mean

英 [miːn] 美 [miːn]

• v. 意思是；打算；导致；意味
• adj. 低劣的；刻薄的；卑鄙的；出色的；吝啬的；平均的；中等的
• n. 平均值；平均数；中间；中庸

双解释义

v. (动词)

1. vt. 表示…的意思

   be a sign of

2. vt. 本意是,原意为

   have in mind as a purpose; intend

3. vt. & vi. 有某种重要性

   be of importance to the stated degree

adj. (形容词)

1. 吝啬的,自私的

   ungenerous; selfish

2. 卑鄙的,不善良的

   unworthy; unkind

3. 中间的,平均的

   midway between two extremes; average

n. (名词)

1. [C]中间,中庸

   condition, quality, course of action, etc. that is halfway between two extremes

2. [C]平均数,平均值

   midway point, quantity, etc. between two extremes; average

详尽释义

v. 动词

1. 意味着，意指
2. 意思是说，有...的意思，表示...的意思，用...意思说
3. 意欲，打算，意图，计划，企图
4. 意，用意，对某人怀着…感情
5. 就是
6. 具有意义，有...的意义，对某人有价值或重要，有影响
7. 本意是，原意为
8. 有…的目的，怀有某目的
9. （打算或注定）想要某人成为或去做
10. 预定，指定
11. 产生…结果
12. 作…解释
13. 决定将来
14. 注定

adj. 形容词

1. 平均的
2. 吝啬的，小气的
3. 严厉的
4. 中等的，中间的，中庸的，中项的
5. 卑鄙的，卑贱的，下贱的，卑劣的，低劣而肮脏的
6. 平庸的，普通的
7. 自私的
8. 低微的
9. 要发怒的，要发狂的
10. 熟练的，出色的
11. 邪恶的，丑陋的

n. 名词

1. （等比）中数
2. 【数】平均值，平均数
3. 中间，中央，中部
4. 几何平均
5. 【逻】中项
6. 中名辞
7. 媒辞
8. 【伦理学】中庸
9. 【音】中音部
10. 方法，手段
11. 工具，媒介
12. 财产

英英释义

Noun:

1. an average of n numbers computed by adding some function of the numbers and dividing by some function of n

Adjective:

1. approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value;

   "the average income in New England is below that of the nation"
   "of average height for his age"
   "the mean annual rainfall"
   

2. characterized by malice;

   "a hateful thing to do"
   "in a mean mood"
   

3. having or showing an ignoble lack of honor or morality;

   "that liberal obedience without which your army would be a base rabble"
   "taking a mean advantage"
   "chok'd with ambition of the meaner sort"
   "something essentially vulgar and meanspirited in politics"
   

4. excellent;

   "famous for a mean backhand"
   

5. marked by poverty befitting a beggar;

   "a beggarly existence in the slums"
   "a mean hut"
   

6. (used of persons or behavior) characterized by or indicative of lack of generosity;

   "a mean person"
   "he left a miserly tip"
   

7. (used of sums of money) so small in amount as to deserve contempt

8. of no value or worth;

   "I was caught in the bastardly traffic"
   

Verb:

1. mean or intend to express or convey;

   "You never understand what I mean!"
   "what do his words intend?"
   

2. have as a logical consequence;

   "The water shortage means that we have to stop taking long showers"
   

3. denote or connote;

   "`maison' means `house' in French"
   "An example sentence would show what this word means"
   

4. have in mind as a purpose;

   "I mean no harm"
   "I only meant to help you"
   "She didn't think to harm me"
   "We thought to return early that night"
   

5. have a specified degree of importance;

   "My ex-husband means nothing to me"
   "Happiness means everything"
   

6. intend to refer to;

   "I'm thinking of good food when I talk about France"
   "Yes, I meant you when I complained about people who gossip!"
   

7. destine or designate for a certain purpose;

   "These flowers were meant for you"
   

例句

用作动词 (v.)

