> 意欲/有意/计划去做某事(强调主语的主动意图或事先计划)
该短语的主语通常是人(因为“意图”是人的主观行为),常见时态和语境如下:
一般现在时(表当前意图):主语 + mean(s) to do
例:I mean to finish this report by Friday.(我打算周五前完成这份报告。)
例:She means to learn French next year.(她计划明年学法语。)
一般过去时(表过去的意图):主语 + meant to do
例:He meant to tell you the truth, but he forgot.(他本来打算告诉你真相,但忘了。)
结构:don’t/doesn’t/didn’t + mean to do
例:I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.(我不是故意伤害你的感情。)(常用语境:道歉时说明“无心之过”)
例:We don’t mean to interrupt—we’ll leave soon.(我们没打算打扰——我们很快就走。)
表示“本来打算做某事,但实际没做”(强调“未实现的意图”),口语中也可简化为“meant to do”(用过去时隐含“没做成”)。
例:I meant to have called you yesterday, but my phone died.(我昨天本来打算给你打电话,但手机没电了。)
例:She meant to have visited her grandma, but work got in the way.(她本来打算去看奶奶,但工作缠身。)
Do you mean to...?:用于询问对方的意图(“你打算...吗?”)
例:Do you mean to go to the concert alone?(你打算一个人去听音乐会吗?)
mean to say:用于强调或确认对方的话(“你是说...吗?”,隐含惊讶/质疑)
例:Do you mean to say you’ve never tried sushi?(你是说你从来没吃过寿司?)
注意区分两个形似短语的核心差异:
mean to do sth.: 打算/有意做某事(主语是人,表意图)
mean doing sth.: 意味着做某事(主语是物/事,表“结果”或“等价关系”)
例1:Missing the bus means waiting for another 30 minutes.(错过公交意味着再等30分钟。)(mean doing:结果)
例2:I mean to catch the early bus tomorrow.(我打算明天赶早班车。)(mean to do:意图)
虽与“mean to do”形似,但含义不同:
> be meant to do sth.:应该做某事;被设计/意图做某事(强调“客观安排”或“预期用途”)
例:This medicine is meant to treat headaches.(这种药是用来治疗头痛的。)(表“预期用途”)
例:You are meant to arrive on time for the meeting.(你应该按时到会。)(表“规定/要求”)