- could
- [kud]
aux vb1) (referring to past)
*
we couldn't go to the party — 我们没能去参加聚会 [wǒmen méi néng qù cānjiā jùhuì]*
last year we couldn't afford a holiday — 去年我们度不起假*
he could be very unkind — 他可能会很刻薄*
he couldn't read or write — 他不会读也不会写*
we could hear him whistling — 我们能听到他正在吹口哨*
she said she couldn't hear me — 她说听不见我说的话2) (possibility)*
he could be in the library — 他可能在图书馆 [tā kěnéng zài túshūguǎn]*
I couldn't be happier — 我再高兴不过了*
he could be released next year — 他明年可能被释放*
you could have been killed! — 可能你连命都没了！*
the accident could have been caused by an oil leak — 事故可能是由石油泄漏引起的3) (in conditionals with "if")*
if we had more time, I could finish this — 如果有更多时间，我能够完成的 [rúguǒ yǒu gèngduō shíjiān, wǒ nénggòu wánchéng de]*
we'd have a holiday, if we could afford it — 如果能支付得起的话，我们就去度假了4) (in offers, suggestions, requests) 可以 [kěyǐ]*
I could call a doctor — 我可以叫个医生*
we could always go to the cinema — 我们还是可以去看电影*
couldn't you give him a call? — 你可不可以给他打个电话？*
could I borrow the car? — 我可以借一下车吗？*
if I could just interrupt you for a minute — 我是否可以打扰你一小会儿*
he asked if he could make a phone call — 他问是否可以打个电话5) (emphatic)*
you could at least be polite! — 你至少可以礼貌点儿！ [nǐ zhìshǎo kěyǐ lǐmàodiǎnr!]*
you could have told me! — 你早该告诉我！*
I could scream! — 我真 想大叫！*
how could you have lied to me? — 你怎么能向我撒谎呢？
English-Chinese new dictionary. 2014.
