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mean

Word family

ldoce_732_zmean1 /miːn/ S1 W1 verb [transitiveT] (past tensepst and past participlepp meant /ment/) → mien

1 have a particular meaning 有某種意思MEANING to have or represent a particular meaning 意思是，表示…的意思

What does ‘patronizing’ mean?

patronizing是什麽意思？

The red light means ‘Stop’.

紅燈表示“停”。

The report fails to define what is meant by the term ‘key issues’.

報告沒有明確“關鍵問題”一詞指的是什麽。

mean (that)

This light means you’re running low on fuel.

這個燈亮說明汽油不多了。

In written English, people often prefer to say that something indicates something is the case, rather than using mean: 在書面英語中，人們往往更喜歡用indicate而不用mean

The light indicates that fuel supplies are low.

這個燈亮說明汽油不多了。

2 intend to say STH 打算說某事MEANING to intend a particular meaning when you say something 意思是說

mean (that)

I meant we’d have to leave early – that’s all.

我的意思是說我們必須早點走——沒有别的。

It’s pretty obvious what she means.

她是什麽意思很明白。

(do) you mean spoken (=used to check you have understood what someone intended to say) 你的意思是說

Do you mean you’ve changed or Chris has changed?

你是說你變了還是克裏斯變了？

do/if you know/see what I mean? spoken (=used to check that someone understands you) 你明白我的意思吧？

I want to buy her something really special, if you know what I mean.

我想給她買一件很特别的東西，你明白我的意思吧。

We’re still married but living apart in the same house, if you see what I mean.

我們仍是夫妻，但在同一個房子裏分開住，你懂我的意思了吧。

Oh yeah! I see what you mean (=I understand what you are trying to say).

噢！我明白你的意思。

What I mean is, I don’t feel alone anymore (=used to explain more about what you have said).

我的意思是我不再感到孤單了。

‘I didn’t really like him.’ 'I know what you mean, I didn’t get on with him either (=used to say you understand and have had the same experience).

“我不太喜歡他。”“我知道你的意思，我和他也合不來。”

‘In three hours’ time, I’ll be a free man.‘ ’How do you mean (=used to ask someone to explain what they have just said)?'

“三個小時以後，我就是自由人了。”“你什麽意思？”

3 intend to do STH 打算做某事INTEND to intend to do something or intend that someone else should do something 意欲，打算

mean to do something

I’ve been meaning to ask you if you want to come for a meal next week.

我一直想問你，下個星期你想不想來吃頓飯。

I didn’t mean to upset you.

我並不是要讓你傷心。

mean somebody/something to do something

I didn’t mean this to happen at all.

我並不想發生這樣的事。

I never meant you to find out.

我根本不想讓你發現。

mean for somebody to do something especially American EnglishAmE

I didn’t mean for her to get hurt.

我並沒有讓她受到傷害的意思。

I’m sure she didn’t mean it (=she did not intend to upset or hurt someone).

我肯定她不是故意的。

mean no harm/offence/disrespect (=not intend to harm, offend etc someone) 並不想傷害/冒犯/不恭敬

I’m sure he didn’t mean any harm.

我確信他沒有惡意。

He may sound a bit rude at times, but he means well (=intends to be helpful or kind, even if it does not seem like that).

他講話有時也許是粗魯了一點，但用意是好的。

I wasn’t criticizing you, I really meant it for the best (=wanted to be helpful, although my actions had the wrong effect).

我不是在批評你，我真的是出於好意。

4 result in STH 導致某事RESULT to have a particular result or involve something 産生…結果；意味着

The merger will mean the closure of the company’s Sydney office.

合並意味着公司的悉尼辦事處要關閉。

Don’t let him see you. It will only mean trouble.

别讓他看見你。那只會造成麻煩。

mean (that)

The high cost of housing means that many young people can’t afford to buy a house.

房價高意味着很多年輕人買不起房子。

mean doing something

My new job will mean travelling all over the world.

我的新工作需要在世界各地到處跑。

Dieting also means being careful about which foods you buy.

節食還意味着買什麽樣的食物也需講究。

5 be familiar 熟識 if a name, word etc means something to you, you are familiar with it or you understand it 〔對某個名字、詞語等〕十分熟識，能理解

He said his name was ‘Randall’ but it meant nothing to me (=I was not familiar with it).

他說他的名字叫蘭德爾，但我一點印象也沒有。

Does the name Bryce mean anything to you?

你還記得布賴斯這個名字嗎？

You need to use analogies which will mean something to the reader.

你要用讀者能夠理解的比喻。

6 say STH seriously 嚴肅地說某事SERIOUS/NOT JOKING to be serious about what you are saying or writing 當真，說到做到

With children, if you say ‘no’, you have to mean it.

對待孩子，你如果說“不行”，就要說到做到。

I meant what I said earlier.

我剛才說的話是算數的。

You don’t really mean that, do you?

你不會真的要那樣，對嗎？

7 how important SB/STH is 某人/某事有多重要 used for saying how important someone or something is to you 重要，意義重大

mean something to somebody

I know how much your work means to you.

我知道你的工作對你有多重要。

The medal meant a lot to him.

那枚獎章對他意義重大。

mean the world to somebody/mean everything to somebody (=be very important to someone) 對某人來說意味着一切

He meant the world to her.

他就是她的一切。

Time meant nothing (=it was not important) to me while I was travelling.

