1. to require payment of a specified amount of money
需要支付特定金額的錢
This book costs twenty dollars.
這本書要價二十美元。
How much does a ticket cost?
一張票要多少錢？
The repairs will cost a fortune.
維修將花費一大筆錢。
Cost Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
cost
verb
快速理解
What does "Cost" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Cost"?
「cost」主要表示某事物需要花費的金錢、時間或資源，也可指付出代價或造成損失。
- 1
花費（金錢）
EN: to require payment of a specific amount of money
翻譯: 指某事物需要支付特定金額的金錢。
- 2
花費（時間/努力）
EN: to require the expenditure of time, effort, or resources
翻譯: 指某事物需要耗費時間、努力或其他資源。
- 3
使付出代價
EN: to cause the loss or suffering of something valuable
翻譯: 指導致失去有價值的事物或遭受痛苦、損失。
- 4
估算成本
EN: to estimate or determine the price of something
翻譯: 指估算或確定某事物的價格或成本。
小提醒：注意「cost」的過去式和過去分詞仍是「cost」，不是「costed」。「costed」僅用於被動語態，表示「被估算成本」，例如「The project was costed at one million dollars」。
發音（How to Pronounce "Cost" in English）
How to pronounce "Cost" in English?"Cost" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Cost" from YouTube Videos
South Korea would accept Trump-Kim deal to freeze North Korea’s nuclear programme | BBC News
BBC News
“>>. We don't think these broadcasts are very effective and the cost is high because they tend to increase North Korea's hostility towards us.”
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Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Cost"?How does "Cost" change by context?
2. to cause the loss or sacrifice of something
導致失去或犧牲某物
His careless mistake cost him his job.
他粗心的錯誤讓他丟了工作。
The war cost many lives.
這場戰爭奪去了許多生命。
It will cost you your reputation if you do that.
如果你那樣做，將會讓你名譽掃地。
3. to estimate the price of producing or providing something
估算生產或提供某物的價格
The accountant is costing the new project.
會計師正在估算新專案的成本。
We need to cost the materials before we can give a quote.
我們需要先估算材料成本才能報價。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Cost"?How to make natural sentences with "Cost"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| cost + (someone) + amount | 花費（某人）多少錢 | The new laptop cost me a thousand dollars. (這台新筆電花了我一千美元。) |
| cost + (someone) + noun (e.g., a fortune, a lot) | 花費（某人）一大筆錢/很多 | Renovating the house will cost us a fortune. (裝修這房子會花掉我們一大筆錢。) |
| cost + (someone) + their + noun (e.g., job, life) | 使（某人）付出…的代價（如工作、生命） | His careless mistake cost him his job. (他粗心的錯誤讓他丟了工作。) |
| cost + (someone) + dearly/deeply | 讓（某人）付出沉重代價 | That decision cost him dearly in the end. (那個決定最終讓他付出了沉重的代價。) |
| It costs + (someone) + to + V | （某人）做某事需要花費 | It costs a lot to live in this city. (住在這座城市花費很高。) |
| How much does/did + noun + cost? | …要多少錢？ | How much does this painting cost? (這幅畫要多少錢？) |
用法說明
How is "Cost" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Cost"?
cost doing vs cost to do
- cost doing 這種結構在標準英語中極其罕見且通常被視為不正確。動詞 "cost" 後面不直接接動名詞 (V-ing) 來表示「花費金錢/時間做某事」。
- 正確的結構是 cost + (某人) + 金額/時間 + to do，用來具體說明做某事需要花費多少金錢或時間。
- 另一種常見結構是 It costs + 金額/時間 + to do，使用虛主詞 "it" 來引導，將真正的主詞（不定詞片語）移到後面。
- 在疑問句中，常使用 How much does it cost to do...? 來詢問做某事的成本。
對比例句： EN: It costs a lot to maintain a classic car. 翻譯: 保養一輛經典車要花很多錢。
EN:How much would it cost to renovate the kitchen?
