VOA慢速英语2021--沙发是a Couch 还是 a Sofa?

This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question from Abid about something a lot of people have in their living rooms. Here is what he says:

Question:

Hi, I have a question: What is the difference between "couch¹" and "sofa"? 

-Regards, Abid

Answer:

Hello Abid,

In my living room, I have a long piece of furniture covered in cloth. Sometimes, I call it a "couch." Other times, I call it a "sofa."

In the United States, the words "couch" and "sofa" are generally interchangeable. That means either word is used to describe this piece of furniture, which a person can sit or lie down on.

A Google ngram of the two words tells us that, in the U.S. today, the words are about equally common, with "couch" being a little more popular.

Historically, however, the meanings were different. The word "couch" comes from French word "coucher" and once meant a low, bed-like piece of furniture that did not have arms. And the word "sofa," which comes from Arabic, was something more like a bench with arms and a back.

Today, the American public uses either word, whether or not the piece of furniture has arms. However, some people consider the word "couch" to be less formal than "sofa." And sofas might sound as though they are more costly² and refined³ than couches⁴.

It is worth noting that some industries only use the word "sofa." That includes furniture designers, makers⁵ and sellers⁶ as well as home decorators.

And that's Ask a Teacher for this week.

Words in This Story

furniture –n. things such as chairs, tables, beds which are used in rooms

bench –n. a long hard seat for two or more people

formal –adj. serious used in for more serious events rather than everyday common ones

decorator –n. a person who decorates, or adds pleasant elements to something, especially as a job

1 couch   

n.睡椅，长沙发椅；vt.表达，隐含

参考例句：

• Lie down on the couch if you're feeling ill.如果你感觉不舒服就躺到沙发上去。
• The rabbIt'sprang from its grassy couch.兔子从草丛中跳出。

2 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

3 refined   

adj.精炼的；精制的；经过改良的；举止优雅的v.精炼( refine的过去式和过去分词)；精制；使纯净；使文雅高尚

参考例句：

• Much of the really nutritive material actually was refined out of food. 大部分真正有营养价值的物质实际上已从食物中提炼出来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They refined gold out of the ore. 他们从矿石中提炼出黄金。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 couches   

n.长沙发椅( couch的名词复数 )；睡椅；（病人受检查时躺的）长榻；（尤指诊室内的）诊察台

参考例句：

• In the small room we disguise our beds as couches.during the day. 在这间小房间里，白天我们把床改作长椅用。 来自辞典例句
• The furniture was old and comfortable-leather couches, newspaper racks, priceless antique tables. 家具古老而舒适——有皮靠背椅，报纸架，无价的古董桌子。 来自辞典例句

5 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 sellers   

n.卖者( seller的名词复数 )；卖方；销售者；销售商

参考例句：

• buyers and sellers transacting business 进行交易的买方和卖方
• All manner of hawkers and street sellers were plying their trade. 形形色色的沿街小贩都在做着自己的买卖。 来自《简明英汉词典》