旅行時，時間對我就不重要了。

Of course the relationship meant something to me.

當然這種關系對我還是挺重要的。

8 show STH is true/will happen 表明某事真實/會發生TRUE to be a sign that something is true or will happen 表示；預示

mean (that)

Finding a lump does not necessarily mean you have cancer.

發現有腫塊並不一定就意味着得了癌症。

Clear skies mean that it will be a cold night.

天空晴朗無雲說明晚間會冷。

Just because he’s been in prison, it doesn’t mean that he’s violent.

進過監獄並不能說明他就很暴力。

SPOKEN PHRASES

15 mean business DETERMINEDto be determined to do something 是認真的

This decision shows the public that we mean business.

這個決定向公衆表明我們是認真的。

Examples from the Corpus

mean business• But when it bites, it means business.• They looked as though they meant business.• Those boys knew we meant business.• Zhou had discarded his usual severe tunic for a gray Western business suit, and he meant business.• One of the quintet not only means business but high-minded, selfless business.• This does not necessarily mean businesses must avoid all such one-of-a-kinds whatever their nature.• But as the oil men realised that we meant business, seizures began to drop.• For one local company it's meant business taking off like a rocket.

16 be meant to do something

a) SHOULD/OUGHT TOif you are meant to do something, you should do it, especially because someone has told you to or because you are responsible for it 〔尤因某人的吩咐或根據職責〕應該[必須]做某事

Come on, Ellen, you’re meant to be helping me.

好了，埃倫，你是應該幫助我的。

I thought the police were meant to protect people.

我以爲警察就是要保護人民的。

b) PURPOSEto be intended to do something 意在[旨在]做某事

The diagram is meant to show the different stages of the process.

這個圖表意在顯示整個過程的各個不同階段。

Examples from the Corpus

be meant to do something• Designed by Robert Von Hagge, it was meant to be hard.• This is the way movie comedies were meant to be: one laugh rolling in just as the last one rolls out.• They are gifts fit for a king, and so they are meant to be.• Christmas time is meant to bring people together.• By the time it was finished, the workings had gone lower than the levels it was meant to drain.• The party was meant to have been a thank-you to the casino staff from the management.• The suit is meant to head off a legal attack against it by Apple which Quorum believes is in the works.• Like it was meant to look an accident.• The new program is meant to put young people in the retail and hospitality industries on a fast-track to management careers.• Jenny is convinced she was meant to stay with Zev.

17 be meant to be good/excellent/bad etc used to say that you have heard or read that something is good, bad etc 聽說很好/極出色/很差等

The play is meant to be really good.

這部戲聽說很好。

18 be meant for somebody/something INTENDto be intended for a particular person or purpose 爲某人[某目的]而準備的

a book meant for children

專爲兒童寫的書

Examples from the Corpus

be meant for somebody/something• I think this fork is meant for barbecuing.• Innocent's building at the Vatican was fortified with towers and an encircling wall and was meant for longer residence.• Nina got up and smiled a smile that was meant for no-one.• From the moment that they were introduced it was plain that they were meant for one another.• His friend got bitten by a snake that was meant for Ray.• Like illusionistic painting in general, this technique of mosaic was meant for the distant view.• Wisteria branches, for example, eventually grow to tree-size width and are meant for the sturdiest pergolas and arbors.• The only fan in Motherhouse is in the parlour and is meant for visitors.• Then this ad is meant for you.

19 be meant for somebody SUITABLEif two people are meant for each other, they are very suitable as partners for each other 適合某人

They were meant for each other.

他們很般配。

She’s meant for him.

她很適合他。

Examples from the Corpus

be meant for somebody• Innocent's building at the Vatican was fortified with towers and an encircling wall and was meant for longer residence.• Nina got up and smiled a smile that was meant for no-one.• From the moment that they were introduced it was plain that they were meant for one another.• His friend got bitten by a snake that was meant for Ray.• Like illusionistic painting in general, this technique of mosaic was meant for the distant view.• Wisteria branches, for example, eventually grow to tree-size width and are meant for the sturdiest pergolas and arbors.• The only fan in Motherhouse is in the parlour and is meant for visitors.• Then this ad is meant for you.

20 somebody was never meant for something/to be something SUITABLEused to say that someone is not at all suitable for a particular job or activity 某人根本不是從事某種工作[活動]的料

I was never meant for the army.

我完全不是當兵的料。

21 something was meant to be/happen CERTAINLY/DEFINITELYused to say that you think a situation was certain to happen and that no one could have prevented it 某事注定要發生

Dan left me after a month so I guess it just wasn’t meant to be.

丹一個月後就離開了我，所以我想我們注定不能在一起。

Examples from the Corpus

something was meant to be/happen• Perhaps it's because none of this was meant to happen.• Imprinted with cell bars, the first Tricky Envelope was meant to be festooned with the Richard Nixon stamp.• Designed by Robert Von Hagge, it was meant to be hard.• She was meant to be illustrating a new book for children, a fantasy story by a well-known author.• Technically he was meant to be in bed.• The fit crew was meant to be Merrill Lynch.• Our protest was meant to be purely symbolic.• It was meant to be some kind of joke.

22 know/understand what it means to be something UNDERSTANDto have experienced a particular situation, so that you know what it is like 知道/理解某事的滋味

I know what it means to be alone in a foreign country.

