Two lines of poetry that sit together as a pair — usually the same length, and usually rhyming. Poets use a couplet to finish something off: a Shakespeare sonnet runs for twelve lines and then snaps shut with a couplet, and that little pair of rhymes is what makes the ending feel like an ending. Strictly speaking, rhyme isn't required — two paired lines are a couplet whether they rhyme or not — but in ordinary use, if someone says couplet, expect rhyme.

Two lines of poetry兩行詩 that sit together as a pair成對出現 — usually the same length通常長度一樣, and usually rhyming通常也押韻。 Poets use a couplet to finish something off詩人會用couplet來收尾: a Shakespeare sonnet runs for twelve lines莎士比亞的十四行詩前面跑十二行 and then snaps shut with a couplet接著用一組couplet啪地收合, and that little pair of rhymes is what makes the ending feel like an ending就是那一小組押韻的對句,讓結尾真的有結尾的感覺。 Strictly speaking嚴格來說, rhyme isn't required押韻不是必要條件 — two paired lines are a couplet whether they rhyme or not不管押不押韻,兩行成對的詩都算couplet — but in ordinary use但在一般用法裡, if someone says couplet, expect rhyme如果有人說couplet,通常就是預期會押韻。

It's mostly a classroom and literary word; you're unlikely to hear it at dinner.

It's mostly a classroom and literary word它主要是課堂和文學用語; you're unlikely to hear it at dinner你不太可能在吃飯聊天時聽到。

One thing that helps Taiwanese students: this is very close to 對聯, the pair of red banners at a doorway at New Year. Same idea of two matched lines that answer each other.

One thing that helps Taiwanese students有一件事對台灣學生很有幫助: this is very close to 對聯這個字跟「對聯」很接近, the pair of red banners at a doorway at New Year就是過年時貼在門口的那對紅色橫幅。 Same idea of two matched lines that answer each other一樣都是兩句互相呼應、相配的句子。

But don't treat them as the same thing — 對聯 must match in tone and in word class position by position, which English couplets never do, and English couplets rhyme, which 對聯 don't. Similar spirit, different rules. Translators of Chinese poetry often use couplet for 對句, so you'll see the word used that way too.

But don't treat them as the same thing但不要把它們當成同一件事 — 對聯 must match in tone and in word class position by position對聯必須逐字對平仄、對詞性, which English couplets never do英文的couplet完全不需要這樣做, and English couplets rhyme而且英文的couplet要押韻, which 對聯 don't對聯則不用押韻。 Similar spirit精神類似, different rules規則不同。 Translators of Chinese poetry翻譯中文詩的人 often use couplet for 對句常常用couplet來翻譯「對句」, so you'll see the word used that way too所以你也會看到這個字被這樣用。