few
few — 限定詞
1. placed before a plural noun to mean some — a small but not zero number of people
一些；少數
表示少量但非零的數量
placed before a plural noun to mean some — a small but not zero number of people or things
Rania invited a few friends to her birthday party.
Rania 邀請了一些朋友參加她的生日派對。
a few + plural noun (positive meaning)
After reading just a few pages of the novel, Yan decided it was not for her.
Yan 只讀了幾頁小說就決定她不喜歡這本書。
a few + plural noun (showing sufficiency — only a few pages needed to decide)
There are a few good restaurants near the train station, so we can walk to any of them for dinner.
火車站附近有幾間不錯的餐廳，我們可以走路過去吃晚餐。
Christopher has a few coins in his pocket for the bus fare.
Christopher 口袋裡有幾個硬幣可以付公車錢。
- some
more neutral and vague about quantity
- several
suggests a slightly larger number, usually more than two or three
- a couple of
more specific, usually means exactly two or a very small number
文法句型
a few + plural noun
a few of + plural noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense always uses the phrase 'a few' (with the article 'a'). Without 'a', the meaning becomes negative — 'not many' (see determiner sense 3).
常見錯誤
2. used in the fixed phrase 'quite a few' to mean a surprisingly or notably large n
不少；頗多
固定片語，表示數量相當多
used in the fixed phrase 'quite a few' to mean a surprisingly or notably large number of people or things
Quite a few people showed up for the free concert in the park.
不少民眾前來參加公園裡的免費音樂會。
quite a few + plural noun (means 'a large number')
Amihan has visited quite a few countries in Asia this year, which surprised her relatives back home.
Amihan 今年造訪了亞洲不少國家，讓家鄉的親戚感到很驚訝。
There were quite a few questions after the teacher's talk, so the session ran thirty minutes late.
老師演講後有不少人發問，活動因此延遲了三十分鐘。
Justin received quite a few birthday cards from his classmates — more than he got last year.
Justin 收到了不少同學寄來的生日賀卡——比去年還多。
- many
neutral, without the 'surprisingly' nuance
- numerous
more formal
- a good number of
slightly more formal, similar meaning
- few
in the 'not many' sense (determiner sense 3)
文法句型
quite a few + plural noun
quite a few of + plural noun phrase
用法筆記
Used only in the fixed expression 'quite a few'. Despite containing the word 'few', the meaning is the opposite — 'a large number'. The article 'a' is always required; 'quite few' without 'a' is incorrect.
常見錯誤
3. placed before a plural noun to indicate not many — a smaller number than expecte
不多；很少
數量比預期或需要的少
placed before a plural noun to indicate not many — a smaller number than expected, needed, or desired
Few students knew the answer when the teacher asked about the causes of the war.
老師問到戰爭原因時，沒有幾個學生知道答案。
few without 'a' = not many (negative sense)
Sade had few reasons to stay in the old apartment.
Sade 沒什麼理由繼續住在那間舊公寓裡。
With few cars on the road, the journey was surprisingly fast.
路上車輛很少，所以車程出奇地快。
Lucía found few shops still open at that late hour.
Lucía 發現那個時間還開著的店家很少。
- not many
more explicit, less concise
- hardly any
stronger, suggests almost none
- scarcely any
more formal, similar to 'hardly any'
文法句型
few + plural noun
few of + plural noun phrase
用法筆記
Used without the article 'a'. Adding 'a' changes the meaning to a positive 'some' (see determiner sense 1). This sense carries a negative tone — it emphasizes that the number is disappointingly or surprisingly small.
常見錯誤
4. used to say that something does not happen many times or does not exist in many
罕見；很少
不常發生或存在的
used to say that something does not happen many times or does not exist in many places; not common or frequent
Quiet evenings on the balcony are few for Chen, who works two jobs to support his family.
對要打兩份工養家的 Chen 來說，能在陽台上享受寧靜的夜晚很少。
be few = not frequent (predicate use)
Chances to study at a top university are few, so Nora applied to every program she could.
進入頂尖大學讀書的機會不多，所以 Nora 申請了所有她能申請的科系。
Imran's visits to his hometown have become few since he moved abroad.
Imran 搬到國外後，回老家的次數變得很少。
These old manuscripts are few and extremely valuable to collectors.
這些古老的手稿數量稀少，對收藏家來說價值連城。
- rare
more general, can describe both events and objects
- infrequent
specifically about how often something happens
- scarce
focuses on availability rather than frequency
文法句型
be few (in frequency)
few and far between
用法筆記
Functions as a predicate adjective following the verb 'be' rather than modifying a noun directly. Common in the fixed phrase 'few and far between'. Unlike determiner senses 1-3, this sense describes frequency or existence rather than count of specific items.
