half-pint
half-pint — 名詞
1. a unit of volume equal to half of one pint — about 284 millilitres in Britain an
半品脫
一品脫一半的容量單位
a unit of volume equal to half of one pint — about 284 millilitres in Britain and 237 millilitres in the US — used especially for milk, beer, cider, cream, or other liquids sold in standard measures.
Theo picked up a half-pint of milk from the corner shop on his way to work.
Theo 在去上班的路上，順便從巷口商店買了一瓶半品脫的牛奶。
half-pint of [liquid] — standard measure phrase
The recipe calls for a half-pint of single cream, not the double variety.
食譜需要半品脫的鮮奶油，不是雙倍濃縮的那種。
Diego ordered a half-pint of cider at the pub because a full pint was too much.
Diego 在酒吧點了一杯半品脫的蘋果酒，因為一整品脫太多了。
A half-pint of milk every morning is enough for Amara's tea.
每天早上半品脫的牛奶，泡 Amara 的茶剛剛好。
- half-pint measure
emphasises the measuring container rather than the volume itself
- pint
double the volume
用法筆記
The actual volume of a half-pint differs between the UK (≈284 ml) and the US (≈237 ml) because a US pint is smaller. In British pubs, a half-pint glass is a common serving size for beer or cider.
2. an insulting or teasing way to refer to a person who is short in height or who s
矮冬瓜；小咖
對矮小或無關緊要者的戲稱
an insulting or teasing way to refer to a person who is short in height or who seems unimportant — often used playfully among friends but can cause offence if used with strangers.
A group of older boys teased Vikram in the schoolyard, calling him a half-pint as he walked past.
一群年紀較大的男生在校園裡欺負 Vikram，他走過去的時候就叫他一聲「矮冬瓜」。
calling [someone] a half-pint — mocking nickname pattern
Ananya's uncle chuckled and said, "Come here, half-pint," when his four-year-old niece ran into the room.
Ananya 的叔叔笑著說：「過來呀，小不點。」對著跑進房間的四歲姪女。
affectionate use among family — register softens with context
"Watch yourself, half-pint," the bully muttered as he shoved Kwame against the lockers.
「你給我小心一點，矮子。」惡霸一邊低聲說，一邊把 Kwame 推向置物櫃。
Even as an adult, Omar hated being called a half-pint because of his height.
Omar 即使長大成人，還是很恨別人因為他的身高叫他「矮冬瓜」。
用法筆記
This is an informal and potentially offensive term. It is used as a taunt about a person's height or status. Among close friends or family it can be affectionate, but with strangers it is almost always insulting. It is not considered as harsh as some other slurs, but it still shows disrespect.
常見錯誤
half-pint — 形容詞
1. much smaller than the usual size for its type; designed in a compact or miniatur
迷你的；小號的
比正常尺寸小很多的
much smaller than the usual size for its type; designed in a compact or miniature form.
The bakery sold half-pint loaves of bread that were just right for a single person.
那家烘焙坊賣的迷你土司份量剛好適合一個人吃。
half-pint + [noun] — attributive adjective pattern
Fatima bought a half-pint backpack for her toddler to carry his toys to daycare.
Fatima 買了一個超小的後背包，讓她的學步兒可以裝玩具去托兒所。
The half-pint pony at the fairground was the only horse the children were allowed to ride.
遊樂場裡的迷你馬是唯一允許小朋友騎的馬。
Haruto chose a half-pint cricket bat from the sports shop because the standard size was too heavy.
Haruto 在體育用品店選了一支小號板球棒，因為標準尺寸太重了。
- miniature
neutral in register; more common and less informal than half-pint
- compact
emphasises efficient use of space rather than small size
- diminutive
formal register; describes something very small in size
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively before a noun (attributive position). It is not common in predicative position — you would not say 'the dog is half-pint.' The adjective is informal and often carries a slightly playful or affectionate tone.