我知道獨自一人身處異國是什麽滋味。

Examples from the Corpus

know/understand what it means to be something• If you are overweight, then you know what it means to be in emotional pain.

n GRAMMAR: Using the progressive

Mean is not used in the progressive in any of its senses, except for sense 3. You say:

What does this word mean?

This means trouble.

✗Don’t say: What is this word meaning? | This is meaning trouble.

5 FREQUENCY 使用頻率

Examples from the Corpus

mean• She's kind of irritable, if you know what I mean.• Do you know what "ambidextrous" means?• He said Sarah was a very close friend, but I'm not sure what he meant.• High interest rates and high inflation mean a recession is not far away.• It says "not suitable for children", which means anyone under 16.• The strength of the pound means bikes are much cheaper to buy on the continent than over here.• "Poultry" means chickens, ducks, turkeys, and geese.• In practice this means for men.• Does this mean I can't go to the wedding?• I mean it - I'll scream if you don't let me go.• Just because it's red doesn't mean it's cherry-flavored.• His new responsibilities at work mean Leroy will rarely see his children.• Cloudy water from the taps usually means problems with your storage tank.• If A is false, does that also mean proposition B is false?• Dark clouds usually mean rain.• Her car's not there, so that must mean she's gone to pick him up.• Frank's surgery residency means staying in Albuquerque another five years.• "Downsizing" simply means that firms are tending to buy smaller computers to do jobs which used to require big ones.• Bush's tax cuts and the slowing economy mean that Pentagon policy choices will have to be made this year.• Since the amount of information to be conveyed remains much the same this means that the signal-to-noise ratio will be worse.• I meant that we would have to leave early, that's all.• A free economy does not mean the absence of any economic control.• Oh, you mean the blue shorts.• It is much quicker, and it means the same, if we say Yes I do or Yes I think so.• That was the point Henry Hyde meant to make about opinion polls.• Similarly, some words which are meant to stir can leave others unmoved.• And I meant what I said about you at the start of this.• I meant what I said, I never want to see you again.

mean (that)• It means accepting power as natural and necessary to decision making regardless of formal structure.• In terms of the Chart this means controlling the order in which hypotheses are taken off the Agenda and added to the search space.• Maybe Claire means it's all right, she only needs one more hanky.• You talk of family and you mean one ruthless and callous renegade.• It's not a problem, it just means that we can't use this information.• In the home this usually means the telephone line, which is fine for voice but excruciatingly slow for data.• Their life tenure means they defy patronage.• But that means you have to fight so damn hard to get even with the system.• I mean, you've heard all his New Age stuff about them being soul mates destined for each other.

I know what you mean• But I knew what he meant.• I saw the way Rohan looked at you. I knew what it meant.• Looking for family-right, Aunt Marie, I know what you mean.• Now I knew what they meant.• Oh, I know what you mean.• She didn't say which few, but I knew what she meant.

meant it for the best• I only meant it for the best.

mean (that)• It means accepting power as natural and necessary to decision making regardless of formal structure.• In terms of the Chart this means controlling the order in which hypotheses are taken off the Agenda and added to the search space.• Maybe Claire means it's all right, she only needs one more hanky.• You talk of family and you mean one ruthless and callous renegade.• In the home this usually means the telephone line, which is fine for voice but excruciatingly slow for data.• Their life tenure means they defy patronage.• But that means you have to fight so damn hard to get even with the system.• I mean, you've heard all his New Age stuff about them being soul mates destined for each other.

mean something to• But she couldn't let him see that it had meant something to her.• He is willing to extend his generosity to people who mean something to him or are of the same religion.• It may have been at this time that the name Saladin began to mean something to him.• Old Eddy meant something to him.• But it means something to them.• We love that we meant something to them.• It did mean something to us.• It dawned on me I really meant something to you, you know.

really mean• How far away that really means.• However, when business schools say that they can effectively teach entrepreneurial skills, what do they really mean?• People kept asking us: What does it really mean?• That sounds like motherhood and apple pie until we examine what full employment really means.• This really means cutting in angled sweeps, allowing the double blade to cut on the forward and return arc.• Anna hadn't really meant here, but she felt she'd better not say anything.• And it really means nothing if you don't beat a Michigan team that you should.• Whatever that phrase really means, Tuesday's program Twentieth-Century Landscapes showed how freely composers exploited sound in the past century.

meant something• In these quiet, comforting moments the promises they made meant something, and gave him hope for the future.• But until 1800 it meant something different from what it does today.• One life? as if it meant something special.• But she couldn't let him see that it had meant something to her.• The name meant something to me.• We love that we meant something to them.• Second, I wanted a school noted for its education, or a degree that meant something where I wanted to live.• I was one of the last fortunate people because winning still meant something.

mean (that)• It means accepting power as natural and necessary to decision making regardless of formal structure.• In terms of the Chart this means controlling the order in which hypotheses are taken off the Agenda and added to the search space.• Maybe Claire means it's all right, she only needs one more hanky.• You talk of family and you mean one ruthless and callous renegade.• In the home this usually means the telephone line, which is fine for voice but excruciatingly slow for data.• Their life tenure means they defy patronage.• But that means you have to fight so damn hard to get even with the system.• I mean, you've heard all his New Age stuff about them being soul mates destined for each other.

