packet

/ˈpækɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈpækɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈpa-kət/ (ame, mw)

packet — noun

  • packetsingular
  • packetsplural

1. a paper or cardboard holder used to sell several small things together.

1.名詞B1
釋義

a paper or cardboard holder used to sell several small things together.

例句

Nina bought a packet of sunflower seeds at the night market.

pattern: a packet of + goods

The screws come in a brown packet beside the toolbox.

同義詞
  • pack

    a close everyday word, especially for goods sold together

  • package

    a broader term for something wrapped or boxed for sale

  • box

    used when the container is hard and box-shaped

文法句型

a packet of + small goods

open/tear a packet

用法筆記

Often names the outer packaging for small goods sold together, especially food, seeds, or household items. Distinguish from sense 2, which is usually for a single small amount used once.

常見錯誤

❌She bought a packet with seeds.
✅She bought a packet of seeds.
💡packet is usually followed by 'of' for what is inside.

2. a sealed paper or plastic pouch with a small amount inside for one use.

2.名詞B2
釋義

a sealed paper or plastic pouch with a small amount inside for one use.

例句

Mia tipped a sugar packet into her coffee at the station.

single-use amount

Each lunch tray had a small packet of tomato sauce.

pattern: a packet of + sauce

同義詞
  • sachet

    a more specific word for a tiny sealed packet, often in formal product language

  • pouch

    a general word for a small flexible container, often a little larger

文法句型

a packet of sugar/salt/sauce

one packet of + powder

用法筆記

Usually for a very small amount of sugar, sauce, shampoo, medicine powder, or a similar substance. Distinguish from sense 1, which focuses on the package used to sell goods rather than a one-use amount.

常見錯誤

❌Please add two sugars packet.
✅Please add two sugar packets.
💡use the countable noun 'packets' after a number.

3. a small wrapped item prepared for mailing, carrying, or giving as a present.

3.名詞B2
釋義

a small wrapped item prepared for mailing, carrying, or giving as a present.

例句

Aunt Mei mailed a small packet of cookies to Eric.

pattern: mail a packet

A packet from Osaka arrived on our porch this morning.

pattern: a packet from + place

同義詞
  • parcel

    the closest word in postal use, often for something sent by mail

  • package

    a broader everyday term, especially common in American English

  • bundle

    suggests several things tied or wrapped together

文法句型

send/mail a packet

a packet from + place/person

用法筆記

This sense refers to the wrapped object itself, especially when it is being mailed or handed to someone. Distinguish from senses 1 and 2, which focus more on packaging for goods or one-use contents.

常見錯誤

❌The post office weighed my package packet.
✅The post office weighed my packet.
💡packet already means the wrapped item here.

4. a group of papers given together to explain something or help with a task.

4.名詞C1
釋義

a group of papers given together to explain something or help with a task.

例句

New parents receive an information packet on the first school day.

common modifier: information packet

The bank gave us a packet with loan forms and fee details.

同義詞
  • folder

    can mean the holder for papers rather than the papers themselves

  • kit

    often includes papers plus other items for a purpose

  • handout set

    describes classroom or meeting papers given together

文法句型

an information/welcome packet

hand out a packet

用法筆記

Often appears with words such as information, application, welcome, or safety. The packet usually includes several papers collected for one purpose.

常見錯誤

❌The office sent one paper packet.
✅The office sent a packet of papers.
💡packet here means a set, not one single sheet.

5. a piece of digital data carried as one unit through a network.

5.名詞C1
釋義

a piece of digital data carried as one unit through a network.

例句

The router dropped one packet during the video call.

common verb: drop a packet

Our app sends a packet every second to check the link.

pattern: send a packet

同義詞
  • data unit

    a broad explanatory phrase rather than the exact technical term

  • message fragment

    helps explain the idea, though a packet is not always simply a broken message

  • frame

    a related networking term at a different technical layer

文法句型

send/receive a packet

drop/lose a packet

用法筆記

Common with verbs such as send, receive, drop, and route. In learner-friendly terms, a long message is often broken into packets before it travels across the network.

常見錯誤

❌The server sent one package of data.
✅The server sent one packet of data.
💡in networking, packet is the standard technical word.

6. a rude slang word for the male genitals.

6.名詞C2
釋義

a rude slang word for the male genitals.

例句

The boys made a rude joke about getting hit in the packet.

slang use in joking talk

After the fall, Jake grabbed his packet and sat on the grass.

同義詞
  • genitals

    the neutral general term, not slang

  • groin

    refers to the body area and is not the same as the organs themselves

文法句型

hit someone in the packet

protect the packet

用法筆記

Common in crude joking talk rather than careful or medical language. Distinguish from neutral words such as 'genitals' or from broader body-area words such as 'groin'.

7. a very big sum of money.

7.名詞C1
釋義

a very big sum of money.

例句

The old shop sold for a packet after the station opened.

pattern: for a packet

Maya spent a packet on concert tickets for the whole family.

pattern: spend a packet on + noun

同義詞
  • fortune

    the closest common word for a very large amount of money

  • bundle

    informal and common in American English for a lot of money

  • mint

    informal and often used after make or earn

反義詞
  • peanuts

    informal for a very small amount of money

文法句型

cost a packet

make a packet

用法筆記

Usually appears after verbs such as cost, spend, pay, or make. This is informal and especially familiar in British English.

常見錯誤

❌The repairs cost packet.
✅The repairs cost a packet.
💡this informal noun normally needs the article 'a'.