intent

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 本词

  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

  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: giving full attention to something (adjective).

比较义项：专注、专心于某事（形容词）。

• intent 本词

  Describes being firmly determined and single-mindedly focused on achieving a specific goal, often followed by 'on' plus a gerund; it is about one's own purpose, not caring for others.

  表示为达成某个具体目标而下定决心、全神贯注，常接“on doing something”；强调的是自身的目标，而不是对他人的关心。

  She was intent on finishing the marathon despite the pain in her knee.

  尽管膝盖疼痛，她还是一心要跑完这场马拉松。

• attentive

  Describes giving careful, considerate attention to someone or something, especially their needs or words; used for caring service, listening, or observing closely, not for pursuing a goal.

  表示对某人或某事给予细心周到的关注，尤指关注对方的需求或话语；用于形容体贴的服务、认真倾听或仔细观察，而不是追求某个目标。

  The waiter was attentive, refilling our water glasses before we even asked.

  服务员很细心，我们还没开口他就把水杯续满了。

Intent and attentive both describe being focused, but they differ. Intent means firmly determined and focused on reaching a goal, often followed by 'on'. Attentive means giving careful, considerate attention to a person or thing, such as listening closely or caring for someone's needs.

这两个词都可以表示“专注”，但侧重点不同：intent 强调为达成某个目标而下定决心、全神贯注，常与“on doing something”连用；attentive 强调对人或事物给予细心周到的关注，常用于描写关心他人或认真倾听。