翻譯:翻新廚房大概要花多少錢？
總結建議
表達「做某事需花費多少」時，應使用 "cost (sb) + 金額 + to do" 或 "It costs + 金額 + to do" 的結構，避免使用 "cost doing"。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Cost" and similar words?How to choose "Cost" vs alternatives?
cost vs spend
「cost」強調某物需要花費多少錢，主語是物品或服務；「spend」強調某人花費多少錢或時間，主語是人。
cost vs price
作為動詞時，「cost」指需要花費多少錢；「price」作為動詞則是指為商品定價。
cost vs take
「cost」通常指花費金錢；「take」則常指花費時間，且常用「it」作形式主語。
口語用法
How is "Cost" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Cost"?
引述
在口語中，常用來引述或轉述某樣東西的價格或代價。 EN: "How much did it cost?" he asked. 翻譯: 「這花了多少錢？」他問道。
EN:She was like, "That's gonna cost you an arm and a leg."
翻譯:她當時就說：「那會讓你付出極大的代價。」
語氣強調
用於強調某事的代價高昂或後果嚴重，常帶有誇張或警告的語氣。 EN: Trust me, cutting corners now will cost you big time later. 翻譯: 相信我，現在偷工減料，以後會讓你付出慘痛代價。
EN:This mistake could cost us the whole project.
翻譯:這個失誤可能會讓我們賠上整個專案。
停頓填充
在思考或組織語句時，有時會用 "cost" 相關的短語作為填充，例如 "it costs..." 或 "the cost is..."。 EN: The downside is... well, it costs a lot of time and energy. 翻譯: 缺點是…嗯，它需要耗費大量的時間和精力。
EN:To be honest, the real issue — what it really costs — is our peace of mind.
翻譯:老實說，真正的問題——它真正的代價——是我們的內心平靜。
正式寫作注意：在正式或學術寫作中，應避免使用上述口語中的引述句式（如 "She was like..."）或過於誇張的語氣。建議使用更精確、客觀的表述，例如 "The price is...", "The consequence is...", 或 "It requires a significant investment of..."。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Cost"?What fixed phrases with "Cost" should I remember?
cost someone something
cost [sb] [sth]
使某人付出某物（如金錢、時間、努力等）；使某人失去某物
cost a fortune
cost a fortune
花費一大筆錢；非常昂貴
cost an arm and a leg
cost an arm and a leg
價格極其昂貴；要價不菲
cost the earth
cost the earth
花費極高；非常昂貴
cost nothing
cost nothing / cost next to nothing
幾乎不用花錢；非常便宜
cost time/money/effort
cost [time/money/effort]
耗費時間/金錢/精力
cost dearly
cost dearly
付出沉重代價；導致嚴重損失
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Cost"?Which "Cost" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×This phone is costing $500.
✓This phone costs $500.
動詞 'cost' 描述物品的價格時，通常使用簡單現在式，不用進行式。因為價格是一個相對固定的狀態，不是正在進行的動作。
×The repair cost.
✓The repair cost a lot of money.
動詞 'cost' 是及物動詞，後面必須接一個直接受詞（通常是金錢、時間或代價），不能單獨使用。
×I was cost $100 by the ticket.
✓The ticket cost me $100.
動詞 'cost' 在表示「某物花費某人多少錢/時間/代價」時，通常不使用被動語態。主詞是「物品或行動」，受詞是「人或金錢/時間」。
×I cost $50 on the book.
✓I spent $50 on the book.
'cost' 的主詞是「物品或服務」，表示其價格或代價。'spend' 的主詞是「人」，表示人花費金錢或時間。兩者主詞不同，不可混淆。
×These shoes costs $80.
✓These shoes cost $80.
動詞 'cost' 在現在式中，除了第三人稱單數主詞（it, he, she, a thing）要加 's' 外，其他人稱和複數主詞都用原形。'These shoes' 是複數，動詞用原形 'cost'。
×It costed me a fortune.
✓It cost me a fortune.
動詞 'cost' 的過去式和過去分詞都是不規則變化 'cost'，不是規則變化 'costed'。'Costed' 僅用於特定的商業或會計情境，表示「估算成本」。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Cost"?What are tense/participle forms of "Cost"?
costs(3rd_singular)costing(present_participle)cost(past)cost(past_participle)