aim

Compared meaning: a person's goal or plan (noun).

比较义项：目的、意图、打算（某人计划做的事，或做某事的原因）（名词）。

• purpose

  Focuses on the reason behind something — why it exists or is done — rather than a future goal; often used with 'the purpose of'.

  强调某事背后的原因，即为什么存在或为什么去做，而不是未来的目标；常用于“……的目的”这类表达。

  Nobody understood the real purpose of the new office rule.

  没有人理解这项新办公室规定的真正目的。

• intent

  Formal, often legal, word for a deliberate plan behind an act; common in the fixed phrase 'with intent to', rarely used for everyday personal plans.

  正式用词，常用于法律语境，指行为背后的蓄意计划；常见于固定搭配“带着……的意图”，很少用于日常个人计划。

  He entered the building with intent to steal valuable equipment.

  他带着盗窃贵重设备的意图闯入了大楼。

• intention

  The everyday word for what someone personally means to do; common in speech, especially in phrases like 'have no intention of' or 'good intentions'.

  日常用词，指某人本人打算做的事；常用于口语，尤其是“没有……的打算”或“良好的意图”这类表达。

  I have no intention of moving to another city next year.

  我没有打算明年搬到另一个城市。

• aim 本词

  A goal someone works toward achieving in the future; more concrete and forward-looking than 'purpose', often paired with 'achieve' or 'reach'.

  指某人努力想要在未来实现的目标；比purpose更具体、更面向未来，常与“实现”“达到”搭配使用。

  Her main aim is to open her own bakery someday.

  她的主要目标是有朝一日开一家属于自己的面包店。

Purpose, intent, intention, and aim all mean a goal or reason for doing something, but they differ. Purpose is the reason something exists or is done. Intent is formal, often legal. Intention is the everyday word for a personal plan. Aim is a concrete goal.

这几个词在这个意义上都表示做某事的目的或打算，但语气和正式程度不同：purpose强调做某事的原因或作用；intent比较正式，常见于法律语境中的固定搭配“带着……的意图”；intention是日常口语中表达个人打算时最常用的词；aim则强调努力想要达成的具体目标。此处不比较aim作动词表示“瞄准”、intent作形容词表示“专注于”的用法。

Compared meaning: to aim or direct something at a target (verb).

比较义项：瞄准，把某物对准某个方向或目标（动词）。

• point

  Means to direct a finger, a weapon, or a device toward something, often so others notice it; used as 'point at/to sth'; casual, everyday word.

  表示用手指、武器或装置对准某物，通常是为了让别人注意到；常用“point at/to某物”的结构；语气随意，是日常常用词。

  She pointed at the map to show him the way.

  她指着地图给他指路。

• target

  Takes a direct object (target something) and means to select and direct effort, attack, or marketing toward it; often abstract, such as a market or group, not a physical aim.

  后面直接接宾语（target something），表示选定并将努力、攻击或营销对准该对象；常用于抽象对象，如市场或人群，而非实际的瞄准动作。

  The company decided to target teenagers with its new ad campaign.

  这家公司决定用新的广告活动针对青少年。

• aim 本词

  Means to adjust and direct something, especially a weapon, carefully toward a target with the intention of hitting it; used as 'aim (sth) at sth'; implies precision and effort.

  表示仔细调整并将某物（尤其是武器）对准目标，意在击中它；常用“aim（某物）at某物”的结构；强调精准和用心。

  He carefully aimed the dart at the bullseye before throwing it.

  他把飞镖扔出去之前，仔细瞄准了靶心。

Point, target, and aim all mean to direct something at a goal. Point and aim describe physically pointing a finger or weapon; target is more abstract, like choosing a market or attack to focus on. Point's 'argument' meaning is not compared here.

这三个词在“瞄准、对准某个方向或目标”这一义项上意思相近，但侧重点和使用场景不同：point 和 aim 强调用手指、武器等实际对准某处，target 则更常用于抽象地选定攻击、营销或努力的对象。这里不比较 point 表示“论点、要点”（名词）的意思，也不比较 aim 和 target 作名词时表示“目标、目的”的意思。