intention

/ɪnˈtenʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈtenʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /in-ˈten(t)-shən/ (ame, mw)

intention — noun

  • intentionsingular
  • intentionsplural

1. a plan or aim that a person has in their mind about something they want to do or

1.名詞B1
釋義

a plan or aim that a person has in their mind about something they want to do or achieve in the future

例句

Dewi announced her intention to run for the school board next year.

intention + to-infinitive for announcing plans

It was never my intention to make you feel left out of the group.

it was never my intention to + verb

同義詞
  • aim

    more specific about the target or desired outcome; often used with goals

  • purpose

    focuses on the reason behind an action rather than the planned action itself

  • goal

    emphasises a clear endpoint one hopes to reach; more concrete than intention

  • plan

    more detailed and actionable; intention is the thought before a plan is formed

反義詞
  • accident

    something that happens without any plan or purpose

文法句型

intention + to-infinitive

intention + of + gerund

have every intention of + gerund

no intention of + gerund

用法筆記

Common in the fixed phrases 'have every intention of' and 'have no intention of', which express strong certainty or denial about a future action. The to-infinitive pattern ('intention to do something') is more neutral than the of + -ing pattern, which often emphasises determination or lack thereof.

常見錯誤

❌I have intention to visit Taiwan next year.
✅I have every intention of visiting Taiwan next year.
💡The phrases 'have every intention of' and 'have no intention of' are fixed expressions; bare 'have intention to' without a qualifier sounds unnatural.
❌He had no any intention of apologising.
✅He had no intention of apologising.
💡'No intention' already carries the negative meaning; 'any' is redundant here.

2. a person's plans or wishes about whether they want to marry a particular person,

2.名詞B2
釋義

a person's plans or wishes about whether they want to marry a particular person, usually discussed in formal or traditional social settings

例句

After dating for three years, Michael made his intentions clear to Tanvi's family.

make one's intentions clear (marriage context)

In some traditional families, a young man must first state his honorable intentions to the woman's parents.

state one's honorable intentions (formal marriage context)

同義詞
  • marriage proposal

    a specific formal offer of marriage, while 'intentions' are the plans that may lead to a proposal

  • suit

    old-fashioned term for a man's attempt to win a woman's affection in marriage

文法句型

make one's intentions clear

declare one's intentions

someone's intentions toward someone

用法筆記

In this sense, 'intentions' is almost always used in the plural. The singular 'intention' referring to marriage would sound unusual or incomplete. This sense appears in formal social contexts, especially when families discuss a potential marriage.

常見錯誤

❌He made his intention to marry her.
✅He made his intentions known to her family.
💡In the marriage sense, 'intentions' must be plural; the singular form is not used this way.
❌She declared her romantic intention toward him.
✅She declared her romantic intentions toward him.
💡Always plural in relationship and marriage contexts.