1. What does this word mean?
   这个单词是什么意思？
2. I mean that's his own decision to resign or not.
   我的意思是说辞不辞职是他自己的决定。
3. I mean to call on you tomorrow.
   我打算明天看望你。
4. His father meant him to be an engineer.
   他父亲打算让他当工程师。
5. Spending too much now will mean a shortage of cash next year.
   现在花钱过头，来年就要缺钱。
6. Becoming a millionaire didn't mean an end to his money worries.
   成为百万富翁并不意味着他不再被钱困扰。
7. She emphasized that their plan would mean sacrifices and hard work.
   她强调说他们的计划意味着牺牲和辛勤工作。

用作形容词 (adj.)

1. Don't be so mean to your little brother!
   别对你弟弟那麽刻薄！
2. That was a mean trick!
   那是一个卑劣的诡计!
3. He played a mean game of chess yesterday.
   昨天他下了一盘十分出色的棋。
4. Her husband is very mean about money.
   她的丈夫在金钱上很吝啬。
5. What is the mean temperature in that locality?
   那个地方的平均气温是多少?

用作名词 (n.)

1. It is an estimate of the mean of the population.
   这是对人口平均数的一个估计。
2. It is an estimate of the mean of the population.
   这是对人口平均数的一个估计。
3. We would actually encounter a mean between these extremes.
   我们实际上遇到介乎此两个极端的中间物。

常见句型

用作动词 (v.)

用作不及物动词

S+～(+A)

1. He means ill towards us.
   他对我们怀着恶意。
2. He means well.
   他心存良善。

用作及物动词

S+～+ n./pron.

1. The German word ya means “yes”.
   德语ya这个词的意思是“是的”。
2. The red light means “Stop”.
   红灯就是“停”。
3. In this poem the budding flower means youth.
   在这首诗里含苞欲放的花朵是指青春。
4. What does this word mean?
   这个词是什么意思?
5. Silence means consent.
   沉默意味着同意。
6. I did not mean you.
   我不是指你。
7. She said Tuesday, but meant Thursday.
   她想说星期四却说成了星期二。
8. Nonsense! He never meant anything of this sort.
   别胡说!他从来没有这种意思。
9. He's very angry, and means trouble,
   他非常生气,有意要找麻烦。
10. In running a company, strict financial management means everything.
    经营一家公司,严格的财务管理是至关重要的。
11. The weather will mean long traffic delays.
    这种天气会造成长时间的交通阻断。
12. A damp breeze from the sea usually means rain.
    带有潮气的海风往往是有雨的征兆。
13. Poor teeth mean poor digestion and poor digestion means poor nutrition.
    牙齿不好就意味着消化不好,而消化不好就意味着营养吸收不好。

S+～+to- v

1. Do you mean to tell me you don't care for modern art?
   你的意思是告诉我你不喜欢现代艺术,是不是?
2. I didn't mean to say we were perfect.
   我并不是说我们已十全十美了。
3. I am terribly sorry,I didn't mean to interrupt you.
   真对不起,我并非有意打扰你。
4. I have always meant to get it repaired.
   我一直想请人修一修的。
5. I had meant to call you, but I was so busy .
   我是想来看望你的,但是,我太忙了。
6. I meant to buy a morning paper but I didn't see any newsboy around.
   我打算买一份晨报,但周围看不见有报童。
7. We meant to have gone to see him.
   我们本来打算去看看他的。
8. I mean to go there next year.
   我打算明年到那儿去。
9. I mean to stay here, if I can.
   若是能留下,我想留在这儿。
10. How long do you mean to stay in Beijing?
    你打算在北京住多久?
11. He means to succeed.
    他想要获得成功。
12. What do you mean to do with it?
    你打算怎样处理它?
13. Missing the train, he means to wait for an hour.
    赶不上这列火车他打算再等一个小时。

S+～+ v -ing

1. These new orders for our manufacturers will mean working overtime.
   这些订购我们产品的新订单意味着要加班。
2. Independence does not mean shutting the door to the world.
   独立自主并不是闭关自守。
3. To raise wages means increasing purchasing power.
   提高工资就意味着提高购买力。

