"It's your call." It's not about calling, it's about making a decision;
"I need some company." There is no relationship with the company, but to be accompanied;
"You're so mean." Refers to someone who is mean, but "To do a mean job." It is to praise a person's ability.
There are many common words in English, and in different situations, the meaning is completely different! I don't know the difference, daily communication, reading books and newspapers, it is likely to cause misunderstandings and make jokes.
Today, we will talk about the most commonly used English polysemantics!
The same word in different sentences may mean completely different things!
"Polysemantic word" as the name implies is that a word has multiple meanings, but in the eyes of foreigners, each different meaning is a different word. This is also a cultural difference.
Every language has words with many meanings: Every language has its own polysemantics
Today, we're going to talk about English words with multiple meanings that seem entirelyunrelated to each other: These English polysemantics we're going to talk about today have far different meanings
These words have a primary meaning that's well-known to all, but they also have one common lesser-known meaning: The main meaning of these words is known to everyone, but they also have at least one meaning that you may not know
Words with multiple meanings: Polysemantics (the more common expression of "polysemantics" in English)
Many native speakers think of it as two different words: Many native English speakers see polysemantic words as completely different words
But for many English learners, they are the same word since the spelling and the pronunciation are the same: But for many English learners, the polysemantic words are spelled the same, the pronunciation is the same, obviously it is a word
“Title”
The NBA Finals that have just been played and the European Cup that are fiercely fighting will use the word "title".
The three most common meanings of Title:
1. Name of a book, article and so forth: book title, article title, etc
2. description of a position, rank, status: 职称、头衔
3. Championship: Champion
Job title: Job title, title
Title of a book or article: The title of the book or the title of the article
In the context of sports, title means championship: In sports-related texts, title refers to the overall champion
You can think of championship as something like a job title: You can also think of championship as a title like a job title
A person can be the president of a company while a team can be the champion of a competition: One can be the boss of the company; a team can be the champion of the game (both titles)
This year, Spain is defending their Euro Cup title: This year Spain is the defending team for the European Championship
“Conference”
Conference:
1. Meeting: Meeting, Conference
2. An association of sports teams that play each other: Sports federations, divisions, only some events such as the NBA and NHL (National Hockey League) are divided into conferences
You can also see a conference as a meeting of teams: You can think of conferences at sporting events as a team rally
Eastern and Western Conference: Eastern Division, Western Division
After sports, let's talk about the most misunderstood polysemantic words in colloquialism!
"End"
Fine has two distinct meanings:
1. good, great: Good, great
2. Money one has to pay as punishment: Fines, fines (can also be used as verbs to indicate to... Penalty of fine)
"Fine" is one of the very first English words that people learn: Fine is one of the first English words to be learned
One meaning of "fine" is "good": One meaning of "Fine" is "good, good"
Right now, in Shanghai, there're so many police on the street, stopping people on their motorcycles and scooters and giving them a fine: There are now many police officers on the roads in Shanghai, stopping motorcycle riders and electric vehicle riders who violate traffic rules and then fine them
I got fined today: I was fined today
Singaporeans often say that Singapore is a very "fine" country: Singaporeans like to say that their country is a very "fine" country, pun intended, one is good, and the other is to say that the country has a lot of fines
"Mean"
Mean has several different meanings:
intent to convey or refer to: meaning (verb)
unkind: unfriendly, mean, fierce (adjective)
excellent: excellent, used in colloquial language, described as skilled, skilled, (adjective)
The word "mean" was used to confuse the hell out of me: The word Mean was hard for me to figure out before
What does the word "mean" mean?: What does the word mean?
Mean Girls: An American film about a group of very mean high school girls bullying other classmates
My mom makes a mean Lasagna: My mom made lasagna so delicious
He plays a mean guitar: He plays the guitar very well
When talking about a person's skills, "mean" is a compliment that suggests he or she is high-skilled: If mean describes a person's skills, skills, then this time mean is actually saying that the person is doing a particularly good job, very good
Jenny records a mean podcast: Jenny's podcasts do exceptionally well
When referring to skills, “mean” is good; When referring to personalities, "mean" is bad: speaking of a person's skills and abilities, mean is positive; but when used to describe a person's character, mean is a derogatory term
"Neat"
What Neat means:
1. Clean and tidy: Clean and tidy
2. Very good, cool: Excellent
For a lot of you who have learned the word "neat", you might know it means "clean and tidy": Anyone who has learned the word "nat" should know that neat and tidy means neat
But it also means "cool" in everyday spoken English: In everyday colloquialism, neat also means cool, meaning exceptionally good and cool
"That's neat!": Okay, good, awesome
You can also replace "good" with "neat": you can also replace good with a seat
"Correct"
Different meanings of Correct:
1. Right: Correct (adjective)
2. put right; make right: 修正、修正 (verb)
I often get confused when I see this word on the screen of a bank machine: Every time I see the word on an ATM screen, I can't figure out what it means
Does it mean "correct" as in there's no mistake? Is that the correct meaning?
Or does it mean since you made a mistake, you need to correct it: Or is it wrong and meant to be corrected?
Have you figured it out?: Did you finally figure it out?
I just use the Chinese. It's much easier: I just look at Chinese, which is easier than looking at English
* Distinguish the meaning of polysemantics according to context!
For example, in the screenshot, the words "correct" and "cancel" are written, and since cancel means cancel, then corerect should be the correct meaning here. ＊
"Note"
Note as a noun has two main meanings:
1. a piece of paper with information written on it: 纸条
2. Banknote, paper money: Banknotes
to write someone a note: Write a note to someone, leave a note
Some students take notes in class while some pass notes to each other: During class, some students take notes and some classmates pass each other small notes
banknote: Banknotes
coins and notes: Coins and banknotes
In monetary terms, notes refer to paper money: When talking about money, notes refer to paper money
This machine can only provide five-dollar notes: This machine only offers $5 bills
*When it comes to paper money, note is more commonly used in British English; Americans are more accustomed to using the word bill. It is also a polysemantic word, and in addition to the bill, there is also a meaning for paper money. For example: five-dollar bills"
"Company"
The two main meanings of Company are:
1. a firm or business: 公司
2. The state of being with someone: The company of others
I’m very lonely. I could use some company: I'm so lonely, I just want someone to accompany me
Adam, you are great company: Adam, it's nice to be with you/It's so nice to be with you
To keep somebody company: Accompany someone
"You're the company you keep": Near Zhu is red, near ink is black
Party
What Party means:
1. A social event: Party
2. A group of people: A group of people, a group
As you go into restaurant, the waiter/waitress might ask you "How many people in your party?": When you enter a restaurant, the waiter will ask you "How many?"
The bride, bridegroom, groomsmen and bridesmaids are collectively known as the wedding party: Bride and groomsmen and bridesmaids are collectively known as thewedding party
The party after the wedding is actually called the wedding reception: The post-wedding banquet is not called a walledding party, it is called a warmding reception
"Call"
The two meanings of the Call:
1. a telephone call or to make a telephone call: 电话、打电话
2. Decision: Decision
You make the call/Your call: You decide, you decide
That’s a good call／Good call: 好主意！
That was a terrible call: Blowing too badly (often said when watching football or basketball)
Where are we going for dinner tonight?: Where to eat tonight?
It's your call: You decide
That's it for today. Welcome to leave a message and tell us your questions and feedback!
Program text, please pay attention to the public number: open English reply to "polysemantic words" view.