minds
minds — verb
- mindspresent simple I / you / we / they
- mindses3rd person singular
- mindsing-ing form
- mindsedpast simple
1. to feel annoyed, upset, or bothered by something; usually used in questions to a
to feel annoyed, upset, or bothered by something; usually used in questions to ask whether something is acceptable, or in negative statements to say something causes no problem.
Do you mind if I open the window? The room feels warm.
mind + if-clause in questions
No one minded when little Hana took an extra piece of cake after dinner.
negative: no one minded + when-clause
Indra did not mind waiting for the bus in the rain.
Would you mind holding the door for me? My hands are full.
Lena did not mind sharing her notes with the new student.
- object to
stronger and more formal than 'mind'; implies active opposition
- be bothered by
more informal than 'mind'; focuses on annoyance rather than objection
- care
less specific; can also mean 'be interested in' unlike 'mind'
- welcome
positive acceptance, the opposite of minding something
文法句型
mind + if-clause
mind + object
not mind + object/gerund
用法筆記
Frequently used in questions (Do you mind…?) and negatives (I don't mind). In affirmative sentences it usually carries a note of reluctant permission or explicit objection.
常見錯誤
2. a sharp exclamation showing that you are annoyed by something another person has
a sharp exclamation showing that you are annoyed by something another person has done or spoken.
Lotte snapped, 'Do you mind!' when the man kicked her seat.
fixed expression showing irritation
Salma exclaimed, 'Do you mind!' as the cyclist cut in front of her.
'Do you mind!' Michael said when his brother grabbed the last piece of cake.
Tomás took my pen without asking, and I said, 'Do you mind!'
- excuse me!
more polite; used to get attention rather than express annoyance
- hey!
less specific; can express surprise, greeting, or annoyance
文法句型
'Do you mind!' as exclamation
用法筆記
Always spoken with strong stress on 'mind'. Not used in writing except in dialogue. The tone is sharp and confrontational.
常見錯誤
❌ 'Do you mind!' in an email or formal letter — this expression is strictly for spoken, informal situations.
3. to pay attention to something and be careful about it, especially to avoid dange
to pay attention to something and be careful about it, especially to avoid danger, make a mistake, or behave appropriately.
The train announcement told passengers to mind the gap.
collocation: mind + the gap
Hyun's grandmother told him to mind his manners at dinner.
collocation: mind + manners
You should mind the traffic when crossing a busy road.
Please mind the step when you get off the bus.
The teacher told the class to mind their language.
- pay attention to
more general; can be used in any context unlike 'mind' which has specific collocations
- watch
more visual; focuses on looking carefully rather than general caution
- be careful of
more explicit about danger than 'mind'
- ignore
to deliberately not pay attention
文法句型
mind + noun phrase
用法筆記
Common in British English for warnings and advice. The object is often a specific thing — the gap, your step, your language, the traffic, your manners. Not used for general concentration; for that use 'pay attention' or 'focus'.
4. a spoken warning directing someone to get out of the way, stay safe, or avoid so
a spoken warning directing someone to get out of the way, stay safe, or avoid something dangerous right now.
Mind out! A truck is backing up behind you.
expression: mind out!
'Mind your head,' the guide said at the low doorway.
warning + body part
Gita shouted, 'Mind the wet floor!' to her little brother.
'Mind the puddle!' Selim warned as the car drove past.
文法句型
'Mind!' as exclamation
'Mind + noun' as warning
用法筆記
Often used without a subject as a short exclamation ('Mind!'). 'Mind out' is a British informal variant meaning 'watch out' or 'get out of the way'.
5. used when saying goodbye to someone as a friendly way of telling them to take ca
used when saying goodbye to someone as a friendly way of telling them to take care of themselves and travel safely.
Iris called out, 'Mind how you go on the icy roads!'
farewell expression: mind how you go
Asher said goodbye and added, 'Mind yourself, dear aunt.'
variant: mind yourself
'Mind how you go,' João said as he waved goodbye.
