idea

/aɪˈdɪə/ (bre, ipa) · /aɪˈdiːə/ (ame, ipa) · /ī-ˈdē-ə -ˈdēə also ˈī-(ˌ)dē-ə or ˈī-dē/ (ame, mw)

idea — 名詞

  • ideasingular
  • ideasplural

1. A thought about what someone could do, often forming a rough plan to deal with a

1.名詞A2
釋義

建議；想法

針對某事提出的計畫或行動方案

A thought about what someone could do, often forming a rough plan to deal with a situation or solve a problem.

例句

Esteban came up with the idea of setting up a shared calendar for all the project deadlines.

Esteban 提出了一個想法，就是在團隊中建立共用行事曆來管理所有專案截止日。

idea + of + gerund phrase

It was Noa's idea to start a small book club at the local library.

在當地圖書館成立小型讀書會是 Noa 的主意。

it was [possessor] idea + to-infinitive

同義詞
  • suggestion

    more neutral; an idea put forward for others to consider

  • plan

    more detailed and concrete than an idea

  • notion

    more vague or informal; a half-formed idea

文法句型

idea + to-infinitive

idea + of + gerund/noun

idea + for + noun phrase

用法筆記

Common in conversational phrases such as 'That's a good idea!' or 'What a great idea!' to react to a suggestion.

常見錯誤

❌I have an idea to go for a walk after dinner.
✅I have an idea
💡let's go for a walk after dinner.' — When presenting a suggestion, a colon or comma is more natural than a to-infinitive after a bare statement.

2. A general mental picture or degree of understanding about what something is like

2.名詞B1
釋義

概念；了解

存在於腦中的認識或印象

A general mental picture or degree of understanding about what something is like, how it works, or what it involves.

例句

The brochure gave Aoi a clear idea of what the national park had to offer.

那本旅遊手冊讓 Aoi 對國家公園的設施有了清楚的認識。

give + idea + of + wh-clause

Ada had only a rough idea of how much the renovation would cost.

Ada 對於翻修費用只有一個大概的概念。

have + a rough idea of

同義詞
  • notion

    more informal and often vaguer than 'idea'

  • concept

    more abstract and formal; a general theoretical understanding

  • impression

    a partly formed or initial understanding, not necessarily accurate

反義詞
  • ignorance

    complete lack of knowledge or understanding

文法句型

have an idea of + noun phrase

give someone an idea of + wh-clause/noun

have a clear/rough/vague idea

用法筆記

This sense is about having SOME understanding. When used in negative phrases like 'have no idea', the meaning shifts to a separate idiomatic sense (see sense 3). 'Have a good idea of...' suggests solid, useful understanding.

常見錯誤

❌I have an idea of how to fix this problem — let me try.
✅I have an idea how to fix this problem.
💡In the SUGGESTION sense, 'idea' is usually not followed by 'of' before 'how/what/where'.

3. Used in the fixed phrase 'have no idea' to emphasize that someone does not know,

3.名詞A2
釋義

不知道

表示對某事完全不了解或無法想像

Used in the fixed phrase 'have no idea' to emphasize that someone does not know, understand, or remember something, or to show that something is hard to imagine.

例句

Christopher asked where the meeting was, but his assistant had no idea.

Christopher 問會議在哪裡，但他的助理完全不知道。

have no idea (standalone)

Tuan had no idea that the bakery closed early on Sundays.

Tuan 完全不知道那間麵包店週日提早打烊。

have no idea + that-clause

同義詞
反義詞
  • know

    to have knowledge or information about something

文法句型

have no idea

have no idea + wh-clause

you have no idea + (how/what/that-clause)

用法筆記

The phrase 'I have no idea' is much stronger than 'I don't know' — it suggests complete lack of knowledge. 'You have no idea' is a fixed conversational opener used to emphasize that the listener cannot fully imagine a situation.

常見錯誤

❌I have no idea about the answer.
✅I have no idea what the answer is.
💡'Have no idea' is most naturally followed by a question word or 'that'-clause, not by 'about'.
❌I have no idea——can you help me?
✅I have no idea. Can you help me?
💡Use a full stop or a new sentence, not a dash.

4. A personal view or belief about what is true, right, or worth doing, shaped by a

4.名詞B1
釋義

看法；觀點

個人對某事的信念或意見

A personal view or belief about what is true, right, or worth doing, shaped by a person's own thinking rather than by proven facts.

例句

Élise has very strong ideas about how children should be encouraged to read.

Élise 對於如何鼓勵孩子閱讀有非常明確的看法。

have + strong ideas + about + wh-clause

Amani and Wei hold completely different ideas on what makes a good leader.

Amani 和 Wei 對於什麼是好的領導者抱持完全不同的觀點。

hold + ideas + on + topic

同義詞
  • opinion

    a personal view that may be based on feelings rather than deep thought

  • belief

    stronger and more deeply held than an opinion

  • view

    formal; a particular way of considering a matter

文法句型

have + ideas + about + topic

the idea that + clause

ideas + on + topic

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (SUGGESTION): a belief is held personally and can exist without being shared, while a suggestion is offered to others as a possible course of action. 'Political ideas' and 'religious ideas' belong to this sense.

常見錯誤

❌Do you have any ideas about where to eat?
✅Do you have any ideas for where to eat?
💡When asking for a suggestion (sense 1), use 'for' rather than 'about'.

5. The central purpose, intention, or reason that explains why a particular action,

5.名詞B1
釋義

目的；目標

某行動或計畫背後的原因或宗旨

The central purpose, intention, or reason that explains why a particular action, plan, or system exists.

例句

The whole idea of the training course is to prepare new staff for their roles.

整門培訓課程的目的就是要讓新進人員做好上手的準備。

the whole idea of + noun + is to + verb

The idea behind the festival is to bring the community together through food and music.

這個節慶的背後理念是透過美食和音樂凝聚社區情感。

the idea behind + noun phrase + is to + verb

同義詞
  • purpose

    the reason something is done or exists; more formal than 'idea'

  • point

    informal; 'the point of it is...' — common in everyday speech

  • aim

    a goal or intended result; more specific and measurable

文法句型

the idea of + noun + is to + verb

the idea behind + noun phrase

the main / whole idea

用法筆記

This sense almost always appears with 'the' not 'a/an' — 'the idea' — and is commonly followed by 'of + noun + is to' or 'behind + noun'. The phrase 'the idea is to...' is a very common conversational pattern.

常見錯誤

❌The idea of the game is having fun.
✅The idea of the game is to have fun.
💡Use a to-infinitive, not a gerund, after 'the idea is'.