barely
gb/bˈɛɹli/ us/bˈɛɹli/
B1
英语
~ 8300
义项
0 个义项
adverb
B1
property
1
almost not; by a very small amount
Almost not; used when something happens or is true, but only by a very small amount.
用法模式：
barely [verb] / barely [adjective]
常见错误：
Learners sometimes confuse "barely" with "rarely". "Barely" means something almost does not happen or is almost not true (I barely slept = I almost did not sleep), while "rarely" means it does not happen often (I rarely sleep before midnight = I do not often sleep before midnight). Another mistake is to use a double negative like *"I didn't barely pass"*; in standard English we say "I barely passed."
近义词
hardly (Very close in meaning; often interchangeable, though 'hardly' is slightly more common in everyday speech.)
|
scarcely (Similar meaning but sounds a bit more formal or literary in modern English.)
反义词
easily (Describes doing something with no difficulty, the opposite of just managing to do it.)
|
clearly (Opposite when talking about seeing or hearing something without any difficulty.)
搭配
can barely
|barely manage to
|barely pass
|barely noticeable
|barely visible
|barely hear
主题
daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
例句
- I could barely hear him over the music.
- She barely passed the exam after studying all night.
- We barely made the last train home.
- He was so tired he could barely keep his eyes open.
- The numbers are so small they’re barely noticeable on the chart.
学习者例句
- I was so sick I could barely eat.
- The baby is so quiet I can barely hear her.
- We were late and barely caught the bus.
- She was so nervous she could barely speak.
- It was dark, and I could barely see the road.
adverb
B1
property
2
only; no more than a small amount
Only; no more than a small number, amount, or time.
用法模式：
barely [number/amount/time]
常见错误：
Learners sometimes use "barely" where "almost" is needed. "Barely" focuses on a very small but real amount (There is barely any water = there is a little water). "Almost" means not reaching that amount (There is almost no water = it is very close to zero, but the focus is on not reaching zero). Also, avoid saying *"barely many"*; use "barely any" or a specific number (barely ten people).
近义词
just (Very common near-synonym in this sense, especially before numbers and amounts (just 10 minutes, barely 10 minutes).)
|
only (Often interchangeable, but "only" is more neutral while "barely" suggests the amount is almost too small.)
反义词
plenty (Suggests more than enough, the opposite of a very small or just-enough amount.)
|
more than enough (A phrase that directly contrasts with the idea of having just enough or slightly too little.)
搭配
barely enough
|barely any
|barely a minute
|barely 20 people
|barely half
|barely time
主题
daily life
|numbers
|core_vocabulary
例句
- There were barely 20 people at the concert.
- We have barely enough money to pay the rent this month.
- It’s barely 9 a.m., and I’m already exhausted.
- The glass was barely half full when he finished speaking.
- She’s barely five years old and already reading simple books.
学习者例句
- We had barely enough food for everyone.
- There was barely any traffic this morning.
- It is barely ten minutes from my house to the station.
- Only five students came; the room was barely half full.
- He is barely eighteen, but he lives alone.
语法
词典原形
barely
IPA
GB/bˈɛɹli/
US/bˈɛɹli/
音节与重音
barely （1 个音节）
Stress on 1st syllable (barely)
词形变化
Noun
- Base: barely
- Plural: barelies
词族
相关表达
barely alive
1/bˈɛɹli əlˈaɪv/
fixed phrase
in a very weak, near-death state
Used to describe a person, animal, or thing that is so weak or damaged that it seems almost dead.
例句
- The hikers were rescued from the snow, barely alive.
- The plant was barely alive after weeks without water.
- They brought the dog to the vet, barely alive but still breathing.
barely enough
1/bˈɛɹli ɪnˈʌf/
fixed phrase
only just sufficient in amount
Used to say that an amount is just enough and no more, and may not really be sufficient.
例句
- We had barely enough chairs for all the guests.
- His salary is barely enough to cover rent and food.
- There was barely enough time to ask one question.
barely legal
1/bˈɛɹli lˈiɡəl/
fixed phrase
informal
just at the legal age or limit
Used to say that someone or something is just at the lowest age or level that the law allows.
例句
- The club was full of barely legal students celebrating their birthdays.
- Some people criticize ads that use models who look barely legal.
- He started his own company when he was barely legal to sign contracts.
barely there
1/bˈɛɹli ðˈɛɹ/
fixed phrase
very slight or almost invisible
Used to describe something that is present, but so light, small, or weak that it is almost not there.
例句
- She wore barely there makeup for a natural look.
- The pain is now barely there after the medicine.
- His smile was barely there, but I noticed it.
can barely
1/kən bˈɛɹli/
fixed phrase
almost not able to do something
Used before a verb to say that it is very hard to do something and you almost cannot do it.
例句
- I’m so tired I can barely think.
- She can barely walk after running the marathon.
- We can barely hear you; could you speak louder?