My grandmother always says 'Mind yourself' when I leave.
- take care
more universal and less specifically British than 'mind how you go'
- look after yourself
more direct and personal than 'mind how you go'
文法句型
'Mind how you go' as farewell
用法筆記
Chiefly British English. 'Mind how you go' is a set phrase for parting. 'Mind yourself' is another variant used mainly in Ireland and parts of northern England. Not used in American English for this meaning.
6. to look after a person, animal, or belonging for someone who is absent or busy.
to look after a person, animal, or belonging for someone who is absent or busy.
Could you mind my bag while I use the restroom?
request: mind + object
Selim agreed to mind the cat while the neighbours were away.
collocation: mind + pet
Ava's aunt minds her children every Tuesday afternoon.
Our friend will mind the house while we travel to Japan.
Could you mind the phone while I step outside for a minute?
- look after
more general; can be used for short or long-term care in both British and American English
- take care of
the most common and neutral way to express this idea
- watch
American English equivalent for short-term care of children or belongings
- neglect
to fail to care for someone or something properly
文法句型
mind + noun phrase (person or thing)
用法筆記
Mainly British English. The object is usually a person, a pet, or a personal belonging. For longer-term or professional care, 'look after' or 'take care of' is more common. American English prefers 'watch' for children ('watch the kids') and 'look after' for pets.
常見錯誤
❌ 'I mind my sick grandmother every day.' (this sounds formal and dated in American English) — use 'look after' or 'care for' instead for ongoing care.
7. to do what a parent, teacher, or other person in a position of authority tells y
to do what a parent, teacher, or other person in a position of authority tells you to do
Nala minds her grandmother and cleans her room without complaining.
minds + person in authority (grandmother)
The child minds the teacher's instructions during the fire drill.
Kenji minds his piano teacher's advice about practicing every day.
The young dog minds its trainer's commands even in a busy park.
文法句型
mind + noun phrase (person in authority)
用法筆記
This sense is used when talking about following the instructions of a specific person, not about following general rules or laws.
常見錯誤
8. to remember a piece of advice, a warning, or a rule so that you act in accordanc
to remember a piece of advice, a warning, or a rule so that you act in accordance with it, especially in British English
Megan minds the speed limit when driving through the school zone.
minds + [rule to remember]
The children minded their swimming coach's advice about staying hydrated during the match.
minded + [person]'s advice (remembering and following advice)
Tamar minds to lock the front door before leaving for work every morning.
Samir minds his grandmother's warning about the icy steps near the back door.
- remember
more common in everyday speech; 'mind' sounds more formal or British
- note
used when making a mental or written record of something
- bear in mind
more formal; means keeping something in your thoughts while deciding
- forget
to not remember something you should have remembered
文法句型
mind + noun phrase (thing to remember)
mind to + infinitive
用法筆記
Common in British English, especially when remembering a piece of advice or a rule. The structure 'mind to + infinitive' (e.g. 'mind to lock the door') is less common in modern spoken English and is becoming old-fashioned.
常見錯誤
minds — noun
- mindssingular
- mindsesplural
1. The mental capacity that enables a person to think, reason, feel emotions, remem
The mental capacity that enables a person to think, reason, feel emotions, remember information, and understand the world.
Wei tried to clear his mind of all worries before the big exam.
The old librarian had a sharp mind and could recall the location of any book.
collocation: sharp mind
A calm mind helps you make better decisions when things get stressful.
Olivia's mind was full of questions after the fascinating science lecture.
It is important to keep an open mind when you visit a country with different customs.
- body
the physical self as opposed to the mental self
用法筆記
Often paired with possessive determiners (my mind, her mind) and appears in common phrases such as 'in my mind', 'on my mind', or 'state of mind'.
常見錯誤
2. A person who is highly intelligent, especially someone known for their original
A person who is highly intelligent, especially someone known for their original ideas, deep knowledge, or creative thinking.