S+～+that-clause

1. The sign means that cars cannot enter.
   这种标志表示汽车不能入内。
2. Do you mean that I am an individualist?
   你的意思是,我是个人主义者?
3. He didn't express himself very clearly, but he means that he wants your help.
   他没有表达得很清楚,可他的意思是他需要你的帮助。
4. This means that the boy may be out of a job for some time.
   这意味着这个男孩子有一段时间要没有工作。
5. That expression means that he is angry.
   那表情意味着他生气了。
6. The shooting stopped, which meant that the bandit gang had been destroyed.
   枪声停止了,说明这帮匪徒已被消灭。

S+～+wh-clause

1. It doesn't mean what you thought it meant.
   它不表示你认为它表示的那个意思。

用作双宾动词

S+～+ pron./n. + n./pron.

1. He means you no harm.
   他对你没有恶意。
2. Although he seems angry with his son, he means him nothing but good.
   他似乎对儿子很生气,但他只是想让他好。

S+～+ n./pron. +for pron./n.

1. She meant this gift for you.
   这礼物是送给你的。
2. I meant it for your good.
   我是为了你的利益着想。
1
3. This warning was meant for you.
   这警告是冲着你来的。
4. Some of the jokes in this play are not meant for children's ears.
   剧里的一些玩笑不适合让孩子们听。

用作宾补动词

S+～+ n./pron. +to be/as n.

1. No one meant him to be a great man.
   没人要他成为伟人。
2. I wasn't serious,I meant it as a joke.
   我并非有意,我只是想开个玩笑而已。
1
3. He believes he is meant to be a great man.
   他相信他生来就是要当伟人的。
4. He was meant to be a lawyer by his parents.
   他父母期望他能当律师。

S+～+ n./pron. +to- v

1. I mean you to do the exercise by yourself.
   我是要你独自完成作业。
2. She meant us to help her.
   她想让我们帮助她。
3. Did you mean us to know?
   你是有意让我们知道吗?
4. We didn't mean you to go out alone.
   我们不想让你一个人出去。
5. I didn't mean him to come so early.
   我没有要他来得这么早。
6. We never meant you to spend your time like that.
   我们从来没打算让你把时间这样花掉。
7. He meant himself to do his best.
   他要自己尽最大的努力。
1
8. Books are meant to be read.
   书就是让人读的。
9. He was meant to do his best by everyone.
   人人都期望他能尽力。
10. You're meant to take your shoes off when you enter a Hindu temple.
    你进入印度寺庙时应该脱掉鞋子。

用作形容词 (adj.)

用作定语

～+ n.

1. He is a mean man.
   他是个自私的人。
2. He looks like a mean character.
   他看上去不似善类。
3. What a mean revenge!
   多么卑鄙的报复!
4. That was a mean trick!
   那是卑鄙的诡计。
5. He's got a mean streak in him.
   他生性有点刻薄。
6. That's a mean dog.
   那是一只恶狗。
7. The shoes were of mean quality.
   这些鞋子的质量很差。
8. He is a man of mean birth.
   他是位出身低微的人。
9. This should be clear to the meanest intelligence.
   这甚至对智力极低的人也应该是清楚的。
10. They could only afford the meanest rooms in a poor area.
    他们只住得起贫民区最简陋的房子。
11. The meanest labourer has the same rights as the richest employer.
    最贫贱的劳动者享有和最富的雇主同样的权利。
12. The mean temperature of this area is 33 degrees in summer.
    这个地区夏季平均气温为33度。
13. The mean yearly rainfall is 20 inches.
    平均年降雨量为20英寸。

用作表语

S+be+～

1. He's the last person I'll like, he's so mean and wicked.
   他是我最不喜欢的人,他又卑鄙又邪恶。
2. Corruption and bribery are mean.
   贪污行贿是可鄙的。

S+be+～+ prep .-phrase

1. He is mean about money.
   他吝啬钱。
2. I feel rather mean for not helping more.
   我未能多帮忙,十分抱歉。
3. Don't be so mean to me.
   不要对我这么刻薄。
4. She apologized for having been so mean to me.
   她因对我如此刻薄而表示歉意。

S+be+～+to- v

1. She's too mean to make a donation.
   她很小气,不肯捐款。

It is/was+～+(of sb) to- v

1. It is mean to spread gossip about others.
   散布有关他人的流言是卑鄙的。
2. It was mean of her to say that.
   她那样说是刻薄的。
3. It was mean of you not to let the children play in the snow.
   你不通人情,不让孩子们在雪地里玩。

用作名词 (n.)