Related topics: Maths, Measurement

mean2 S3 adjectiveadj (comparativecomp meaner, superlativesupl meanest)

1 UNKINDcruel 殘酷的 cruel or not kind 殘酷的；不善良的；刻薄的

That was a mean thing to do.

這事做得不厚道。

I felt a bit mean asking him to help.

我覺得讓他來幫忙有點殘忍。

It’s a mean trick to play on someone.

跟人玩這樣的惡作劇夠損的。

It was mean of him not to invite her.

他不厚道，沒邀請她。

mean to

Don’t be so mean to her!

不要對她這麽刻薄！

► see thesaurus at unkind

2 not generous 吝啬的 British EnglishBrEGENEROUS not wanting to spend money, or not wanting to use much of something 吝啬的 SYN stingy, American English cheap

He’s too mean to buy a present for his wife.

他很吝啬，給他妻子買件禮物都不肯。

mean with

He’s always been mean with his money.

他花錢一向很吝啬。

It was supposed to be garlic bread, but they’d been a bit mean with the garlic.

本應該是蒜香面包，但他們用蒜有點吝啬。

3 no mean feat/achievement/task etc DIFFICULTsomething that is very difficult to do, so that someone who does it deserves to be admired 不小的業績/成就/任務等

They sold 1 million cards in the first year of business – no mean feat, given the problems many businesses are facing.

他們在開張的第一年就賣出了一百萬張卡，考慮到許多公司面臨的種種問題，真是很不錯的業績。

Examples from the Corpus

no mean feat/achievement/task etc• But that was no mean achievement.• For an immigrant boy this marital alliance was no mean achievement.• Given that there are some 20,000 such fastenings in a boat of this size, this is no mean feat.• In particular the notion that nurse training is for the young and for women only must be dispelled; no mean task.• In this case it was no mean task.• This is no mean feat as the statute has 108 sections divided into 12 separate parts, together with 15 schedules.• This is no mean task, especially if they have not been doing any recruitment for the past few months.• On Tuesday Invergordon Distillers reported a marginal improvement in underlying profits, no mean feat given the difficulties facing the whisky sector.

4 be no mean performer/player etc GOOD/EXCELLENTto be very good at doing something 是一位了不起的演員/球員等

Kinnock is no mean performer on the rugby field.

金諾克在橄欖球場上是個了不起的運動員。

Examples from the Corpus

be no mean performer/player etc• Kinnock fils, who is no mean performer on the rugby field, has developed a taste for academe.

5 a mean something informalGOOD AT used to say that something is very good or that someone is very good at doing something 很好的某事物；很拿手的某事

He plays a mean game of poker.

他打撲克很厲害。

They serve a mean Sunday brunch at the restaurant on Fourth Street.

第四大街的那家飯店提供豐盛的周日早午餐。

Examples from the Corpus

a mean something• Stritch plays a mean piano.• They always put on a mean Sunday brunch.

6 average 平均的 [only before noun] technicalHM average 平均

The study involved 60 patients with a mean age of 58.2 years.

這項研究涉及60名患者，平均年齡爲58.2歲。

The mean annual rainfall was 852 mm.

年平均降雨量爲852毫米。

7 poor 破舊的 [only before noun] literaryPOOR poor or looking poor 簡陋的，難看的，破舊的

She walked briskly through the mean and dirty streets.

她快步穿過一條條窮街陋巷。

—meanly adverbadv

—meanness noun [uncountableU]

Examples from the Corpus

mean• There's no reason to be mean.• We soon found out that our new teacher could be real mean.• Now with Sam gone Helen will get meaner and meaner to me like always.• Rick's so mean he never even buys his wife a birthday present.• He's so mean, he won't even buy his wife a birthday present.• The mean labelling indices did not change significantly over time regardless of whether or not there were recurrences.• The mean length of stay in the hospital is 11 days.• The disparity between solar noon and mean noon widens and narrows as the seasons change, on a sliding scale.• It was mean of you to disturb her when she was having a rest.• My father was a mean old man who resented every penny he spent on us.• In the garden grey airs blow moist, but the mean sky holds on to its water.• I never thought he was capable of doing such a mean thing to his brother.• Sharon and the others were really mean to me at school today.• He was mean to those who worked for him and generous to those who he hardly knew.• That was a mean trick.• She hated him for being so mean. Why was he stopping her from seeing her friends?• Marsha has always been mean with her money.

mean to• Mom, Laverne is being mean to me.

mean3 noun

1 the mean technicalHM the average amount, figure, or value 平均數，平均值

The mean of 7,9 and 14 is 10.

7、9和14的平均數爲10。

Examples from the Corpus

the mean• The mean of 6,9, and 12 is 9.

2 the/a mean between something and something MIDDLEa method of doing something which is between two very different methods, and better than either of them 的中庸之道，…的折中辦法〔介於兩種不同辦法之間而比兩者都好的一種辦法〕

It’s a case of finding the mean between firmness and compassion.

這是要在強硬和同情之間找出折中的辦法。

Examples from the Corpus

the/a mean between something and something• It's a case of finding the mean between firmness and compassion.• A Nothing in comparison with the Infinite, an All in comparison with the Nothing, a mean between nothing and everything.

→ means

Examples from the Corpus

mean• As for the rapists, I bet they are unsuccessful in attracting females, and so resort to desperate means.• But success was by no means guaranteed.• By no means, Watson; even now quite a few scientists continue to doubt.• The poorer ones lack the means to get out, and keep getting caught.• In some of the other states, the usual means of locomotion was still a horse and wagon.

