penny
penny — 名詞
- pennysingular
- penniesplural
1. in the modern British money system, one penny is one of the 100 equal parts of a
英便士
現行英鎊制的一便士
in the modern British money system, one penny is one of the 100 equal parts of a pound, and also the coin with that value.
The bus fare was seventy pence, so Maya counted out seven coins.
公車票價是七十英便士，所以 Maya 數出七枚硬幣。
cost + [number] pence
Ben found a shiny penny near the ticket machine at King's Cross.
Ben 在 King's Cross 售票機旁撿到一枚亮晶晶的英便士。
At the bakery, two warm rolls cost ninety pence.
在麵包店，兩個熱麵包要九十英便士。
Grandpa keeps old pennies in a blue tin by the window.
爺爺把舊英便士放在窗邊的藍色鐵罐裡。
pennies for the coins themselves
The school fair sold orange juice for fifty pence a cup.
學校園遊會賣的柳橙汁一杯五十英便士。
- fifty pence
- one penny
- ten-pence coin
- count out pennies
- pound
the larger British unit made up of 100 pennies
文法句型
cost + [number] pence
a penny
pennies
用法筆記
For amounts, British English usually uses 'pence' or the written form 'p' after a number; 'pennies' more often means the coins themselves. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 1 belongs to the pound-and-pence system, not dollars and cents.
常見錯誤
2. in the United States and Canada, an everyday name for a cent and for the coin wo
一分幣
美加口語指一分錢或其硬幣
in the United States and Canada, an everyday name for a cent and for the coin worth one cent.
A penny rolled under the sofa while the children played cards.
孩子們在打牌時，一枚一分幣滾進了沙發底下。
Mia keeps Canadian pennies in a jar above her desk.
Mia 把加拿大一分幣放在書桌上方的玻璃罐裡。
Canadian pennies
The cashier asked for one more penny to cover the tax.
收銀員請他再補一枚一分幣，好把稅金湊齊。
At the museum door, Leo dropped a penny into the charity jar.
在博物館門口，Leo 把一枚一分幣投進捐款罐裡。
The little boy saved every penny in a glass piggy bank.
那個小男孩把每一枚一分幣都投進玻璃撲滿裡。
save every penny
- find a penny
- save every penny
- Canadian pennies
- pressed penny
- cent
the standard name for the value in North American prices
- one-cent coin
explicit term when you need to stress the physical coin
- dollar
the larger unit made up of 100 cents
文法句型
a penny
save every penny
Canadian pennies
用法筆記
In North American prices, people usually say 'cent' for the value and often 'penny' for the coin. Distinguish from sense 1: the idea is similar, but the currency system is different.
常見錯誤
3. in Britain and Ireland before decimal money began in 1971, a penny was a coin an
舊便士
1971年前英制便士
in Britain and Ireland before decimal money began in 1971, a penny was a coin and money unit equal to one twelfth of a shilling.
In the old book, a stamp cost one penny.
那本舊書裡寫著，一張郵票要一枚舊便士。
The guide explained that twelve pennies once made one shilling.
導覽員解釋說，從前十二枚舊便士等於一先令。
twelve pennies made one shilling
Grandma showed us a dark penny from before decimal money.
奶奶拿出一枚十進位制以前的深色舊便士給我們看。
At the museum, children held copies of old pennies.
在博物館裡，孩子們拿著舊便士的複製品。
- old penny
- decimal money
- one shilling
- museum penny
- old penny
plain historical label in everyday explanation
- pre-decimal penny
stresses that it belonged to the earlier British system
文法句型
one penny
twelve pennies made one shilling
用法筆記
Historical use only, mostly in books, museums, or talk about older prices. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense belongs to the pre-decimal system, where twelve pennies made a shilling.
常見錯誤
4. the least sum of money at all, especially in set phrases about paying nothing or
一分錢
指極少的錢或完全沒錢
the least sum of money at all, especially in set phrases about paying nothing or getting full value.
The repair did not cost us a penny because the shop made a mistake.
那次修理一分錢都沒花，因為店家自己出了錯。
not cost a penny
After rent, Jae did not have a penny left for lunch.
付完房租後，Jae 連買午餐的一分錢都不剩。
not have a penny left
The old violin was expensive, but it was worth every penny.
那把老小提琴很貴，但每一分錢都值得。
worth every penny
The school raised money, and every penny bought new library books.
學校募到的錢，每一分錢都拿去買新的圖書館書籍。
The hotel owner would not lower the bill by a penny.
