numbers

[nˈʌmbɚz] /ˈnəm-bərz/ (ame, mw)

numbers — 名詞

1. the written marks like 1, 2, 3 (or words like one, two, three) that we use to co

1.名詞A1
釋義

數字

用來計數或計算的書寫符號

the written marks like 1, 2, 3 (or words like one, two, three) that we use to count, measure, or do calculations.

例句

Sivan can already write the numbers from 1 to 20 in her notebook.

Sivan 已經能在筆記本上寫出 1 到 20 的數字了。

concrete countable use: the numbers from X to Y

Beatrix taught her grandfather to read the small numbers on his pill bottles.

Beatrix 教爺爺看清楚藥瓶上那些小小的數字。

small / large numbers on physical objects

同義詞
  • digits

    single written marks (0–9) only; not used for spoken counting

  • figures

    common in everyday British English for written numerals

  • numerals

    formal / academic; the abstract written symbols

用法筆記

Almost always plural in this sense; when a single mark is meant, English uses the singular 'number' or 'digit'. Distinguish from sense 4, where 'numbers' means a group of people or things rather than the written symbols themselves.

常見錯誤

❌Write the number from 1 to 20.' (when many marks are meant)
✅Write the numbers from 1 to 20.
💡plural marks need the plural form.
❌I can count the numbers up to ten.
✅I can count up to ten.
💡you count things (or just count), you don't count the numbers themselves.

2. a series of digits used to identify a specific person, account, or item — most o

2.名詞A2
釋義

號碼

用來辨識身分的一串數字

a series of digits used to identify a specific person, account, or item — most often a phone number or a customer or membership code.

例句

Christopher saved both of his cousin's new numbers in his phone before the flight.

Christopher 出發前，把表哥兩支新的號碼都先存進了手機裡。

new numbers (phone numbers) + save

After the move, Bilal had to give the school his updated emergency numbers.

搬家之後，Bilal 必須把更新過的緊急聯絡號碼交給學校。

emergency numbers (collocation)

同義詞

用法筆記

Often refers to phone numbers when no other context is given. Distinguish from sense 1: here the digits matter as an identifier, not as a counting tool — you can't add or sort 'numbers' in this sense.

常見錯誤

❌Give me your number list.
✅Give me your numbers.
💡plural alone already covers the list reading.

3. the total count or quantity of people, animals, or things in a place or group, e

3.名詞B1
釋義

數量；總數

某類人事物在某處的整體計數

the total count or quantity of people, animals, or things in a place or group, especially when that total matters more than the individuals.

例句

Visitor numbers at the museum dropped sharply during the summer heatwave.

夏季熱浪期間，博物館的訪客數量大幅下滑。

visitor numbers (collocation) + drop

Tiger numbers in the reserve have slowly risen since Esteban's team started patrolling at night.

自從 Esteban 的團隊夜間巡邏以後，保護區裡老虎的數量慢慢回升。

X numbers + rise / fall

同義詞
  • figures

    common in news and reports for totals like sales or attendance

  • totals

    emphasises the final summed amount

  • head count

    informal; specifically the count of people present

文法句型

in numbers

用法筆記

Typically appears as 'X numbers' (visitor / student / tiger numbers) or 'numbers of X', and pairs with verbs of change like rise, fall, drop, double. Distinct from sense 4: this sense focuses on the count itself, not on a vague 'several' meaning.

常見錯誤

❌Their numbers are 200.
✅Their numbers reached 200.' / 'There are 200 of them.
💡'numbers are' sounds like a list of digits, not a count.

4. a vague but noticeable group of people or things — used when you want to say the

4.名詞B1
釋義

好些；若干

沒講明確數目的一群人事物

a vague but noticeable group of people or things — used when you want to say there were several without giving an exact count.

例句

Jiwoo noticed numbers of seabirds resting on the rocks at low tide.

退潮時，Jiwoo 注意到岩石上停了好些海鳥在休息。

numbers of + plural noun (= several)

Numbers of villagers came down to the beach to watch the fishing boats return.

好些村民走到海邊，看著捕魚的船隻陸續回港。

numbers of villagers (vague group)

同義詞
反義詞

文法句型

numbers of + noun

用法筆記

Always followed by 'of + plural noun' in this sense ('numbers of villagers'), and usually modified by 'large' or 'small'. Distinct from sense 3: there the focus is the count itself; here the focus is just 'there were quite a few'.

常見錯誤

❌Numbers of villager came.
✅Numbers of villagers came.
💡the noun after 'numbers of' must be plural.
❌A numbers of people waited outside.
✅A number of people waited outside.
💡use the singular set phrase 'a number of', not plural after 'a'.

