mean
verbVerb Forms
Idioms | present simple I / you / we / they mean | |
| he / she / it means | |
| past simple meant | |
| past participle meant | |
| -ing form meaning |
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(not used in the progressive tenses 不用于进行时 (of a word 词 to have something as a meaning in the same or another language 表示…的意思 - mean something
What does this sentence mean? 这个句子是什么意思？ What does ‘lark’ mean? ‘百灵鸟’是什么意思？ The word ‘Kuching’ means ‘cat’ in Malay. “古晋”一词在马来语中是“猫”的意思。 Many languages use a single word to mean both music and dance. 许多语言用一个词来表示音乐和舞蹈。 What is meant by ‘batch processing’? batch processing 是什么意思？
Extra Examples‘Parcours’ is a French word meaning the route or the journey. “帕库斯”是一个法语单词，意思是路线或旅程。 ‘Zavod’ is usually translated as ‘The Iron Foundry’, though the word means simply ‘factory’ or ‘work’. “扎沃”通常被翻译成“铸铁厂”，尽管这个词的意思只是“工厂”或“工作”。
- mean something
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(not used in the progressive tenses 不用于进行时 to have something as a meaning; to represent something 表示…的意思 - mean something by something
What do we mean by democracy? 我们所说的民主是什么意思？ - mean something to somebody
Does the name ‘Jos Vos’ mean anything to you (= do you know who he is)? 你知道乔斯 · 沃斯是谁吗？ - mean (that)…
The flashing light means (that) you must stop. 闪烁的灯光表示你必须停下。 - mean something
The Olympics have come to mean a wide variety of things. 奥运会意味着各种各样的事情。
Extra ExamplesConvenience means different things to different customers. 方便对于不同的客户意味着不同的东西。 Too often impressionism is taken to mean gazing through a soft-focus lens. 印象主义经常被认为是通过一个软焦距镜头凝视。
- mean something by something
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(not used in the progressive tenses 不用于进行时 to intend to say something on a particular occasion 意思是；本意是 - mean something by something
What did he mean by that remark? 他说那话是什么意思？ - mean something
‘Perhaps we should try another approach.’ ‘What do you mean? (= I don't understand what you are suggesting.)’ “也许我们应该试一试别的方法。” “你指的是什么方法？” ‘What's that supposed to mean?’ demanded John. “那是什么意思？约翰问道。 What do you mean, you thought I wouldn't mind? (= of course I mind and I am very angry) 你这是什么意思？你以为我不会在意吗？ What she means is that there's no point in waiting here. 她的意思是说在这儿等下去没什么意思。 I always found him a little strange, if you know what I mean (= if you understand what I mean by ‘strange’). 我总觉得他有点儿怪，如果你明白我这话是什么意思。 I know what you mean (= I understand and feel sympathy). I hated learning to drive too. 我明白你的意思。我也不愿意学开车。 - (informal)
It was like—weird. Know what I mean? 它有点儿，怪异。你明白我的意思吗？ I see what you mean (= I understand although I may not agree), but I still think it's worth trying. 我知道你是什么意思，但我仍然认为值得一试。 See what I mean (= I was right and this proves it, doesn't it)? She never agrees to anything I suggest. 这下可证明我说的对了吧？我说什么她都不听。 ‘But Pete doesn't know we're here!’ ‘That's what I mean! (= that's what I have been trying to tell you.)’ “可是皮特不知道我们在这儿呀！” “我就是这个意思嘛！” Do you mean Ann Smith or Mary Smith? 你是说安 · 史密斯，还是说玛丽 · 史密斯？ - mean (that)…
Did he mean (that) he was dissatisfied with our service? 他是不是表示对我们的服务不满意？ You mean (= are you telling me) we have to start all over again? 你是不是说我们必须从头再来一遍？
Language Bank i.e.i.e.Explaining what you mean 解释意思 Some poems are mnemonics, i.e. they are designed to help you remember something. 有些诗歌是记忆代码，即是说，其目的是帮助人们记起某事。
Some poems are mnemonics, that is to say, they are designed to help you remember something. 有些诗歌是记忆代码，就是说，其目的是帮助人们记起某事。
Mnemonic poems, that is poems designed to help you remember something, are an excellent way to learn lists. 记事诗，即帮助人记起事情的诗歌，是记住一系列事物的极佳方式。
A limerick’s rhyme scheme is A–A–B–B–A. In other words, the first, second, and fifth lines all rhyme with one another, while the third and fourth lines have their own rhyme. 五行打油诗的韵律是 A-A-B-B-A。就是说，第一行、第二行和第五行押一个韵，而第三行和第四行押另一个韵。
In this exercise the reader is encouraged to work out the meaning, or rather the range of meanings, of the poem. 这个练习鼓励读者弄清这首诗的意思，更确切地说是弄清其几种含意。
This is a poem about death, or, more precisely, dying. 这是一首关于死亡的诗，更确切地说是关于临终的诗。
He says his poems deal with ‘the big issues’, by which he means love, loss, grief and death. 他说他的诗涉及一些 “重大问题”，这些问题是指爱、失去、痛苦和死亡。
Express Yourself Correcting yourselfCorrecting yourself 纠正自己的话 When you say something that was not quite what you intended, you can correct yourself in various ways: 说话词不达意时可以用多种方式加以修正： I'll be there at five fifteen, I mean five fifty—ten to six. 我会在 5 点 15 分到那儿，不，应该是 5 点 50 分，差 10 分钟 6 点。
It'll be Tuesday—sorry, I meant to say Thursday. 那就是星期二。不对，我想说的是星期四。
Sorry, what I mean is, we need two handouts per person. 抱歉，我的意思是我们每个人需要两份讲义。
