兩個相關的人或物
A phrase used before a plural noun to indicate exactly two items or people, especially when they form a natural pair or are considered together in a specific situation.
Camille ordered a couple of coffees and sat down to wait for her friend.
Camille 點了兩杯咖啡，坐下等候朋友。
specifies exactly two in context: one for each person
Dewi bought a couple of tickets for the Saturday night show.
Dewi 買了兩張週六晚間表演的門票。
The waiter placed a couple of glasses and a bottle of water on the table.
服務生把兩個杯子和一瓶水放在桌上。
Haruto picked a couple of ripe apples from the basket and handed one to his sister.
Haruto 從籃子裡拿了兩個熟蘋果，遞了一個給妹妹。
Valentina wrote a couple of sentences and then crossed out the second one.
Valentina 寫了兩個句子，然後把第二句劃掉了。
文法句型
a couple of + [plural noun]
用法筆記
This sense is distinguished from sense 1 ('SEVERAL') by its focus on exactness and pairing. If the number could easily be three or more, use the SEVERAL sense instead. Context clues such as 'one for each person' or 'both of them' signal this sense.