pound sign

IPA/ˈpaʊnd saɪn/
IPA/ˈpaʊnd saɪn/

pound sign — 名詞

1. the printed or written character (£) used to represent the British pound, the of

1.名詞B1
釋義

英鎊符號

代表英國貨幣英鎊的書寫符號£

the printed or written character (£) used to represent the British pound, the official money of the United Kingdom

例句

Rin looked at the menu and saw every main dish was over £20.

Rin 看著菜單，發現每道主菜都超過 £20。

placed directly before the amount with no space

Eric wrote £50 on the birthday envelope before handing it to his niece.

Eric 在生日信封上寫了 £50，然後交給他的姪女。

常見搭配
  • type the pound sign
  • insert a pound sign
  • write the pound sign
同義詞
  • pound symbol

    slightly more formal; common in computer documentation

  • sterling sign

    less common; emphasises the currency rather than the unit

用法筆記

Used in British English to name the currency symbol. In American English, 'pound sign' usually means the # symbol instead — see sense 3.

常見錯誤

I pressed the pound sign on my phone to pay in pounds.
I pressed the hash key on my phone.
In American English, 'pound sign' on a phone means #, not £. British visitors to the US often find this confusing.

2. an informal British term for money, especially a large sum — used when the amoun

2.名詞C1
釋義

大錢；英俚

英國口語指金錢，尤指大筆金額而非符號

an informal British term for money, especially a large sum — used when the amount is worth drawing attention to

例句

Priya's uncle sold his garage business and walked away with serious pound sign.

Priya 的叔叔賣掉他的修車廠生意，帶著一大筆錢離開了。

informal British slang: 'serious pound sign' = a lot of money

The kitchen renovation took twice as long as promised and cost proper pound sign.

廚房翻修花的時間是承諾的兩倍，還花了很大一筆錢。

常見搭配
  • cost pound sign
  • pay pound sign
  • earn pound sign
  • spend pound sign
同義詞
  • cash

    more general; can refer to any amount, large or small

  • dosh

    very informal British slang at the same register

  • money

    neutral; does not suggest a notably large sum

用法筆記

Informal British usage. Not used in American English, where 'pound sign' refers only to the # symbol. Usually comes after an adjective like serious, decent, big, proper, or real — never with an article ('a pound sign' is wrong in this sense).

常見錯誤

He earns a good pound sign.
He earns good pound sign.
No article before 'pound sign' in this informal sense; it works like a mass noun.

3. the symbol (#) found on telephone keypads and computer keyboards, used as a numb

3.名詞B1
釋義

井號

電話鍵盤上的#符號，也用於社群標籤

the symbol (#) found on telephone keypads and computer keyboards, used as a number sign or to mark topics on social media

例句

Nadia pressed the pound sign on her phone to confirm the appointment.

Nadia 按下電話上的井號來確認預約。

American term for # on a telephone keypad

The automated voice at the vet's clinic told callers to press the pound sign after entering their pet's ID number.

獸醫診所的自動語音告訴來電者在輸入寵物編號後按下井號。

常見搭配
  • press the pound sign
  • hit the pound sign
  • enter the pound sign
同義詞
  • hash

    the standard British term for the same # symbol

  • number sign

    used when # comes before a numeral, e.g. #1 pencil

  • hashtag

    specifically on social media for grouping topics

用法筆記

This is the main meaning in American English. In British English, this symbol is called a 'hash' or 'hash key', and 'pound sign' means £ instead (see sense 1). Distinguish carefully based on whether the speaker is American or British.

常見錯誤

Write £50 on the form.
Write £50 on the form
that's the pound sign before the number.' — In the UK, pound sign is £; in the US, it is #. Always check which variety of English is being used to avoid mixing up the two symbols.

同根字

  • pound
    名詞A2
  • pound sterling
    名詞B1
  • hash
    名詞B1
  • number sign
    名詞A2
  • hashtag
    名詞B1

常見搭配

常用片語

  • press the pound sign
  • type the pound sign
  • hit the pound sign

介系詞搭配

  • pound sign before (an amount)