常見錯誤
few — 形容詞
1. attributive use of bare 'few' (without 'a'), often after another determiner like
少數的
強調數量有限的
attributive use of bare 'few' (without 'a'), often after another determiner like 'the' or a possessive, to stress that the amount is limited and typically less than what is needed or expected — for example, 'her few belongings' suggests she owns almost nothing
The museum displayed its few remaining treasures for the visitors.
博物館向參觀者展示了僅存的少數寶藏。
few + noun (attributive, emphasizing limitation)
Stephanie packed her few belongings into a single bag.
Stephanie 把她僅有的少數物品塞進一個袋子裡。
The few brave volunteers who helped clean up the park received special thanks from the mayor.
那少數幫忙清理公園的勇敢志工獲得了市長的特別感謝。
Élise spent her few free hours reading by the window.
Élise 把僅有的少數空閒時間用來在窗邊看書。
文法句型
few + plural noun (attributive)
用法筆記
Used attributively (before a noun) to stress that the number of something is limited. Unlike the determiner use of 'few' which quantifies the whole noun phrase, this adjectival use modifies the noun more closely and often appears with possessives ('her few belongings') or other determiners ('the few remaining items').
常見錯誤
2. attributive use of 'a few' before a noun indicating a small but sufficient quant
一些的；若干
少量但不確定的數量
attributive use of 'a few' before a noun indicating a small but sufficient quantity whose exact number is not important — the tone is neutral or positive, focusing on existence rather than on the scarcity that bare 'few' suggests
Maeve bought a few apples from the market stall to bake a pie for dinner.
Maeve 在市場攤位買了一些蘋果，準備烤一個派當晚餐。
a few + noun (positive, unspecified small number)
The recipe calls for a few drops of lemon juice.
食譜需要加幾滴檸檬汁。
Eitan met a few old friends at the reunion and they all promised to meet again soon.
Eitan 在同學會上遇到了幾位老友，大家都說好很快再聚。
Can you spare a few minutes to help me with this box?
你能撥出幾分鐘幫我搬這個箱子嗎？
- some
even more neutral about the exact quantity
- a handful of
more informal, suggests a number you can count on one hand
- a couple of
usually means two, but can be used loosely for a small number
- many
a large number
文法句型
a few + plural noun (attributive)
用法筆記
This sense always uses the article 'a' before 'few'. The number is described as small but sufficient — the focus is on existence rather than limitation. Contrast with adjective sense 1 where 'few' without 'a' emphasizes scarcity.
常見錯誤
few — 名詞
1. denoting a small set of people or things — used as a pronoun that refers back to
少數人；少數
作為代詞，指代少數人或事物
denoting a small set of people or things — used as a pronoun that refers back to a group mentioned earlier
Among the passengers, only a few had brought umbrellas.
在乘客當中，只有少數人帶了雨傘。
a few as pronoun (refers back to a group)
The few who stayed until the end received a special gift.
待到最後的那少數人獲得了一份特別的禮物。
A lucky few won tickets to the sold-out show.
少數幸運兒贏得了那場票已售罄的演出門票。
Out of all the applicants, only a few were invited for an interview.
在所有應徵者當中，只有少數人獲邀參加面試。
- a handful
more informal, suggests a very small number
- a minority
contrasts with the majority, more formal
- a small number
more explicit but less concise
- the majority
most of the group
- many
a large number
文法句型
the few (who...)
a few (of...)
用法筆記
Used as a pronoun to replace a noun already mentioned or understood from context. Takes a plural verb. The phrase 'the few' refers to all members of a small group, while 'a few' refers to an unspecified small number.
常見錯誤
2. a limited number of people who are specially chosen, privileged, or set apart fr
精英少數
被挑選出來的特權群體
a limited number of people who are specially chosen, privileged, or set apart from the larger group
Only the chosen few were invited to the private dinner with the author.
只有少數被選中的人受邀參加與作家的私人晚宴。
the chosen/privileged/select few (elite group)
The privileged few who own beachfront property often oppose new building rules.
擁有海濱房產的那一群特權少數經常反對新的建築法規。
In that exclusive club, membership is limited to a select few.
在那間高級俱樂部裡，會員資格僅限於少數經過篩選的人。
The festival's VIP area was reserved for a lucky few.
音樂節的 VIP 區域保留給少數幸運兒。
- the elite
focuses on superiority rather than small size
- the privileged
emphasizes advantages or special treatment
- the inner circle
suggests closeness and exclusivity
- the masses
the large general population
- everyone
all people without exception
文法句型
the chosen/privileged/select/lucky few
用法筆記
Almost always preceded by 'the' and an adjective such as 'chosen', 'select', 'privileged', or 'lucky'. Emphasizes exclusivity — the group is small because only certain people meet the requirements for membership.