1. The mean of 7,9 and 14 is 10.7,9
   和14的平均数为10。
2. What you do first is to calculate the mean.
   你所要做的第一件事就是要算出平均数。
3. Her income is $3500 above the national mean.
   她的收入比全国平均数高出3500美元。
4. Can't we strike a mean and find a house that's not too big or to small?
   难道我们不能采取折中办法,找一栋既不太大也不太小的房子吗?
5. You must find a mean between frankness and rudeness.
   你要在坦诚与唐突之间取其中。
6. Eight hours is a happy mean between too much sleep and too little.8
   小时睡眠不算太多,也不算太少,正好。

经典引文

• Aristotle's doctrine of courage as the right mean between cowardice and temerity.

  出自： P. Tillich

• The climate of each day the same cool mean, neither summer nor winter.

  出自： N. Gordimer

• Thou shalt not steal, though thou be very mean.

  出自： Bunyan

• I didn't know I was doing any harm; I didn't mean to do any harm.

  出自： M. Twain

• I have been meaning..to write and thank you.

  出自： S. T. Warner

• For much he never got round to doing, but meant to, when the weather bucked up.

  出自： T. Connor

• She had meant to speak..humorously but somehow the words had come out all wrong.

  出自： G. Vidal

常用短语

用作动词 (v.)

be meant for

命中注定 be intended by or as if by fate for a way of life

I mean

我的意思是 what my mean is
I mean to say
He can't be allowed to behave like that; I meant to say, he's a grown man.

不应该准许他有那样的举止,我是说他已经是成年人了。 I mean that-clause
I mean that all glitters is not gold.

我是说,不是所有闪光的东西都是金子。
I mean that he is a swindler.

我的意思是说,他是个骗子。
I mean that it is impossible.

我的意思是说那不可能。
I mean that there should be no argument about this.

我的意思是不得对此事有任何争论。

mean by( v.+prep. )

通过…表达 intend (a meaning) through or by means of sth
mean sth by sth/v-ing
I meant nothing by it at all.

我那么做毫无别的意思。
He meant his love by giving flowers.

他通过送花来表达他的爱意。

mean to( v.+prep. )

对…来说很重要… express the idea of sth, as understood by sb
mean sth to sb
Having my family around me means happiness to me.

家人同我在一起就意味着幸福。
The smell means dinner to the dog!

对狗来说,这气味意味着进食!
It was a worthless toy, but it meant a lot to the child.

这是一件毫无价值的玩具,但对这个孩子来说却很有意义。
These symbols mean nothing to me.

我完全不明白这些符号是什么意思。
Money means nothing to him.

金钱对他来说是无所谓的。
He means no harm to anyone.

他无意伤害任何人。

what do you mean

你是什么意思 what are you going to do
what do you mean by v-ing
What do you mean by coming home so late?

你怎么竟敢这么晚才回家?

词汇搭配

用作动词 (v.)

～+名词

• mean business 当真
• mean consent 意味着同意
• mean rain 意味着有雨
• mean success 意味着成功
• mean war 预示着战争
• mean youth 意味着年轻

～+副词

• mean a great deal 表示很多意思
• mean little 毫无意义
• mean much 意味深长
• mean well 怀着好意
• mean abominably 极坏地打算
• mean bitterly 极为失望地打算
• mean brutally 残忍地打算
• mean cruelly 残忍地打算
• mean despicably 卑鄙地打算
• mean disgracefully 使人丢脸地打算
• mean greedily 贪婪地打算
• mean horribly 令人恐怖地打算
• mean incredibly 令人难以置信地打算
• mean maliciously 恶毒地打算
• mean outrageously 残暴地打算
• mean selfishly 自私地打算
• mean shamefully 可耻地打算
• mean stingily 小气地打算
• mean terribly 可怕地打算
• mean unbelievably 令人难以相信地打算
• mean viciously 邪恶地打算

～+介词

• mean as 出于…之意
• mean by 意思是,意味着
• mean for 针对
• mean to 对…有意义

用作形容词 (adj.)