From Longman Business Dictionary

meanmean1 /miːn/ adjectiveadj [only before a noun]

STATISTICS average

Analysts’ mean estimate is for earnings of 33 cents a share.

meanmean2 noun

the meanSTATISTICS the average

The GDP of this state was 32% below the mean for the country as a whole.

→ arithmetic mean

Origin mean1

Old English mænan

mean2

1. Old English gemæne

2. (1300-1400) Old French meien, from Latin medianus; → MEDIAN2

mean3

(1300-1400) Old French meien, from meien “in the middle”; → MEAN2

mean1 verb

→10-16

→n GRAMMAR1 →REGISTER1 →5 FREQUENCY1 →SPOKEN PHRASES1mean2 adjectiveadjmean3 noun

LDOCE Online

Chinese

Corpus

TOEFL IELTS BNC: 121 COCA: 154

mean

adjective¹

unkind不善良

VERBS | ADVERB | PREPOSITION

VERBS

➤be, feel, seem刻薄；感覺刻薄；似乎刻薄

▸➤become變得刻薄

ADVERB

➤extremely, fairly, very, etc.極其／相當／非常刻薄

◇That was a pretty mean trick.那把戲可是夠卑鄙的。

PREPOSITION

➤to對⋯刻薄

◇He's so mean to his mother!他對他媽媽太刻薄了！

mean

adjective²

(BrE)

not generous不慷慨

VERBS | ADVERB | PREPOSITION

VERBS

➤be, seem吝嗇；似乎吝嗇

▸➤become變得吝嗇

ADVERB

➤extremely, fairly, very, etc.極其／相當／非常吝嗇

◇I thought it was really mean of him not to pay for the meal.我覺得他沒掏那頓飯錢真是摳門。

➤a little, slightly, etc.有點兒／略有些吝嗇

◇He's a little mean when it comes to spending money on the children.在孩子身上花錢他有點兒吝嗇。

PREPOSITION

➤with在⋯方面吝嗇

◇She's very mean with her money.她花錢很小氣。

TOEFL IELTS BNC: 121 COCA: 154

mean adj.
⇨ mean 1 (a mean thing to do) ⇨ mean 2 (mean with money)mean verb
⇨ mean 1 (What does this sentence mean?) ⇨ mean 2 (What do you mean by that remark?) ⇨ mean 3 (This new order will mean working overtime.) ⇨ design 2 (His father meant him to be an engineer.) ⇨ intend (I didn't mean to hurt you.)mean

adjective

a mean thing to do 這麽做不厚道

mean with money 用錢很吝啬

mean

♦︎

nasty

♦︎

unkind

♦︎

obnoxious

♦︎

objectionable

♦︎

hurtful

♦︎

unpleasantThese words all describe people not being kind. 這些詞均表示刻薄的、不友好的。

SYNONYM SCALE 詞義標尺

下圖顯示這些詞所表達不友好的程度

unkind	➔	mean	➔	obnoxious
objectionable		nasty
unpleasant		hurtful

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配

◆to be mean / nasty / unkind / obnoxious / objectionable / hurtful / unpleasant to sb

◆to be mean / nasty about sb

◆to be mean / nasty / unkind of sb (to do sth)

◆to be mean / nasty / unkind to do sth

◆a mean / a nasty / an unkind / a hurtful thing to say / do

◆a nasty / an unkind / a hurtful remark

◆a nasty / an obnoxious / an unpleasant little man

◆very mean / nasty / unkind / objectionable / hurtful / unpleasant

◆really mean / nasty / obnoxious / objectionable / unpleasant

◆rather mean / nasty / unkind / hurtful / unpleasant

■ mean

(rather informal,

especially spoken)

not kind, for example by not letting sb have or do sth 刻薄的；不厚道的

◆Don't be so mean to your little brother!别對你弟弟那麽刻薄！

◆I thought it was really mean of him not to let her use the car.他不讓她用車，我覺得這真是太不近人情了。

◆He has a mean streak in him (= an unpleasant side to his character).他生性有點兒刻薄。

OPP

generous ⇨

kind

adj.

■ nasty

(rather informal,

especially spoken)

not kind, especially in what you say to or about sb else （尤指言辭）不友好的，惡意的；說别人壞話的

◆She's always making nasty remarks about people.她總是說别人的壞話。

◆She was nasty about (= said nasty things about) everyone.她對什麽人都沒有好話。

◆He has a nasty temper.他脾氣很壞。

OPP

nice ⇨

nice

■ unkind

not kind or friendly 不厚道的；不友善的；刻薄的

◆He was never actually unkind to them.其實他從沒有對他們不好。

◆It would be unkind to go without him.甩掉他那就太不夠朋友了。

◆She never said anything unkind about anyone.她從未說過任何人的壞話。

ⓘ Unkind is often used as a softer way of saying mean or nasty. * unkind常用作mean或nasty的較溫和的說法。

OPP

kind ⇨

kind

adj.

see also

cruel ⇨

cruel

▸

unkindly

adverb

◆I'm sure it wasn't meant unkindly.我肯定那沒有惡意。

■ obnoxious

əbˈnɒkʃəs; NAmE əbˈnɑːkʃəs

extremely unpleasant, especially in a way that is offensive or unkind 令人反感的；極討厭的；可憎的

