好词典

cost

UK /kɒst/US /kɔːst/

词源

源自中古英语 'cost'(花费),最终来自拉丁语 'constare'(花费,由 com-(一起)+ stare(站立)构成,原意为"一起站着"引申为"需要付出"。

noun

❶ 指购买商品或服务需要支付的金额,也泛指完成某事所需的花费或代价。

“The cost of this laptop is too high for me.”

(这台笔记本电脑的价格对我来说太高了。)

“We need to reduce production costs to stay competitive.”

(我们需要降低生产成本以保持竞争力。)

同义词:price, expense, charge, fee, expenditure

verb

❶ 表示某物需要支付特定金额,或某事导致损失/牺牲。常以物作主语。

“This designer bag costs over $2000.”

(这个设计师手袋售价超过2000美元。)

“The accident cost him three months in hospital.”

(那次事故让他在医院住了三个月。)

同义词:require, set back, take

常见短语

at all costs — 表示无论如何都要做到,强调不计代价的决心。

“We must protect the president's safety at all costs.”

(我们必须不惜一切代价保护总统的安全。)

cost of living — 指在一个地方维持基本生活所需的日常开支,包括住房、食品等费用。

“The cost of living in Tokyo is extremely high.”

(东京的生活成本非常高。)