VOA慢速：“Couch”和“Sofa”的区别
欢迎来到今天的VOA慢速专区。
今天为大家带来一篇关于英语学习的文章。
This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question from Abid about something a lot of people have in their living rooms.
在本周《名师答疑》节目中，我们要回答阿比德提出的一个问题，这个问题涉及的是很多人客厅里的东西。
Here is what he says:
这是他所说的：
Hi, I have a question:
嗨，我有一个问题：
What is the difference between "couch" and "sofa"?
“couch”和“sofa”有什么区别？
Hello Abid,
你好，阿比德，
In my living room, I have a long piece of furniture covered in cloth.
在我的客厅里，我有一件覆盖着布的长家具。
Sometimes, I call it a "couch".
有时，我称它为“couch”。
Other times, I call it a "sofa".
其他时候，我称它为“sofa”。
In the United States, the words "couch" and "sofa" are generally interchangeable.
在美国，“couch”和“sofa”这两个单词通常可以互换。
That means either word is used to describe this piece of furniture, which a person can sit or lie down on.
这意味着这两个单词中的任何一个都可以用来描述人们可以坐在或躺在上面的这类家具。
A Google ngram of the two words tells us that, in the U.S. today,
这两个单词在谷歌书籍词频统计器中的数据告诉我们，在当今的美国，
the words are about equally common, with "couch" being a little more popular.
这两个单词差不多一样常见，“couch”稍微流行一点。
Historically, however, the meanings were different.
然而，从历史观点上说，这两个单词的含义不同。
The word "couch" comes from French word "coucher"
“couch”这个单词源于法语单词“coucher”，
and once meant a low, bed-like piece of furniture that did not have arms.
曾经是指一种低矮的、像床一样的家具，这类家具没有扶手。
And the word "sofa", which comes from Arabic,
“sofa”这个单词源于阿拉伯语，
was something more like a bench with arms and a back.
它更像是一个有扶手和靠背的长凳。
Today, the American public uses either word, whether or not the piece of furniture has arms.
如今，不管这类家具是否有扶手，美国公众都用这两个单词来表示。
However, some people consider the word "couch" to be less formal than "sofa".
然而，一些人认为“couch”这个单词没有“sofa”正式。
And sofas might sound as though they are more costly and refined than couches.
“sofa”听起来似乎比“couch”更昂贵，更精致。
It is worth noting that some industries only use the word "sofa".
值得注意的是，一些行业只使用“sofa”这个单词。
That includes furniture designers, makers and sellers as well as home decorators.
这其中包括家具设计师、制造商、销售商以及室内装潢师。
And that's Ask a Teacher for this week.
以上就是本周《名师答疑》的全部内容。
I'm Alice Bryant.
爱丽丝·布莱恩特为您播报。
这里是 美国之音 频道
Go to "Discover" > "Top Stories" > "Wow"