Some of the finest minds in medicine gathered to discuss the new treatment.
collocation: finest minds
The festival brought together great minds from the worlds of art and science.
collocation: great minds
A brilliant mind like Marie Curie can change the way we understand the universe.
Young minds need encouragement to ask questions and explore new ideas.
- intellectual
focuses on academic or theoretical thinking
- genius
suggests exceptional natural ability, not just intelligence
- thinker
broader term, can refer to anyone who thinks deeply
用法筆記
Often used in the plural (great minds, finest minds) to refer to especially clever or creative people in a particular field. Singular is possible but less common.
常見錯誤
3. Used to say that a physical problem, pain, or worry exists only in a person's th
Used to say that a physical problem, pain, or worry exists only in a person's thoughts and is not based on a real physical cause.
The doctor told Tariq that his back pain was all in his mind and not a sign of injury.
fixed phrase: all in the mind
Zuri worried that everyone was laughing at her, but her friends said it was all in her mind.
Many nervous speakers find that their fear of the audience is all in their minds.
If you think the room is spinning when you are perfectly still, the feeling may be all in your mind.
- real
actually existing, not imagined
用法筆記
Fixed expression that always follows a form of the verb 'be' (is / was / are / were all in the mind). The possessive pronoun matches the subject: 'all in his mind', 'all in their minds'.
常見錯誤
4. To remember a particular fact or piece of information and consider it when think
To remember a particular fact or piece of information and consider it when thinking about something or making a decision.
Bear in mind that the last train leaves at eleven o'clock tonight.
phrase: bear in mind that...
When choosing a school for your child, keep in mind the distance from your home.
phrase: keep in mind + object
The design team kept the client's budget in mind while planning the new kitchen.
Visitors should bear in mind that the museum closes at five on Sundays.
文法句型
bear/keep in mind + that-clause
bear/keep + object + in mind
用法筆記
Common patterns: 'bear/keep in mind that + clause' or 'bear/keep + noun phrase + in mind'. 'Keep in mind' is slightly more informal than 'bear in mind'.
常見錯誤
5. If a thought, idea, name, or memory comes to mind, it suddenly appears in your t
If a thought, idea, name, or memory comes to mind, it suddenly appears in your thoughts, often without any deliberate effort.
When I asked Mei-Lin to name her favourite novel, several titles came to mind at once.
The first image that comes to mind when I think of Japan is snow-covered Mount Fuji.
phrase: comes to mind when...
A solution finally came to mind just as Noah was about to give up on the puzzle.
Does any particular restaurant come to mind when you think of good Italian food?
- spring to mind
slightly more vivid, suggests a quick, lively appearance
- occur to
more formal, often of realising something for the first time
用法筆記
Often used in questions ('Does anything come to mind?', 'What comes to mind when...?') or with adverbs like 'immediately' or 'suddenly'. A variant with similar meaning is 'spring to mind'.
常見錯誤
6. If something is on your mind or preys on your mind, you think about it repeatedl
If something is on your mind or preys on your mind, you think about it repeatedly and cannot stop worrying about it, especially when it is something unpleasant that has happened.
Sanjay has been very quiet all day — I think something is on his mind.
phrase: on one's mind
The mistake Santi made at work continued to prey on his mind long after he got home.
phrase: prey on the mind
The question of what to do after graduation had been weighing on Linh's mind for weeks.
Yael told her roommate that the argument with her brother was still on her mind.
- worry about
more general, can be used for any concern
- haunt
stronger, suggests the thought returns again and again
- trouble
slightly less intense than 'prey on the mind'
用法筆記
'Preys on your mind' is always negative and suggests intrusive worrying. 'On your mind' can be neutral ('You have been on my mind') or negative. Do not confuse with 'in your mind' (= in your imagination or thoughts).