～+名词

• mean axis 中轴
• mean line 等分线
• mean opinion 轻视,看不起
• mean term 中项
• mean value 平均值

副词+～

• abominably mean 自私可恶,平庸讨厌
• bitterly mean 极端可鄙
• brutally mean 蛮横可鄙
• cruelly mean 非常自私
• disgracefully mean 下贱丢脸
• greedily mean 贪得下贱
• selfishly mean 自私自利
• shamefully mean 卑劣可耻
• terribly mean 极度低劣
• treacherously mean 阴险卑鄙
• viciously mean 邪恶下贱

～+动词不定式

• mean to say that 这样说太坏了

～+介词

• mean about 在…上吝啬的
• mean of 对…羞愧
• mean over 对…吝啬的
• mean to 对…不好的
• feel mean with a cold 因伤风而感不适

用作名词 (n.)

动词+～

• adopt the golden mean 遵循中庸之道
• find a mean 求平均值
• follow the golden mean 遵循中庸之道
• keep mean(s) 守中庸
• observe mean(s) 守中庸
• overstep the mean 越过平均线
• represent a mean for 代表…的平均值
• take the mean 取得平均值

形容词+～

• arithmetic mean 等差,算术中项
• golden mean 中庸
• happy mean 中庸
• harmonic mean 调和中项
• national mean 全国平均数

介词+～

• above mean 高出平均数

词语用法

1. mean指“意欲”时，可接不定式，但不接动名词。

   I mean to make his acquaintance.
   我想和他熟悉了解下。

2. mean前可与介词by搭配。

   By that word is meant something different.

3. mean表示“（某词或某语）作什么解释”，用“What does ... mean?”。

   What does 'fruit' mean?

4. mean后可接双宾语。

   They mean us no harm.
   他们不想伤害我们。

5. What do you mean?使用比How do you mean?普遍，有时还可表示生气或抗议。

   What do you mean, I can't sing？
   你什么意思？我不能唱歌？

6. in the mean time同in the meantime都指“在此期间”，也同副词形式的meantime，meanwhile同义，表示相同意思的还有in the mean while以及in the meanwhile。现使用比较普遍的有in the meantime和 meanwhile；
7. no mean指“相当的，很好的”，用时句中可不加不定冠词。

   He is no mean cricketer.
   他是个很好的板球运动员。

8. “I mean..."作句子开头时，通常是要开始做一个附加资料的介绍或是解释，属非正式格式。

v. (动词)

1. mean的基本意思是“表示…的意思”,指某一动作或某件事物(如字母、信号等)具有某种意思,这一事物与其现在所表达意思是相同的。mean也可指“本意是,原意为”,指某一件事物最初的意思,这个意思与其现在所表示的意思可能不同。mean还可指“有某种重要性”。
2. mean多用作及物动词,其后可接名词、代词、动名词、动词不定式或that/wh-从句作宾语,有时还可接双宾语。mean也可接由动词不定式或“to be/as+ n. ”充当补足语的复合宾语。mean偶尔也可用作不及物动词。
3. mean作“打算,企图”解时,要搭用动词不定式作宾语,此时如以非谓语动词作主语,则该主语须用动名词。作“意味着”解,则要搭用动名词作宾语,此时如以非谓语动词作主语,则该主语须用动词不定式。
4. mean后不可搭用否定的动词不定式。
5. mean常用于过去完成时或一般过去时表示“希望”“预料”“打算”未能完成或未能实现。用于过去完成时时,多半搭用动词不定式的一般时态; 用于一般过去时则可搭用动词不定式的完成时,也可搭用一般时。
6. 在口语中如出现口误,可用I mean来修正,意为“不,我是说”,也可用此(即通过解释、重复或添加新的内容)来把已经说过的话说得更清楚些,还可用此表示不同意某事。
7. what do you mean可用于表示讨厌的事或不同意某人刚说过的话,也可用来引出愤怒的抗议。

adj. (形容词)

