couple与pair这两个名词均有“一对、一双”之意。
couple : 多指在一起或彼此有关系的两个人或两个同样的事物。
- The doctor said my leg should be better in a couple of days.
医生说我的腿过两天就会好转。 - A couple of people objected to the proposal, but the vast majority approved of it.
有几个人反对该提议,但绝大多数人赞同。 - We'll have to wait another couple of hours for the paint to dry.
我们还得再等几个小时油漆才干。
pair : 含义广泛,可指人或物。用于物时,指两个互属的事物,缺此或失彼都会失去使用价值,或指由相对称的两部分构成的一件东西。
- a pair of shoes/gloves
一双鞋/一副手套 - a pair of scissors/glasses
一把剪刀/一副眼镜 - I can't find a matching pair of socks.
我找不到两只成对的袜子。