该短语的结构灵活,核心是 "触发物 + bring + 被想起的内容 + to mind",或调整为 "bring to mind + 被想起的内容"(当宾语较长时,常将"to mind"提前)。以下是常见用法:
触发物(如气味、声音、物品、场景等)作为主语,直接引出被想起的内容。
The smell of jasmine brings to mind my summer in Thailand.
茉莉的香味让我想起在泰国的那个夏天。
This old bicycle brings my childhood to mind.
这辆旧自行车唤起了我的童年记忆。
The song on the radio brought the accident to mind—I was there when it happened.
收音机里的歌让我想起那场事故——我当时就在现场。
当主语是"人"时,通常表示"某人努力回忆起某事",常见于 疑问句(询问是否能想起)或 否定句(表示想不起)。
Can you bring to mind where you left your passport?
你能想起护照放在哪儿了吗?
I can’t bring to mind her face—she was just a stranger in the crowd.
我想不起她的样子了——她只是人群中的一个陌生人。
He tried hard to bring the meeting’s details to mind but failed.
他努力回忆会议的细节,但没成功。
后接 that/what 从句,表示"想起(某个事实/内容)"。
Her words brought to mind that I had forgotten my mom’s birthday.
她的话让我想起——我忘了妈妈的生日。
Do you bring to mind what he said about the project?
你记得他关于这个项目说过什么吗?
当宾语是"人"时,表示"想起某个人"。
Does this photo bring anyone to mind? It looks familiar but I can’t name him.
这张照片让你想起什么人吗?看着眼熟但叫不出名字。
The mention of "teacher" brought my high school math teacher to mind—she was so strict but kind.
提到"老师",我想起了高中的数学老师——她严厉但善良。
remind sb. of sth.:与"bring sth. to mind"意思几乎一致,但结构不同(需带间接宾语"sb.")。
例:The movie reminds me of my first date. = The movie brings my first date to mind.
(这部电影让我想起第一次约会。)
call to mind:与"bring to mind"完全同义,更书面化。
例:The painting calls to mind a sunset I saw in Greece.
(这幅画让我想起在希腊看到的日落。)
bring a memory/person/event to mind(唤起一段记忆/想起一个人/想起一件事)
can’t bring sth. to mind(想不起某事)
bring to mind that...(想起……)
总结:"bring to mind" 是一个"触发-回忆"型短语,重点在于"通过某事物唤起记忆",用法灵活,覆盖日常交流和书面表达,是描述"回忆"的高频短语。