1. a small number of; not many
少數的；不多的
There are few people in the park today.
今天公園裡沒什麼人。
She has few friends in this city.
她在這個城市沒什麼朋友。
Few Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
few
determiner
快速理解
What does "Few" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Few"?
「few」表示數量不多，強調不足或稀少的概念。
- 1
數量很少
EN: a small number of
翻譯: 數量很少的
- 2
幾乎沒有
EN: not many; almost none
翻譯: 幾乎沒有
- 3
少數的（與多數相對）
EN: a small, select group
翻譯: 少數的（與多數相對）
- 4
每隔一段時間
EN: every few (days, weeks, etc.)
翻譯: 每隔幾（天、週等）
小提醒：注意「a few」和「few」的區別：「a few」是「有一些」，帶有肯定意味；「few」是「很少、幾乎沒有」，帶有否定意味。例如：I have a few friends.（我有一些朋友。）I have few friends.（我幾乎沒有朋友。）
發音（How to Pronounce "Few" in English）
How to pronounce "Few" in English?"Few" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Few" from YouTube Videos
South Korea would accept Trump-Kim deal to freeze North Korea’s nuclear programme | BBC News
BBC News
“>>. You've stopped radio broadcasts into North Korea. These were one of the very few ways that North Koreans could get information from outside the country.”
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Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Few"?How does "Few" change by context?
2. used with 'a' to mean 'some but not many'
與 'a' 連用，表示『一些，但不多』
I have a few books you might like.
我有幾本你可能會喜歡的書。
Could you wait a few minutes?
你能等幾分鐘嗎？
3. used to emphasize how small a number is
用於強調數量之少
Very few students passed the difficult exam.
極少學生通過了那場困難的考試。
There are precious few opportunities like this.
像這樣的機會少之又少。
4. used in phrases like 'the few' to refer to a small, select group
用於如 'the few' 的片語中，指一小群特定的人
This luxury product is only for the privileged few.
這款奢侈品只為少數特權人士而設。
She shared her secret with the chosen few.
她只與少數被選中的人分享了她的秘密。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Few"?How to make natural sentences with "Few"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| few + plural noun | 少數的（可數） | Few people know the truth. (很少人知道真相。) |
| a few + plural noun | 一些，幾個（可數） | I have a few friends in Taipei. (我在台北有幾個朋友。) |
| quite a few + plural noun | 相當多，不少（可數） | She has quite a few books on that subject. (她有不少關於那個主題的書。) |
| few of the + plural noun | （特定群體中的）少數 | Few of the students passed the exam. (這些學生中只有少數通過了考試。) |
| a few of the + plural noun | （特定群體中的）一些 | A few of the apples are rotten. (這些蘋果中有一些爛掉了。) |
| very few + plural noun | 極少數的 | Very few options are available. (可用的選擇極少。) |
| only a few + plural noun | 只有幾個 | Only a few tickets remain. (只剩下幾張票。) |
用法說明
How is "Few" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Few"?
few vs a few
- few 表示「很少、幾乎沒有」，帶有否定意味，強調數量不足。
- a few 表示「一些、幾個」，帶有肯定意味，表示數量雖少但存在。
- 兩者皆修飾可數名詞複數形。
- 在正式語境中，few 常與 very 或 so 連用，以加強語氣。 EN: Few people attended the meeting; it was almost empty. 翻譯: 幾乎沒什麼人來開會，會場幾乎是空的。
EN:A few people attended the meeting and shared their ideas.
翻譯:有幾個人來開會並分享了他們的想法。
EN:She has few friends in this new city.
翻譯:她在這個新城市沒什麼朋友。
EN:She has a few friends in this new city who help her a lot.
翻譯:她在這個新城市有幾個朋友，幫了她很多忙。
總結建議
表達否定含義時用 few，表達肯定含義時用 a few，需根據上下文意圖謹慎選擇。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Few" and similar words?How to choose "Few" vs alternatives?
few vs a few
「few」強調數量稀少，帶有負面或不足的語氣；「a few」則表示有一些，雖然不多但足夠，語氣較為正面。
few vs little
「few」修飾可數名詞，表示數量少；「little」修飾不可數名詞，表示量少。
few vs several
「few」通常指「很少、不多於兩三個」，語氣較消極；「several」指「幾個、數個」，數量比「few」多，語氣中性。
口語用法
How is "Few" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Few"?
引述
在口語中，常用 "a few" 來引述或轉述一個模糊的數量，語氣較為隨意。 EN: He said he'd be here in a few minutes. 翻譯: 他說他幾分鐘後就到。
EN:I just need a few things from the store.
翻譯:我只需要從店裡買幾樣東西。
語氣強調
透過重音或語調變化，可以強調數量「少」或帶有「一些但足夠」的意味。 EN: I have a FEW friends who can help. (強調確實有一些) 翻譯: 我有「幾個」朋友可以幫忙。
EN:That's a few too many for me. (帶有負面評價)
翻譯:那對我來說有點太多了。
停頓填充
在思考或組織語句時，"a few" 常作為填充詞，使表達聽起來不那麼絕對。 EN: There are, you know, a few reasons why... 翻譯: 你知道的，有那麼幾個原因...
EN:It'll take a few... maybe five or ten minutes.
翻譯:這需要幾... 大概五到十分鐘吧。
正式寫作注意：在正式或學術寫作中，應避免將 "a few" 用作模糊的填充詞，建議使用更精確的數字或如 "several"、"a small number of" 等更正式的表述。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Few"?What fixed phrases with "Few" should I remember?
few people
few + plural noun
很少人
a few
a few + plural noun
一些，幾個
very few
very few + plural noun
極少數的
few and far between
idiom
稀少，不常見
the few
the few + (optional modifier)
少數人，少數事物
no fewer than
no fewer than + number + plural noun
不少於，多達（強調數量多）
only a few
only a few + plural noun
只有幾個
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Few"?Which "Few" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×I have few friends in this city.
✓I have a few friends in this city.
使用 "few" 表示「幾乎沒有」，帶有負面含義；使用 "a few" 表示「有一些」，帶有正面含義。想表達「我有一些朋友」時，應使用 "a few"。
×I have few money.
✓I have little money.
"few" 用於可數名詞複數形式（如 friends, books）。不可數名詞（如 money, water, time）應使用 "little"。
×Only few student passed the exam.
✓Only a few students passed the exam.
使用 "few" 或 "a few" 時，後面的名詞必須是複數形式。此外，"only" 通常與 "a few" 連用，表示「只有少數」。
×There are a lot of few restaurants in this area.
✓There are very few restaurants in this area.
"few" 本身表示數量少，不能與表示數量多的詞（如 a lot of, many）結合使用。若要強調「非常少」，應使用 "very few"。
×I don't have few reasons to complain.
✓I don't have many reasons to complain.
在否定句中，通常不使用 "few" 來表達「沒有很多」。應使用 "not many" 或 "not a lot of"。"few" 本身已帶有否定含義（幾乎沒有），不適合再與否定詞連用。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Few"?What are tense/participle forms of "Few"?