1. mean用作形容词时的意思是“吝啬的,自私的”,指对属于自己的东西格外的小气,不想让别人得到,或做事情只想到自己,而不替他人着想。mean也可指做事情采取不正当的或有损他人利益的手段,即“卑鄙的,不善良的”; 也可指心地不善良,即“刻毒的,邪恶的”。mean还可指某人或某事处于不高不低(或不长不短)的水平,即“中间的,平均的”。mean引申可指“难看的,劣质的,简陋的”“低劣的,平庸的”“出身微贱的,社会地位低下的”等。
2. mean可用来修饰人或具体的事物,也可以修饰抽象的事物。用作表语时,可接介词短语或动词不定式。

n. (名词)

1. mean用作名词时的意思是“中间,中庸”,指某事处于中间状态。也可表示“平均数,平均值”,指将两个或两个以上不同的数字相加,然后用相加后的总和再除以相加的数字的个数所得到的数。
2. mean作“中间”解时,通常后接介词between表示“在…两者之间的折中办法”。

词义辨析

v. (动词)

mean, connote, denote, imply, indicate, signify, suggest, symbolize

• 这组词的共同意思是“意指”。其区别是：
• 1.mean是普通用语,对于明确与否的观点、物品都可以用; suggest意为“具有…的含义”,暗示“表明”。例如:
• He claims to mean one thing, but his choice of words suggests quite another.他宣称指的是一件事,而他的话却含有另外一个含义。
• 2.indicate与imply意为“说明,表明,象征”, indicate通常指明显、明确的事物。例如:
• A high fever indicates a severe illness.高烧预示着要生病了。
• imply通常指含蓄地、不明确地“暗示”。例如:
• His smile implied that he had forgotten all about the time.他的笑预示着他完全忘记了时间。
• 3.denote与connote通常指明示的内容、含义,从外观上即可看出。例如:
• The word “lion” denotes〔connotes〕 a certain kind of animal.“狮子”这个词指一种动物。
• 4.connote与suggest和imply有时可以替换,但connote的用法比其他两个词较为正式。例如:
• Hunger connotes〔suggests, implies〕 unhappiness.饥饿就预示着不高兴。
• 5.signify与symbolize表示“意味,象征”, symbolize通常指用物、符号代表某物,着重表示抽象的概念。例如:
• What does this strange mark signify〔symbolize〕?这个奇怪的符号代表什么?
• 6.signify有时可以和mean互换。例如:
• A red sunset signifies〔means〕 fine weather.一轮火红的落日象征着一个好天气。

mean, be going to, be thinking of, intend

• 这四者都有“想要”或“打算”的意思。其区别是：
• 1.mean比intend单纯,没有intend专心于某事的含义。
• 2.be going to表示在说话之前已经作出决定; 而be thinking of则表示正在“想”或“打算”,还没有最后决定。
• 3.在口语中,一般不用intend to,而用be going to或be thinking of的形式来表达。
• 4.mean还有“意味”的意思,而另三个词(组)则没有此义。

mean, imply, involve

• 这组词的共同意思是“意味着”。其区别是：
• mean使用范围广,可指专门的、具体的事情,也可指暗示的意义或态度; imply含有不直接用文字或语言作充分表示而是靠听话人理解、领会出暗含的意思; involve表示必然产生某种结果。

adj. (形容词)