5. earlier printed copies of a magazine or journal, where each copy is identified b

5.名詞B2
釋義

過期刊號

雜誌或期刊較早的期數

earlier printed copies of a magazine or journal, where each copy is identified by its issue order — typically used in 'back numbers'.

例句

The library keeps back numbers of National Geographic going back to the 1980s.

圖書館收藏了從一九八〇年代以來的《國家地理》舊刊號。

back numbers of + magazine title

Jack ordered three old numbers of a Japanese cooking magazine from a second-hand bookshop.

Jack 從一間二手書店訂了三本日文烹飪雜誌的舊刊號。

old numbers of X (= earlier issues)

同義詞

文法句型

back numbers of [magazine]

用法筆記

Almost always plural and almost always preceded by 'back', 'old', or 'early'. Singular 'number' (= one specific issue) is also possible but covered under the general singular entry. Distinguish from sense 6 (clothing item) by the publishing context.

常見錯誤

❌The shop sells back issues numbers of magazines.
✅The shop sells back numbers of magazines.
💡'back numbers' alone already means earlier issues.

6. stylish pieces of clothing, especially dresses, that someone admires or chooses

6.名詞C1
釋義

好看洋裝

口語裡令人讚賞的衣服或洋裝

stylish pieces of clothing, especially dresses, that someone admires or chooses to wear on a special occasion.

例句

Luca showed up at the gallery opening in one of his sharper numbers from Milan.

Luca 在畫廊開幕當天，穿了一套從米蘭帶回來的俐落服裝出場。

sharp numbers (admired men's clothing)

Beatrix designs little black numbers for brides who hate traditional white dresses.

Beatrix 專門為討厭傳統白紗的新娘設計小黑洋裝。

little black number (set phrase)

同義詞
  • outfits

    neutral; covers a whole look including accessories

  • dresses

    more specific; the most common subtype here

用法筆記

Informal and almost always plural; almost always carries an admiring adjective (little black, sharp, stunning, glittery). The dress reading is the strongest; jackets and shoes are also possible but less common.

常見錯誤

❌She wore a number.' (no admiring adjective)
✅She wore a stunning number.
💡without a descriptive word, listeners default to sense 1 or sense 2.

7. short songs or instrumental pieces, especially ones performed in a stage show, c

7.名詞B2
釋義

曲目

演出中短小的歌曲或樂曲

short songs or instrumental pieces, especially ones performed in a stage show, concert set, or musical.

例句

Stefan played three jazz numbers at the cafe before his proper set began.

正式開場前，Stefan 先在咖啡館彈了三首爵士曲目。

jazz / opening / closing numbers

Sirin sang two slow numbers and then surprised the room with an old folk song.

Sirin 連唱兩首慢歌曲目後，又拿出一首老民謠讓全場驚喜。

slow numbers (tempo + numbers)

同義詞
  • songs

    neutral; broader and not tied to a show

  • pieces

    more formal; common in classical and jazz contexts

  • tunes

    informal; more about the melody than the lyrics

用法筆記

Common in show-business and musical-theatre contexts; less common in pop or rock review writing. Usually carries a genre or mood word (jazz, slow, comic, opening, closing). Distinguish from sense 6 by the performance context.

常見錯誤

❌The band played some numbers song.
✅The band played some numbers.
💡'numbers' alone already means short pieces in this sense.

8. the fourth book of the Hebrew Bible and Christian Old Testament, mostly telling

8.名詞C2
釋義

民數記

聖經舊約第四卷書

the fourth book of the Hebrew Bible and Christian Old Testament, mostly telling the story of the Israelites travelling through the desert.

例句

Stefan read a long passage from Numbers at the small chapel service on Sunday morning.

禮拜天早晨的小教堂禮拜上，Stefan 唸了一長段《民數記》的經文。

read from Numbers (proper-noun use)

The history teacher compared the desert journey in Numbers with later migration stories.

歷史老師把《民數記》中以色列人穿越曠野的旅程，拿來和後世的遷徙故事做比較。

journey in Numbers (subject matter)

同義詞

文法句型

the Book of Numbers

用法筆記

Always capitalised as a proper noun and grammatically singular even though the surface form is plural ('Numbers is the fourth book...'). Common shorter title for 'the Book of Numbers'.

常見錯誤

❌Numbers are the fourth book of the Bible.
✅Numbers is the fourth book of the Bible.
💡the book title is treated as singular even though it ends in -s.