
cheap
词源
源自中古英语chep,来自古英语cēap(交易,买卖),与德语Kauf(购买)同源。最初与商业交易相关,后演变为价格低廉的含义。
adjective
❶ 指价格低廉的,花费少的。常用于描述商品或服务价格不高,有时隐含质量可能不高。
“I bought a cheap watch at the market.”
(我在市场买了一块便宜的手表。)
“The hotel was cheap but very clean.”
(这家酒店价格便宜但非常干净。)
❶ 形容人或行为吝啬、小气的,不愿意花钱或付出。
“He's too cheap to buy a proper gift.”
(他太小气了,不愿意买一件像样的礼物。)
“Don't be cheap, tip the waiter properly.”
(别吝啬,给服务员适当的小费。)
❶ 指质量低劣的,做工粗糙的。常用来形容物品看起来或感觉上不值钱。
“The plastic chair looks really cheap.”
(这把塑料椅子看起来非常廉价。)
“Her dress was made of cheap fabric.”
(她的裙子是用劣质面料做的。)
adverb
❶ 以低价地,便宜地。表示以较低的价格获得或做某事。
“We bought the car cheap from a friend.”
(我们从朋友那里便宜地买了这辆车。)
“You can eat cheap at this diner.”
(你可以在这家小餐馆吃得便宜。)
常见短语
on the cheap — 以尽可能低的价格做某事,通常暗示牺牲质量或标准。
“They built the house on the cheap, and now it has many problems.”
(他们以最低成本建造了这房子,现在出现了很多问题。)
cheap and cheerful — 形容东西价格便宜但令人满意,物美价廉。
“This cafe serves cheap and cheerful meals.”
(这家咖啡馆提供物美价廉的餐点。)
cheap shot — 指不公平或卑劣的攻击或评论,尤指利用对方弱点。
“Bringing up his past mistakes was a cheap shot.”
(提起他过去的错误是一种卑劣的手段。)