◆What an obnoxious little man!多麽可惡的卑鄙小人！

■ objectionable

əbˈdʒekʃənəbl

(rather formal)

(especially of people and their behaviour or attitudes) unpleasant or offensive （尤指人、行爲或態度）令人不快的，令人反感的，討厭的

◆His views on race are quite objectionable.他對種族問題的看法令人十分反感。

■ hurtful

(especially of things sb says or writes) unkind and making you feel upset and offended （尤指言語或文章）傷感情的，尖銳刻薄的

◆I cannot forget the hurtful things he said.我無法忘記他說的那些傷感情的話。

see also

hurt ⇨

distress

noun

hurt ⇨

hurt

verb

■ unpleasant

(rather formal)

not kind, friendly or polite 不友善的；不客氣的；不禮貌的

◆He was very unpleasant to me.他對我很兇。

◆She said some very unpleasant things about you.她說了你一些很難聽的話。

ⓘ Unpleasant suggests that sb is being rude or saying insulting things. * unpleasant表示某人粗魯無禮或出言不遜。

OPP

pleasant ⇨

friendly

mean

verb

What does this sentence mean? 這個句子是什麽意思？

What do you mean by that remark? 你說那話是什麽意思？

This new order will mean working overtime. 這新訂單一來，我們就得加班加點。

➡ See also the entry for

suggest

另見suggest條

mean

♦︎

mark

♦︎

signal

♦︎

signify

♦︎

denoteThese words all mean to be a sign that sth exists or is likely to happen. 這些詞均表示表明、預示。

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配

◆to mean / signify sth to sb

◆to mean / signify that...

◆to mean / mark / signal / signify / denote a change in sth

◆to mean / mark / signal / signify / denote the beginning / start / arrival / end of sth

◆to clearly mean / mark / signal / signify / denote sth

■ mean

(

meant

, meant

)

[transitive]

(not used in the progressive tenses 不用於進行時)

to have sth as a meaning; to be a sign that sth has just happened or is going to happen 表示⋯的意思；是⋯的迹象；表明；預示

◆What does this sentence mean?這個句子是什麽意思？

◆What is meant by 'batch processing'?“批處理”是什麽意思？

◆Does the name 'David Berwick' mean anything to you (= do you know who he is)?你知道戴維•貝裏克是誰嗎？

◆The flashing light means (that) you must stop.閃爍的燈光表示你必須停下。

◆Mr President, does this mean an end to the current conflict?總統先生，這是否表示當前的沖突結束了呢？

■ mark

[transitive]

(not used in the progressive tenses 不用於進行時)

(especially written,

~~journalism 新聞~~)

to be a sign that sth has just happened or is going to happen 是⋯的迹象；表明；預示

◆The agreement marks a new phase in international relations.該協議標志着國際關系新時期的到來。

■ signal

(

-ll-

, NAmE

-l-

)

[transitive]

(not used in the progressive tenses 不用於進行時)

(rather formal,

especially written,

~~journalism 新聞~~)

to be a sign that sth has just happened or is going to happen 是⋯的迹象；表明；預示

◆The scandal surely signals the end of his political career.毫無疑問，這樁醜聞預示他的政治生涯就此結束。

NOTE 辨析 Mean, mark or signal?These words can all mean 'be a sign that sth has just happened or is going to happen': mean is used most frequently in spoken English, but mark and signal are used more frequently in this meaning in written English, especially in journalism. 這些詞均可表示“是⋯的迹象、表明、預示”。mean最常用於口語，mark和signal表達此義時較常用於書面語，尤用於新聞報道。

■ signify

ˈsɪgnɪfaɪ

[transitive]

(not used in the progressive tenses 不用於進行時)

(rather formal)

to be a sign of sth; to have a particular meaning 表示；說明；意指

◆This decision signified a radical change in their policies.這個決定表明他們的政策發生了根本的變化。

◆This mark signifies that the products conform to an approved standard.這個標志說明這些産品符合認可的標準。

■ denote

dɪˈnəʊt; NAmE dɪˈnoʊt

[transitive]

(not used in the progressive tenses 不用於進行時)

(formal)

to be a sign of sth; to have a particular meaning 表示；說明；意指

◆A very high temperature often denotes a serious illness.高燒往往表明病得很重。

NOTE 辨析 Signal, signify or denote? Signal suggests that sth makes people realize sth; signify and denote usually suggest that one thing has a particular meaning, especially an official or accepted meaning. * signal意味着某物使人意識到什麽；signify和denote通常指某物有特定的含義，尤其是官方或認可的含義

◆The white belt signifies / denotes that he's an absolute beginner.白腰帶表示他完全是個新手。

However, signify can suggest a more complicated meaning than denote, including the ideas suggested by a word or expression. 不過，signify可表示比denote更爲複雜的含義，包括詞或短語所暗含的意義

◆What does the term 'patrician' signify (= what does it mean and what might it suggest)?“貴族”一詞有什麽含義？

◆The Hebrew term used here simply denotes a young girl (= it does not mean or suggest anything more than that).此處的希伯來詞語僅僅是“年輕女孩”的意思。

mean

verb

What does this sentence mean? 這個句子是什麽意思？

What do you mean by that remark? 你說那話是什麽意思？

This new order will mean working overtime. 這新訂單一來，我們就得加班加點。

mean

♦︎

suggest

♦︎

hint

♦︎

imply

♦︎

intend

♦︎

what sb is getting/driving at

♦︎

insinuateThese words all mean to intend to say sth, or to say sth in an indirect way. 這些詞均表示本意是、暗示、意指。

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配

◆to mean / intend sth by / as sth

◆to mean / suggest / hint / imply / insinuate that...