旅館老闆一分錢都不肯少算。
by a penny
- not a penny
- every penny
- by a penny
- have a penny left
- small change
near equivalent when talking about a very small amount of money
- nothing
fits negative patterns when the meaning is no money at all
- fortune
a very large amount of money
文法句型
not a penny
worth every penny
by a penny
用法筆記
Usually appears in fixed patterns such as 'not a penny', 'every penny', and 'by a penny'. Distinguish from senses 1-3: here the focus is not the coin itself, but the idea of even the smallest sum.
常見錯誤
every penny
idiomAll of the money that is available or that was collected.
每一分錢
We raised $500 and every penny went to the local shelter.
She earns a high salary, but she works hard for every penny.
Once you have started something, you should complete it even if it costs more time or money.
一不做二不休
I already bought the paint, so in for a penny, in for a pound, I'll paint the whole house.
We've invested so much in this project; in for a penny, in for a pound, let's finish it.
not a penny
idiomNo money at all.
一毛錢也沒有
The old vase cost me not a penny; I found it in the attic.
He has not a penny to his name after the bankruptcy.
the penny drops
idiomSomeone finally understands something after not getting it before.
恍然大悟
I explained the math problem twice before the penny dropped for Mia.
When he saw the empty wallet, the penny dropped and he realized it was stolen.
Used to ask someone what they are thinking about.
你在想什麼呢？
You look deep in thought; a penny for your thoughts?
A penny for your thoughts, Sara? You've been quiet all evening.
pinch pennies
idiomTo try to spend as little money as possible.
省吃儉用
During college, Tom had to pinch pennies to afford rent.
My grandmother always pinched pennies, even after she became wealthy.
a pretty penny
idiomA large amount of money.
一大筆錢
That vintage car must have cost you a pretty penny.
Renovating the kitchen cost a pretty penny, but it looks amazing.
spend a penny
idiomA polite way to say use the toilet.
上廁所
Excuse me, I need to spend a penny before we leave.
The child asked his mother if he could spend a penny during the movie.
To appear when not wanted, especially repeatedly.
不受歡迎卻頻頻出現
My annoying neighbor always turns up like a bad penny at parties.
No matter where I go, that old acquaintance turns up like a bad penny.
two/ten a penny
idiomVery common and therefore not special or valuable.
多如牛毛
In this city, coffee shops are ten a penny.
Smartphones with similar features are two a penny nowadays.
penny — 字尾
1. added to a number in older compounds to mark an item's price in pence.
值…便士
舊時接數字後表價錢
added to a number in older compounds to mark an item's price in pence.
The museum displayed a ticket for a threepenny bus ride.
博物館展出了一張三便士的公車票。
[number]-penny + noun for old prices
Grandpa still talks about a fourpenny loaf from his school days.
爺爺到現在還會提起學生時代那條只要四便士的麵包。
At the fair, Nora bought a twopenny toy drum.
在園遊會上，Nora 買了一個兩便士的玩具鼓。
The old menu offered a sixpenny lunch with tea.
那份老菜單上有附茶的六便士午餐。
- threepenny bus ride
- fourpenny loaf
- twopenny toy
- sixpenny lunch
文法句型
[number]-penny + noun
用法筆記
Used in old-fashioned or historical price compounds, usually written as one word with the number. Distinguish from combining form sense 1: here the number shows price, not nail size.
常見錯誤
penny — 構詞成分
1. joined to a number before 'nail' to name a traditional nail size used in buildin
便士釘
前接數字表傳統釘子尺寸
joined to a number before 'nail' to name a traditional nail size used in building.
The carpenter asked for eight-penny nails to fix the fence boards.
木匠要了八便士釘來固定圍籬木板。
[number]-penny nails for size, not price
For the roof frame, they used longer ten-penny nails.
做屋頂骨架時，他們用了較長的十便士釘。
The old toolbox still had a few sixteen-penny nails inside.
那個舊工具箱裡還有幾根十六便士釘。
At the hardware store, Mia compared six-penny and eight-penny nails.
在五金行裡，Mia 比較了六便士釘和八便士釘。
- six-penny nails
- eight-penny nails
- ten-penny nails
- sixteen-penny nails
文法句型
[number]-penny nail(s)
用法筆記
Almost always appears before 'nail' or 'nails' in building vocabulary. Distinguish from suffix sense 1: here the number marks the traditional size label, not how much something cost.
常見錯誤
同根字
- penniless形容詞C1
- pennilessness名詞C2