meanの意味を英語で説明

Understanding “mean”

Understanding the Verb “mean”

1. Core Idea

The core sense of mean is “to point to or indicate a result, idea, or intention”. It’s about what something expresses or represents beyond itself.

2. Different Perspectives

  • Definition or Signification: What a word, symbol, or signal represents.
    “What does this sign mean?” → “What does it indicate?”
  • Intention: What someone wants to express or intend.
    “I didn’t mean to hurt you.” → “I didn’t intend to cause pain.”
  • Importance or Consequence: What follows or results from something.
    “This could mean trouble.” → “This points to possible trouble.”
  • Character Judgment: Describing behavior or personality (negative sense).
    “He is mean.” → “He acts in a unkind or selfish way.”

3. Imagery Approach

Think of mean as an arrow or pointer. It “points” from one thing (word, action, sign) to the idea or result it represents. The object of mean is what it reaches or indicates.

4. Examples Without Japanese Translation

  • “Rain means clouds.” → Rain points to or indicates clouds are present.
  • “Her smile means she is happy.” → The smile points to the feeling of happiness.
  • “Being late can mean trouble.” → Being late indicates possible negative outcomes.
  • “I mean well.” → My intention is good.

5. Quick Tips for Feeling the Meaning

  • Focus on what is being indicated, not a literal translation.
  • Ask yourself: “What does this point to?”
  • Notice context: words, actions, or signs can mean different things depending on situation.
Mean: Real-World Arrow Image

“Mean” as Real-World Pointer

Think of mean as a real-world arrow: something concrete points to or indicates another thing, idea, or outcome.

Rain → Clouds are present
The physical rain in the world indicates the existence of clouds.
Stop sign → You must stop
The real sign on the street points to the rule you must follow.
Her smile → She is happy
The actual smile shows her emotional state in reality.
Being late → Possible trouble
The real action (arriving late) points to consequences that may follow.

💡 Tip: Focus on the real thing in front of you and ask: “What does this point to?” That’s the essence of mean.

Mean as Picking Fruit

Understanding “Mean” as Picking Fruit

Think of mean as gently picking the core meaning (fruit) from a word, phrase, or sentence (tree).

Rain (Tree) → mean → Clouds (Fruit)
The rain is the real-world observation, and by “mean,” we pick the core idea: clouds.
Her smile (Tree) → mean → Happiness (Fruit)
The smile itself is the tree, and the meaning we extract is the happiness behind it.
Being late (Tree) → mean → Possible trouble (Fruit)
The act of being late is the tree, and the implication (possible trouble) is the fruit we pick.

💡 Tip: When you see a word or phrase, imagine gently picking the fruit to get the real meaning. That’s how mean works!