We can meet in the conference centre—or rather in front of the centre. 我们可以在会议中心，确切地讲是在会议中心前面会合。
The painter—or should I say, the sculptor—was born in Padua. 这名画家，应该说是雕塑家，生于帕多瓦。
It's one t and double s—no, sorry, one s and double t. 是一个 t 和两个 s。不，搞错了，应该是一个 s 和两个 t。
It's on the fifth floor—no, actually, it's the fourth. 是在六楼，不，实际上是在五楼。
Can I get two lattes and an espresso—no, scratch that—three lattes? 请给我来两杯拿铁和一杯浓缩咖啡。不，不要那个，要三杯拿铁。
There are three items on tonight's agenda. Correction, four items. 今晚的议程上有三个项目。更正，四项。
- mean something by something
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to have something as a purpose or intention 打算；意欲；有…的目的 - mean something
What did she mean by leaving so early (= why did she do it)? 她为什么这么早就走了？ Don't laugh! I mean it (= I am serious). 别笑！我是认真的。 He means trouble (= to cause trouble). 他存心捣乱。 - mean something as something
Don't be upset—I'm sure she meant it as a compliment. 别不高兴，我肯定她的原意是要称赞你的。 - mean what…
He means what he says (= is not joking, exaggerating, etc.). 他说话是当真的。 - mean something for somebody/something
The chair was clearly meant for a child. 这椅子显然是专为儿童设计的。 Don't be angry. I'm sure she meant it for the best (= intended to be helpful). 别生气了。我相信她是真心想要帮忙的。 - mean to do something
She means to succeed. 她一意求成。 I'm sorry I hurt you. I didn't mean to. 对不起，弄疼你了。我不是故意的。 I'm feeling very guilty—I've been meaning to call my parents for days, but still haven't got around to it. 我感到非常内疚，几天来我一直打算给父母打电话，但还是没机会打。 - mean somebody/something to do something
I didn't mean you to read the letter. 我没打算让你看那封信。 You're meant to (= you are supposed to) pay before you go in. 你要先交钱才能进去。 - mean (that)… (formal)
I never meant (that) you should come alone. 我从来没打算让你一个人来。
Extra ExamplesWhat do you mean by that? 你怎么胆敢那样？ I didn't mean to read your letter. 我不是故意看你的信的。 The house was clearly meant to be a family home. 这所房子显然要用作家庭住宅。 There was a rack by the door presumably meant for umbrellas. 门边有一个架子，大概是用来放雨伞的。 They are not using the system in the way the manufacturer meant it to be used. 他们没有按照制造商希望的方式使用该系统。
- mean something
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to have something as a result or a likely result 产生…结果；意味着 - mean something
Spending too much now will mean a shortage of cash next year. 现在花销太多就意味着明年现金短缺。 Being frugal doesn't necessarily mean doing without. 节俭不一定意味着无所事事。 Lower energy consumption means less pollution. 能耗越低意味着污染越少。 Touching the wires means instant death. 触碰电线可导致立刻死亡。 - mean to be/do something
Do you have any idea what it means to be poor? 你知不知道贫穷意味着什么？ - mean (that)…
We’ll have to be careful with money but that doesn’t mean (that) we can’t enjoy ourselves. 我们必须精打细算，可也并不是说我们就不能享受生活。 - mean doing something
This new order will mean working overtime. 这新订单一来，我们就得加班加点。 - mean somebody/something doing something
The injury could mean him missing next week's game. 这次受伤可能使他无法参加下周的比赛。 High unemployment means people are spending less. 高失业率意味着人们消费减少。
More Like This Verbs usually followed by infinitivesVerbs usually followed by infinitivesExtra ExamplesTopics Change, cause and effectb1Mr President, does this mean an end to the current conflict? 总统先生，这是否表示当前的冲突结束了呢？ The cost would have meant financial ruin for us. 这项开支对我们来说就意味着倾家荡产。 Good civic planning means more green space. 良好的城市规划意味着更多的绿地。 Rural life meant having to draw water from a well every day. 农村生活意味着每天必须从井里打水。
- mean something
- [no passive] mean something to somebody
to be of value or importance to somebody 对某人重要（或有价值） - [often passive]
to intend somebody to be or do something 想要某人成为；想要某人去做 - be meant for something/somebody
I was never meant for the army (= did not have the qualities needed to become a soldier). 我根本就不是块当兵的料。 Duncan and Makiko were meant for each other (= are very suitable as partners). 邓肯和真纪子真是天生的一对。 - mean somebody/something to be something
His father meant him to be an engineer. 他父亲想让他当工程师。 She did everything to get the two of them together, but I guess it just wasn't meant to be. 她极力撮合他们俩，但我觉得那根本不可能。
- be meant for something/somebody
have as meaning有含意
intend as meaning意思是
have as purpose有目的
have as result有结果
be important重要
intend somebody to be/do something让某人成为／做
Word Originverb Old English mænan, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch meenen and German meinen, from an Indo-European root shared by mind.
Idioms
be meant to be something
I mean
mean business
mean (somebody) no harm | not mean (somebody) any harm
to not have any intention of hurting somebody 没有恶意；并非出于恶意
mean to say
mean well
to have good intentions, although their effect may not be good 本意是好的；出于好心