mean, base, low, vile

• 这四个词的共同意思是“卑微,低贱”。其区别是：
• 1.low多指道德低下,如以狡猾的手法欺骗弱者等,也指身份或阶级地位的卑微,还可指思想、语言或行为的低下;base主要指道德败坏、没有人格、自私怯懦、卑贱可耻;vile指卑鄙龌龊,令人生厌;mean与low同义,通常指一个人的品行而言,如卑鄙、自私、小气、刻薄、下贱等。例如:
• He had a low position in a church.在教堂里他地位低下。
• They were punished for their base conduct.他们因为道德败坏的行为而受到了惩罚。
• Children living in this area listen to grown-ups speak vile language every day.在这个地区的孩子们每天听着污言秽语长大。
• That was a mean trick.那是一个卑鄙的骗局。
• 2.在语气的强弱上, base是这四个词中最强的,其次是vile, mean和low语气最弱。

n. (名词)

mean, average, median

• 这几个词都有“平均、平均数”之意。其区别是：
• average 是“平均”或“平均数”的意思。它指的是把两个或两个以上的数相加的和,除以相加的数的个数而得的商数。mean 有“平均”或“平均数”的意思,但实际上指的是最大数和最小数之间的中数,即把二者相加的和,除以2所得的商数。median 是“中位数”的意思,它指的是按大小次序排列的一列数字中居中间的位置的那个数。试体会下面两句中这三个词的含义。
• The average of a group of five workers earning respectively 3,4,5,8 and 10 dollars a day is six dollars a day whereas the median is 5 dollars. 有五个工人,每天分别挣钱3,4,5,8和10元,这组工人收入的平均数为每天6元,中间位是5元。
• The mean temperature for a day with a high of 56°and a low of 34° is 45°.某日的最高气温为56°,最低气温为34°,其平均气温为45°。

intend，mean

• 这两个动词均有“想要、打算”之意。
• intend较正式用词，但常用，指对未来的行动做出打算，并力争实现。
• mean口语多用，指怀有作某事的想法或希望得到某物，特别用于效果不好而动机良好的场合。

low，mean，cheap，shabby

• 这些形容词均有“卑鄙的、卑贱的、卑下的”之意。
• low指行为卑鄙、可耻、不文明，可引申指庸俗。
• mean指行为卑鄙，自私，为人们所不齿。
• cheap侧重指人或物的品质低劣，下贱。
• shabby指行为的不公和卑劣而使人感到不屑和轻蔑。

mean，imply，indicate，represent，denote，signify，suggest

• 这些动词均含有“表示……的意思”之意。
• mean最普通用词，指文字或符号等所表示的各种明确的或含蓄的意义。
• imply侧重用文字或符号表示的联想，暗示。
• indicate指明显的表示。
• represent指体现或代表。
• denote指某一词字面或狭义的意思，或指某些符号或迹象的特指含义。
• signify指用文字、说话或表情等表示单纯的意思。
• suggest通常指暗含地、隐晦地表达意思。

常见错误

v. (动词)

1. 如果这意味着要耽搁一个多星期,我就不等了。

   误 I won't wait if it means to delay more than a week or so.

   正 I won't wait if it means delaying more than a week or so.

   析 在作“意味着”解时, mean后跟动名词,不跟动词不定式。

2. 有人认为,更严厉的惩罚会减少犯罪。

   误 Some people mean〔believe〕 that stricter punishments will reduce the amount of crime.

   正 Some people think that stricter punishments will reduce the amount of crime.

   析 mean表示“想表达(某种看法),意思是”; 表示“认为,有某种看法”可用think或believe。

3. 他不是故意杀害她的儿子的。

   误 He did not mean to kill her son on purpose.

   正 He did not mean to kill her son.

   正 He did not kill her son on purpose.

   析 mean可表示“有…意图,打算”, on purpose与mean意思重复。

4. 我不是有意要伤害你的感情。

   误 I meant not to hurt your feelings.

   正 I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.

   析 mean后不可接否定的动词不定式。

词源解说

• ☆ 直接源自古英语的mnan；最初源自西日耳曼语的mainijanan，意为说，告诉，抱怨。

近反义词

【近义词】

• expect
• intend
• plan
• propose
• denote
• express
• indicate
• signify
• suggest
• miserly
• selfish
• tight

【反义词】

• generous
• openhanded