➡ See also the entry for argument2另见argument条第2义reason ♦︎ explanation ♦︎ grounds ♦︎ basis ♦︎ excuse ♦︎ motive ♦︎ need ♦︎ justification ♦︎ cause ♦︎ pretextThese are all words for why sth has happened or sb has done sth.这些词均表示原因、理由、理据。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆a reason / an explanation / grounds / a basis / an excuse / a motive / a need / justification / cause / a pretext for sth◆the reason / motive behind sth◆on the grounds / basis / pretext of / that...◆the reason / grounds / basis / excuse / justification / pretext that...◆(an) obvious reason / explanation / grounds / excuse / motive / need / justification / cause / pretext◆(a) clear / legitimate reason / grounds / excuse / motive / need / justification / cause / pretext◆(a) logical / personal / no apparent reason / explanation / grounds / excuse / motive / need / justification / cause◆(a) good / valid reason / explanation / grounds / excuse / motive / justification / cause◆(a) convincing reason / explanation / grounds / excuse / motive / justification / pretext◆(a) reasonable explanation / grounds / excuse / motive / need / justification / cause / pretext◆the real reason / explanation / grounds / motive / justification / cause◆to have a reason / an explanation / grounds / an excuse / a motive / a justification / cause / a pretext◆to give / offer (sb) a reason / an explanation / an excuse / a justification / a pretext◆to suggest a reason / an explanation / grounds / a motive / a justification◆to see / understand / explain (the / sb's) reasons / grounds / motive / justification■reason [countable, uncountable] why sth has happened or sb has done sth; a fact that makes it right or fair to do sth(某事发生或做某事的)原因;正当理由;情理◆I'd like to know the reason why you're so late.我想知道你为什么迟到那么长时间。◆He said no but he didn't give a reason.他说不行,但没有说明原因。◆We aren't going for the simple reason that we can't afford it.我们不去,只是因为我们负担不起。◆For some reason(= one that I don't know or don't understand) we all have to come in early tomorrow.由于某种原因,我们大家明天都得一早就来。◆For reasons of security the door is always kept locked.为安全起见,门总是锁着的。◆They have reason to believe that he is lying.他们有理由认为他在撒谎。◆She complained, with reason(= rightly), that she had been underpaid.她抱怨给她的报酬太低,这是有道理的。 see also reason ⇨ concludeverb, reasoned ⇨ rational■explanation [countable, uncountable] a statement, fact or situation that tells you why sth has happened; a reason given for sth解释;说明;阐述◆The most likely explanation is that his plane was delayed.最可能的解释是他的飞机晚点了。◆I can't think of any possible explanation for his absence.我想不出他缺席的任何理由。◆The book opens with an explanation of why some drugs are banned.本书开篇阐述了禁用某些药物的原因。◆She left the room abruptly without explanation.她未作解释就突然离开了房间。 see also explain ⇨ explain2■grounds [plural] (ratherformal) a good or true reason for saying, doing or believing sth(说话、做事或相信某事的)充分的理由,根据◆You have no grounds for complaint.你没有理由抱怨。◆He retired from the job on health grounds.他因健康原因离职。◆Employers cannot discriminate on grounds of age.雇主不得有年龄歧视。■basis [singular] (ratherformal) the reason why people take a particular action原因;缘由◆She was chosen for the job on the basis of her qualifications and ideas.她因资质和理念适合而获选担任这一职位。◆On what basis will this decision be made?作出这个决定的缘由会是什么?ⓘ Basis is usually used in the phrases on the basis of/that... or On what basis...? * basis通常用于短语on the basis of/that ...或On what basis ...?。■excuse ɪkˈskjuːs [countable] a reason, either true or invented, that you give to explain or defend your behaviour; a good reason that you give for doing sth that you want to do for other reasons借口;(真实或编造的)原因;(正当的)理由◆Late again! What's your excuse this time?又迟到了!你这次有什么借口?◆There's no excuse for such behaviour.这种行为说不过去。◆You don't have to make excuses for her(= try to think of reasons for her behaviour).你不必为她开脱了。◆It gave me an excuse to take the car.这使我有理由开车去。 see also excuse ⇨ forgiveverb■motive ˈməʊtɪv; NAmEˈmoʊtɪv [countable] a reason that explains sb's behaviour动机;(解释某人行为的)原因◆There seemed to be no motive for the murder.这起谋杀案看似没有动机。◆I'm suspicious of his motives.我怀疑他的动机。◆I have an ulterior motive in offering to help you.我主动提出要帮助你是有私心的。 see also motivation ⇨ incentive■need [singular, uncountable] (usually used in negative statements通常用于否定陈述) a good reason to do sth需要;必须◆There is no need for you to get up early tomorrow.你明天不必早起。◆I had no need to open the letter-I knew what it would say.我没必要拆开那封信-我知道里面会说些什么。ⓘ In this meaning, need is almost always used in the phrases There is/was no need (for sb) to do sth. and have no need to do sth.表达此义时,need几乎总是用于短语There is/was no need (for sb) to do sth和have no need to do sth。■justificationˌdʒʌstɪfɪˈkeɪʃn [uncountable, countable] (ratherformal) a good reason why sth exists or is done(某事物存在或做某事的)正当理由◆I can see no possible justification for any further tax increases.我看不出还有何理由再加税。◆The government is struggling to find a justification for this war.政府在为这场战争竭力寻找理由。 see also justify ⇨ explain2NOTE辨析 Grounds or justification?Justification is used to talk about finding or understanding reasons for actions, or trying to explain why it is a good idea to do sth. It is often used with words like little, no, some, every,without, and not any. Grounds is used more for talking about reasons that already exist, or that have already been decided, for example by law. * justification用于表示想知道或想明白为什么会这么做,或力图说明为什么应这么做,常与little、no、some、every、without和not any等词连用。grounds多指现成的理由,或已确定的根据,如法律上的◆moral / economic / constitutional / environmental / ethical / medical / legal grounds道德/经济/宪法/环境/伦理/医学/法律依据■cause [uncountable] (ratherformal) a reason for having particular feelings or behaving in a particular way(有某种感受或做某种行为的)理由,动机,缘故◆There is no cause for alarm / concern.没有理由惊慌/担忧。◆If your child is absent without good cause(= without a good reason), you may receive a warning from the school board.如果你的孩子无故缺席,你将收到校董事会的警告。■pretext ˈpriːtekst [countable, usually singular] (ratherformal) a false reason that you give for doing sth, usually sth bad, in order to hide the real reason(为了掩盖真实原因的)借口,托词◆The incident was used as a pretext for intervention in the area.这次事件成了干涉该地区的借口。◆He left the party early on the pretext of having work to do.他借口有事要处理,早早离开了聚会。