常見錯誤
7. What a person intends or wants to do; someone's purpose or wish about a future a
What a person intends or wants to do; someone's purpose or wish about a future action.
João had a mind to quit his job after the disagreement with his manager.
collocation: have a mind to do something (purpose)
Saira changed her mind about studying medicine after working in a hospital for a summer.
collocation: change one's mind
Nobody knows what the director has in mind for the company's future expansion.
Adina has not made up her mind yet about moving to a bigger apartment.
- intention
more formal than 'mind'; used in legal or serious contexts
- desire
focuses on wanting something rather than planning it
- inclination
a mild tendency, not a firm plan
- indecision
lack of a clear intention or desire
文法句型
have a mind to do something
change one's mind
what someone has in mind
用法筆記
Often used with the verbs 'have', 'change', or 'make up'. 'Have a mind to' expresses a fairly strong intention, while 'what someone has in mind' asks about plans.
常見錯誤
8. A person's opinion, judgement, or way of thinking about a particular topic or si
A person's opinion, judgement, or way of thinking about a particular topic or situation.
In my mind, the best plan is to hire more staff for the evening shift.
pattern: in my mind (meaning 'in my opinion')
Karim speaks his mind at meetings, even when others disagree with his ideas.
collocation: speak one's mind
The two judges were of the same mind about the winner of the competition.
David gave his manager a piece of his mind after the project was cancelled without warning.
- opinion
more general and neutral; 'mind' often implies a strong personal view
- judgement
focuses on a conclusion reached after thinking carefully
- point of view
emphasises the perspective from which something is seen
- agreement
when minds are of the same opinion, there is agreement
文法句型
in someone's mind
speak one's mind
of the same mind
用法筆記
'Speak one's mind' means to express one's opinion honestly and directly, even if it might offend. 'Of the same mind' means two or more people share the same opinion.
常見錯誤
9. The ability to direct one's thoughts or concentration towards a particular thing
The ability to direct one's thoughts or concentration towards a particular thing or activity.
Kenji kept his mind on the exam despite the noise from the street outside.
collocation: keep one's mind on
A long walk along the beach took Linh's mind off the job interview stress.
collocation: take one's mind off
It never crossed Reuben's mind that his friend would move abroad without telling him.
If Marco puts his mind to learning guitar, he will improve very quickly.
- attention
more general; 'mind' in this sense always requires a possessive ('my mind', 'your mind')
- focus
a tighter, more deliberate concentration
- concentration
the mental effort of focusing on one thing
- distraction
something that takes your mind away from what you should focus on
文法句型
keep one's mind on
take one's mind off
cross someone's mind
用法筆記
This sense mostly appears in fixed expressions. 'Keep your mind on' means stay focused. 'Take your mind off' means distract yourself from a worry. 'Cross your mind' means come into your thoughts briefly.
常見錯誤
10. A person's capacity to think, reason, understand complex ideas, and solve proble
A person's capacity to think, reason, understand complex ideas, and solve problems.
Defne has a sharp mind for mathematics and solves hard equations in seconds.
collocation: a sharp mind
Solving a Rubik's Cube quickly requires a sharp mind and good spatial awareness.
Grandma Nala is eighty-five but still has a quick mind and loves playing chess.
The puzzle requires an analytical mind to see the pattern hidden in the data.
- intelligence
more abstract than 'mind'; typically describes the quality itself rather than a characteristic way of thinking
- brain
informal; 'she's got brains' means she is intelligent
- intellect
more formal, often suggesting academic ability
- stupidity
the opposite of having a sharp or quick mind
文法句型
a sharp mind
a quick mind
an analytical mind
用法筆記
Used with modifiers such as 'sharp', 'quick', 'brilliant', or 'analytical' to describe a person's intellectual ability. Unlike 'intelligence', which is an abstract quality, 'a sharp mind' describes someone's way of thinking as a characteristic. 'Sharp mind' and 'quick mind' are the most frequent modifiers.