means

IPA/miːnz/
KK[mˈinz]IPA/miːnz/

means — 名詞

  • meanssingular
  • meansesplural

1. A system, tool, or process that you use to reach a particular goal or carry out

1.名詞B2
釋義

方法

達到某種結果的方式或工具

A system, tool, or process that you use to reach a particular goal or carry out an action.

例句

The bus is the cheapest means of getting around the city in Taipei.

公車是在臺北市區最便宜的移動方式。

means of + gerund for method

Painting became Nkechi's only means of expressing feelings she could not put into words.

畫畫成了 Nkechi 表達她無法說出口的感受的唯一方法。

常見搭配
  • means of transport
  • means of communication
  • means of expression
  • means to an end
  • by means of
  • a means of [doing]
同義詞
  • method

    more formal than 'means', suggests a planned or systematic procedure

  • way

    more common and less formal than 'means'; the broadest word for how something is done

  • approach

    focuses on the overall strategy or angle, not just the tool

  • technique

    emphasises skill and the specific way of performing an action

文法句型

means of + gerund/noun

means to + infinitive

用法筆記

The plural noun 'means' stays the same in both singular and plural forms. You say 'a means of transport' (not 'a mean of transport'). Use 'a means' for one method and 'means' for several methods.

常見錯誤

A train is a mean of transport.
A train is a means of transport.
'means' does not lose its -s in the singular.
I found a means solve the problem.
I found a means of solving the problem.
When a verb follows 'means of', use the -ing form.

2. The money or financial resources that a person or organisation has available to

2.名詞C2
釋義

財力；財源

個人可運用的金錢

The money or financial resources that a person or organisation has available to spend, especially from income or savings.

例句

Ryan's parents did not have the means to pay for his piano lessons.

Ryan 的父母沒有財力讓他上鋼琴課。

collocation: have the means to [do something]

The charity helps families whose means are limited by illness or job loss.

這個慈善機構幫助那些因疾病或失業而財力有限的家庭。

常見搭配
  • have the means
  • the means to do something
  • limited means
  • modest means
  • private means
同義詞
  • resources

    broader; includes time, energy, and materials, not just money

  • funds

    specific to money set aside for a purpose

  • wealth

    suggests a large amount of money and assets over time, not just current income

反義詞
  • poverty

    the state of having very little money

文法句型

have the means to + infinitive

beyond/within one's means

用法筆記

In this sense 'means' behaves like an uncountable plural noun. It is not used with numbers ('three means' would mean three methods, not a large amount of money). Commonly paired with possessive adjectives: my means, his means, their means.

常見錯誤

They have many means to buy a house.
They have the means to buy a house.
For money, use 'the means', not 'many means'.

3. A pattern of using up more financial resources than the amount that comes in — r

3.名詞
釋義

入不敷出

花費超過收入

A pattern of using up more financial resources than the amount that comes in — regularly buying goods or services that require borrowing beyond one's income.

例句

After losing his job, Felix kept living beyond his means with credit cards.

失業後，Felix 仍然入不敷出，靠信用卡過日子。

fixed phrase: live beyond one's means

Mert warned his brother not to live beyond his means by buying an expensive car.

Mert 警告他哥哥不要買一輛昂貴的車，以免入不敷出。

常見搭配
  • live beyond one's means
同義詞
  • overspend

    a single verb that means the same thing but is less common in everyday speech

反義詞

文法句型

live beyond one's means

用法筆記

This sense only appears in the fixed expression 'live beyond one's means'. The possessive (my, your, his, her, its, their) always agrees with the subject of 'live'.

4. To spend only as much money as you earn or can afford — the phrase describes car

4.名詞
釋義

量入為出

花費不超過收入

To spend only as much money as you earn or can afford — the phrase describes careful financial behaviour that keeps a person out of debt.

例句

Apinya has learned to live within her means by cooking at home instead of eating out.

Apinya 學會了量入為出，在家做飯而不外食。

fixed phrase: live within one's means

Christopher and Adisa bought a smaller house so they could live within their means.

Christopher 和 Adisa 買了一間比較小的房子，這樣他們就能量入為出。

常見搭配
  • live within one's means
同義詞
  • budget

    a verb that describes the active process of planning spending within one's limits

反義詞

文法句型

live within one's means

用法筆記

Like sense 3, this sense only appears in the fixed expression 'live within one's means'. It is the opposite of 'live beyond one's means' and is used with the same possessive agreement pattern.

5. A person who is rich and has enough money to live comfortably without financial

5.名詞
釋義

有錢人

富有的人

A person who is rich and has enough money to live comfortably without financial worries — describes someone with significant wealth, not just a modest income.

例句

Élise married a man of means who owns several houses in Lyon.

Élise 嫁給了一位在里昂擁有幾棟房子的有錢人。

fixed phrase: a man/woman of means

The community centre was built with donations from a woman of means from the area.

這個社區中心的建設經費來自當地一位有錢女性的捐款。

常見搭配
  • a man of means
  • a woman of means
  • a person of means
同義詞
  • wealthy

    the most common modern word for having a lot of money

  • well-off

    slightly less formal than 'wealthy', suggests comfort rather than great riches

  • affluent

    formal, often used to describe communities or social groups

反義詞
  • poor

    having little money

文法句型

a [person] of means

用法筆記

This is a formal, literary expression. In everyday conversation, people are more likely to say 'a rich person' or 'a wealthy person'. The phrase 'a person of means' sounds old-fashioned or elegant.

慣用語

by all means

idiom

A polite way of giving someone permission to do something or encouraging them to go ahead.

當然可以；請便

'May I borrow your pen for a moment?' 'By all means, go ahead.'

By all means, invite your friends to the party — the more people, the better.

by no means

idiom

Used to strongly say that something is not true or not possible.

絕非；絕不

This is by no means the end of the project — we still have a lot of work ahead of us.

She is by no means a bad teacher; in fact, her students love her classes.

by means of

idiom

Using a particular method, system, or tool to achieve something.

藉由；透過……的方式

The message was sent by means of a satellite phone from the remote mountain camp.

You can open the locked box by means of a special key that only the manager carries.

by fair means or foul

idiom

Using any method, even dishonest ones, to achieve what you want.

不擇手段地

Maya will get that promotion by fair means or foul.

Are you willing to succeed by fair means or foul?

by means of something

idiom

Using a particular thing or method to achieve a result.

藉由某物

He sent the package by means of a courier service.

The message was delivered by means of a secret code.

the end justifies the means

idiom

A belief that bad actions are acceptable if they lead to a good result.

目的正當手段就正當

Some politicians think the end justifies the means.

Do you believe the end justifies the means in business?

a means to an end

idiom

An activity or thing that is not valued for itself but only for the result it helps achieve.

達到目的的手段

For many students, college is just a means to an end.

He sees this job as a means to an end, not a career.

ways and means

idiom

The methods and resources available to accomplish something.

方法和資源

The committee discussed ways and means to raise funds.

She found ways and means to finish the project on time.

同根字

常見搭配

常用片語

介系詞搭配