◆to suggest / imply agreement / acceptance

◆to suggest / imply an intention

◆to seem / appear to mean / suggest / hint / imply sth

◆to (not) mean / intend to suggest / imply sth

◆to suggest / hint / imply sth clearly / strongly

■ mean

(

meant

, meant

)

[transitive]

(not used in the progressive tenses 不用於進行時)

(especially spoken)

to intend to say sth on a particular occasion 意思是；本意是

◆What did he mean by that remark?他說那話是什麽意思？

◆'Perhaps we should try another approach.' 'What do you mean?(= I don't understand what you are suggesting.)'“也許我們應該試一試别的方法。”“什麽意思？”

◆What do you mean, you thought I wouldn't mind?(= of course I mind and I am very angry.) 你這是什麽意思，你以爲我會不在意嗎？

◆I know what you mean (= I understand and feel sympathy). I hated learning to drive too.我明白你的意思。我也不願學開車。

◆I see what you mean (= I understand although I may not agree), but I still think it's worth trying.我知道你是什麽意思，但我仍然認爲那值得一試。

◆'But Pete doesn't know we're here!' 'That's what I mean!(= that's what I have been trying to tell you.)'“可是皮特不知道我們在這兒呀！”“我就是這個意思嘛！”

◆Did he mean (that) he was dissatisfied with our service?他是不是表示對我們的服務不滿意？

◆You mean (= are you telling me) we have to start all over again?你是不是說我們得從頭再來一遍？

■ suggest

[transitive]

(used especially in negative statements and questions 尤用於否定陳述和疑問句)

to state an opinion indirectly 暗示；言下之意是說

◆Are you suggesting (that) I'm lazy?你言下之意是說我懶？

◆I would never suggest such a thing.我根本不會有這樣的意思。

see also

suggestion ⇨

suggestion

■ hint

[intransitive

, transitive]

to suggest that sth might be true without saying so directly 暗示；透露；示意

◆What are you hinting at?你在暗示什麽？

◆They hinted (that) there might be more job losses.他們暗示說可能會有更多人失業。

see also

hint ⇨

suggestion

noun

NOTE 辨析 Suggest or hint?People use suggest especially in questions to ask sb if they feel or think sth, or in negative statements to deny that they do. Hint is used when people give facts or talk about possibilities in an indirect way. * suggest尤用於疑問句中詢問某人是否有某種感受或想法，或用於否定陳述中對某種感受或想法加以否認。hint表示以間接的方式說出事實或討論可能性。

■ imply

ɪmˈplaɪ

[transitive]

(rather formal)

to suggest that sth is true or that you feel or think sth, without saying so directly 含有⋯的意思；暗示；暗指

◆His silence seemed to imply agreement.他的沉默似乎暗示着同意。

◆I disliked the implied criticism in his voice.我討厭他暗含批評的口吻。

■ intend

[transitive]

(not used in the progressive tenses 不用於進行時)

(rather formal)

to plan that sth should have a particular meaning 意指

◆What exactly did you intend by that remark?你那句話到底想說什麽？

◆He intended it as a joke.他只想開個玩笑。

■ what sb is ˈgetting at

■ what sb is ˈdriving at

idiom

(informal,

spoken)

the thing that sb is trying to say or suggest 某人的用意；某人話中的意思

◆I'm partly to blame? What exactly are you getting at?我應負部分責任？你究竟是什麽意思？

■ insinuate

ɪnˈsɪnjueɪt

[transitive]

(rather formal,

disapproving)

to suggest that sth unpleasant is true, without saying so directly 暗示，拐彎抹角地指出（不快的事）

◆The article insinuated that he was having an affair with his friend's wife.文章含沙射影地點出他和朋友的妻子有染。

◆What are you trying to insinuate?你拐彎抹角想說什麽？

mean

verb

What does this sentence mean? 這個句子是什麽意思？

What do you mean by that remark? 你說那話是什麽意思？

This new order will mean working overtime. 這新訂單一來，我們就得加班加點。

mean

♦︎

involve

♦︎

entail

♦︎

imply

♦︎

necessitate

♦︎

spellThese words all mean to have sth as a necessary or likely part or result. 這些詞均表示意味着、包含、需要。

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配

◆sth means / implies that...

