“difference between”是英语中表示两者间差异/区别的核心短语,用来对比两个事物、概念或人的不同之处。
字面意为“……之间的差异/不同”,强调两者(between的核心是“两者间”)的对比。
“difference between”的核心结构是:the difference between A and B(A和B之间的差异),其中:
A和B是被对比的两个对象(需保持词性一致,如都是名词、动名词、代词等);
“the”不可省略(因为是特指某两者的差异)。
以下是常见的使用场景及例子,帮助理解:
用“What's the difference between...?”提问,意为“……之间有什么区别?”
What's the difference between "borrow" and "lend"?(“borrow”和“lend”有什么区别?)
Can you tell me the difference between sushi and sashimi?(你能告诉我寿司和生鱼片的区别吗?)
用“There is/are + (形容词) + difference(s) between... ”,强调“……之间有(某种)差异”。
There's a big difference between living in a city and living in the countryside.(住在城市和住在农村有很大区别。)
There are slight differences between the two versions of the book.(这本书的两个版本之间有细微差异。)
用“No difference between... ”或“can't see any difference between... ”,表示“……之间没有区别”。
To me, there's no difference between coffee and espresso.(对我来说,咖啡和浓缩咖啡没区别。)
I can't see any difference between these two smartphones.(我看不出这两部手机有什么区别。)
常与形容词搭配,说明差异的大小/程度:
大差异:big/large/great difference
小差异:small/slight/minor difference
明显差异:clear/obvious difference
重要差异:important/significant difference
例:The great difference between Chinese and Western cuisine lies in cooking methods.(中西方 cuisine的主要区别在于烹饪方式。)
“between”后接“两者”:如果对比三者及以上,需用“difference among”(但“difference between”更常用,即使对比多个,也可指“两两之间”);
A和B的一致性:A和B需是同类事物(如都是名词、动名词),避免结构混乱。
✅ the difference between reading and writing(阅读和写作,都是动名词)
❌ the difference between reading and to write(阅读和“去写”,词性不一致)
“difference between”是对比两者差异的高频短语,核心结构是“the difference between A and B”,常用于询问、描述或否定两个事物的不同。掌握这个短语,就能轻松表达“区别”相关的内容啦!