Hi everyone! 我是英文庫的Ashley👩💻，今天要帶大家認識 between 該怎麼用。
看到標題後有沒有想，咦？Between 不就是「在（兩個）東西之間」的介系詞，應該沒什麼好說的吧，而大致上的用法確實是如此。所以今天可以提早收工了嗎？🤭等等！光是知道中文翻譯只是認識它的第一步，應用又是另一門學問～
接下來，我們會先看 between 的正確用法，再解釋究竟它跟長得很相似的「in between」 怎麼分辨，最後再把焦點轉到幾個和 between 有關且實用的片語。話不多說，let’s go!
Between 的用法及例句
簡單來說，between 的意思是「在⋯⋯之間」或「介於」，可以描述實際空間的中間點，也可以運用在抽象的情況上。這樣還是有些模糊，所以我們分成以下四類用法來講解。
1.「介於兩個地點⋯⋯之間」
先從大家最熟悉的開始，between 可以示意位置的間隔，且會搭配 and 區分兩組名詞，來看例句示範吧。
Hsinchu is situated between Taoyuan and Miaoli.
新竹位於桃園和苗栗之間。Ferry services operate between the mainland and the islands.
渡輪於內地和離島之間往返。The toddler was sitting between his mother and father.
幼童坐在爸爸和媽媽中間。
若句子有上下文又想省墨水時，則能以 between + 受格代名詞（object pronouns）做替代。拿上一句舉例：
The toddler was sitting between his mother and father.
幼童坐在爸爸和媽媽中間。➡️ The toddler was sitting between them.
Why don’t you stand between us for the photo?
拍照時你要不要站在我們中間？
2. 測量、價錢或時間範圍
就跟空間的間格一樣，between也能用在數字的間距上。
Pick a number between one and ten.
在一到十內選一個號碼。The mansion on the hill costs somewhere between 150 to 180 million.
山丘上的豪宅要價一點五至一點八億。The mayoral election will be held sometime between mid-April to early May.
市長選舉將會在四月中到五月初舉行。Wes left the office between five and six o’clock.
魏斯在五點到六點間離開辦公室。
3. 比較、競爭
另外常見的用法還有「比較」兩個（或以上）的人事物，目的是要凸顯他們的區別，有互相競爭、較勁的意味。在這種情況裡，between 常會跟 difference、differentiate、choose 、contest 一同現身。
- differentiate between A and B… 分辨 A 跟 B
- a contest between A and B…. A 和 B 之間的競爭
- a choice between A and B.… 在 A 和 B 之間選擇
It’s important to differentiate between facts and opinions.
懂得分辨事實和意見很重要。Some kids don’t seem to know the difference between right and wrong.
有些小孩不知道是非對錯。You have to choose between paying a fine or going to court.
你一定要在繳罰金或上法庭之間做出抉擇。The 2020 FIFA Final was a match between Germany and Italy.
2020的世界足球決賽是德國對上義大利。
I cannot tell the distinction between cyan and teal!
我搞不清楚青色和藍綠色的差別！
看到這，會不會認為 between只能用在兩件事情上呢？其實不然喔，我們來看兩個項目以上的的例句。
For Halloween, we let the trick-or-treaters choose between Snickers, Twix, or M&Ms.
在萬聖節時，我們讓上門討糖的搗蛋鬼有 Snickers、Twix和M&M可以選。🎃
有時候不需要把項目個別列出，像這樣～
Once international travel resumes, there will be fierce competition between rival airlines.
一但國際旅遊恢復正常，各家航空公司的競爭會十分激烈。
4. 多方「共同擁有、參與」
最後呢，between 可以描述多方都有參一咖的事，來看看例句！
The responsibility of washing dishes is shared between Bella and her brother.
洗碗是貝拉和弟弟共同承擔的責任。We will divide the profit equally between us.
我們會把盈利公平的分配。The ties of friendship between them will never be broken.
他們之間的友情永遠不會破碎。This is a military agreement between the UK, the US, and Australia.
這是英國、美國和澳洲之間的軍事協定。➡又是三個項目的例子！between讓我們可以列出個別的國家。
補充#1：between 和 among 差在哪？
👉 來瞧瞧：「among」正確用法是？跟 between 差在哪？(含例句）
長話短說，雖然between 和 among 中文都指「在⋯之間」，在使用選擇上，很多人會認為只要是「兩者之間 ＝ between；三項以上 ＝among」，但這不是一定的規則喔！其實兩個字的差別是：between 強調物件的個別性，而 among 強調的則是整體性。
如果想要看例句和更完整的解釋，記得點進上面的連結～
補充#2：between 和 in between 一樣嗎？
解答直接交給大家，因為 between 本身就指「在⋯⋯某空間或時間點之間」，自然有夾帶「in」的含義，所以大多時候不需要多餘的介系詞。那也表示，看見 in between 的次數屈指可數，除非後面沒有接名詞的話，才會用到 in between，舉例來說～
We have two classes this morning, but there’s some free time in between.
我們今天上午有兩堂課，但中間有閒暇的時間。
另外，in between 如果變成形容詞或名詞時，就要加上連字符號變身成「in-between」，意思是「在中間的、不上不下的」，好比：
Adolescence is an awkward, in-between age.
青春期是一個尷尬且不上不下的年齡層。
補充#3：常見的片語
📌 Between you and me 私下跟你說
Between you and me, I heard Ben is about to get fired.
偷偷跟你講，我聽說班快被炒魷魚了。
📌 Between jobs 待業中
One month later, Ben is between jobs.
一個月後，班待業中。
📌 Between life and death 生死之間
What we do in a few seconds can make the difference between life and death.
我們在短短幾秒內做的事能決定生死。
📌A fine line between 只有一線之隔
Sometimes there’s a fine line between heroes and villains.
有時候，英雄和壞蛋只有一線之隔。
📌 A choice between two evils 在兩惡之間做選擇
When faced with a choice between two evils, choose the one with the least negative consequences. (Lesser of the two evils)
兩害相權取其輕。
📌 Read between the lines 讀出言外之意、聽出弦外之音
You must read between the lines in order to understand what the poet is saying.
想要理解詩人所說的，必須要領悟他的言外之意。
📌 Come between (someone or something) 阻礙、介入
Betty lets nothing come between herself and her best friend.
貝蒂不讓任何事挑撥她和她最好的朋友。
That’s all for today!
經過今天一步步的拆解之後有沒有發現 between 是一個實用性很高的介系詞呢？不論是實體的空間或是抽象的概念都通通包辦呢～
希望今天的解釋和例句有幫助大家更熟悉它的用法，然後 between you and me🤫，下面有關介系詞的文章也很值得一讀：
👉英文介系詞（preposition）是什麼？有哪些？怎麼用？
👉【時間介系詞】In, On, 還是 At? 時間/日期/月份介系詞整理！
之後還有英文問題，別忘了來英文庫逛逛！See you all next time 👀!