◆sth means / involves / entails / implies / necessitates a / an increase / reduction

◆sth involves / entails / implies risk

◆sth usually / inevitably / necessarily / actually means / involves / entails / implies sth

◆sth ordinarily / typically means / involves sth

■ mean

(

meant

, meant

)

[transitive]

(of an action or situation) to have sth as a result or a likely result （行爲或狀況）産生⋯結果，意味着

◆Spending too much now will mean a shortage of cash next year.現在花銷太多就意味着明年現金短缺。

◆Do you have any idea what it means to be poor?你知不知道貧窮意味着什麽？

◆We'll have to be careful with money but that doesn't mean (that) we can't enjoy ourselves.我們得要精打細算，可那也不是說我們就不能過得快樂。

◆This new order will mean working overtime.這新訂單一來，我們就得加班加點。

■ involve

[transitive]

(especially written)

(of an action or situation) to have sth as a necessary or important part （行爲或狀況）包含，需要，帶有

◆Any investment involves an element of risk.任何投資都有一定的風險。

◆Many of the crimes involved drugs.許多罪案都與毒品有關。

◆The test will involve answering questions about a photograph.考試的内容將包括看圖答題。

■ entail

ɪnˈteɪl

[transitive]

(rather formal,

especially written)

to involve sth that cannot be avoided, especially in order to achieve sth 牽涉，需要，使必要（尤指爲了達成某事）

◆The job entails a lot of hard work.這工作需要付出大量艱苦的努力。

◆The girls learn exactly what is entailed in caring for a newborn baby.姑娘們學的正是怎樣照顧新生兒。

◆It will entail driving a long distance every day.這意味着每天都要長途駕駛。

NOTE 辨析 Involve or entail?In many cases you can use either word. 在許多情況下這兩個詞可以通用

◆The job involves / entails a lot of hard work.這工作需要付出大量艱苦的努力。

◆to involve / entail answering questions / driving a long distance / loss / rejection / destruction / cost / risk包括回答一些問題；需要長途駕駛；造成損失；遭到拒絕；造成破壞；産生費用；包含風險

However, a problem might involve an aspect, such as drugs or violence, that is not necessary to achieve sth, but defines the nature of the problem. Entail cannot be used in this way. 不過，involve可指問題涉及某一方面，如跟drug或violence搭配，這界定了問題的性質，而非問題的成因。entail沒有這種用法

◆Many of the crimes entailed drugs/violence.

■ imply

ɪmˈplaɪ

[transitive]

(rather formal,

especially written)

(of an idea or action) to make sth necessary in order to be successful （思想或行爲）必然包含，使有必要

◆The project implies an enormous investment in training.這個項目需要投入巨額的培訓費。

◆Sustainable development implies a long-term perspective.可持續發展需要有長遠眼光。

▸

implication

ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃn

noun

[countable

, usually plural]

◆The development of the site will have implications for the surrounding countryside.這個地點的開發將會影響周圍的鄉村。

◆They failed to consider the wider implications of their actions.他們沒有考慮到自己的行爲會産生更廣泛的影響。

■ necessitate

nəˈsesɪteɪt

[transitive]

(formal)

(of an event or situation) to make sth necessary （事件或狀況）使成爲必要

◆Recent financial scandals have necessitated changes in parliamentary procedures.最近的金融醜聞使得議會程序必須改革。

◆Increased traffic necessitated widening the road.交通量增大了，道路需要拓寬。

see also

necessary ⇨

necessary

necessity ⇨

need

noun

■ spell

(

spelt

, spelt

spelled

, spelled

)

[transitive]

(of an event) to have sth, usually sth bad, as a result （事件）招致，意味着（通常是壞事）

◆The crop failure spelt disaster for many farmers.對許多農民來說，莊稼歉收意味着災難。

◆This defeat spelt the end of his hopes of winning the title again.這場失利使他再次奪冠的希望破滅了。

mean

adjective

a mean thing to do 這麽做不厚道

mean with money 用錢很吝啬

mean

♦︎

frugal

♦︎

cheap

♦︎

thrifty

♦︎

stingyThese words all describe sb who is not willing to give or share things, especially money. 這些詞均表示吝啬的、小氣的。

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配

◆mean / frugal / stingy with sth

■ mean

(BrE,

disapproving)

not willing to give or share things, especially money; given unwillingly and in small quantities 吝啬的；小氣的；給得不多的

◆They were too mean to buy the kids proper beds.他們太小氣了，連像樣的床都不給孩子買。

◆Don't be so mean with the chocolate sauce.别那麽舍不得放巧克力醬。

◆It was difficult to manage the department on such a mean budget.預算這麽緊，管理這個部門不容易。

OPP

generous ⇨

generous

■ frugal

ˈfruːgl

using only as much money or food as is necessary （對金錢、食物等）節約的，節儉的

◆The monks lead a frugal existence in their isolated monastery.那些僧侶在偏遠的寺院裏過着儉樸的生活。

■ cheap

(NAmE,

informal,

disapproving)

not willing to spend money 小氣的；摳門兒的

◆Don't be so cheap!别這麽小氣！

◆She was just too cheap to buy a real present.她就是太摳門兒了，舍不得買一件像樣的禮物。

■ thrifty

(approving)

careful about spending money; not wasting things 節約的；節儉的

◆He was brought up to be thrifty and never to get into debt.他從小就被教導勤儉節約，絕不欠債。

■ stingy

ˈstɪndʒi

(informal,

disapproving)

mean 吝啬的；小氣的；給得不多的

◆Don't be so stingy with the cream!别那麽舍不得放奶油！

◆It was a stingy offer and he turned it down.報價很小氣，他回絕了。

NOTE 辨析 Mean, cheap or stingy?The main differences between these words are in geography and register. Mean is British, stingy is informal and cheap is American and informal. Mean and stingy can describe a person or an amount of money, but cheap can only describe a person. 這些詞的主要區别在於使用的地域和語體風格。mean用於英式英語，stingy是非正式用語，cheap用於美式英語，也是非正式用語。mean和stingy可描述人或一定數額的錢，但cheap只可描述人。