mean

Compared meaning: to plan or want to do something (verb).

比较义项：打算，想要做某事（动词）。

• mean 本词

  Casual and personal in tone; very often used as 'didn't mean to' to explain an unintentional action or clarify one's true intention; sounds informal for stating scheduled plans.

  语气随意、偏个人化；很常用“didn't mean to”来解释无意的行为或说明自己真实的用意；用来陈述有时间安排的正式计划时会显得不自然。

  I didn't mean to interrupt your important meeting.

  我不是故意要打断你们的重要会议。

• intend

  More formal and deliberate; used to state a clear plan or goal, common in written or professional contexts, often paired with a specific deadline or timeframe.

  更正式、更强调深思熟虑；用于陈述明确的计划或目标，常见于书面或正式场合，常搭配具体的截止日期或时间安排。

  I intend to finish this project by next week.

  我打算在下周之前完成这个项目。

Mean and intend both mean to plan to do something. Mean is casual, often 'didn't mean to', explaining an accident or true intention. Intend is more formal, for a clear plan, common in writing. Mean's other sense, 'to signify', is not compared here.

这两个词在“打算、想要做某事”这个意义上很接近，容易混淆，但语气和正式程度不同：mean带有更强的主观意图色彩，常用于口语中解释自己本来的用意，尤其是“didn't mean to”这种为无意行为道歉的说法；intend更正式、更强调深思熟虑的计划，常见于书面或正式场合。这里不比较mean的另一个常见义项“（词语等）意味着，表示某种意思”，例如This word means...。

Compared meaning: unwilling to spend or share money (adjective).

比较义项：吝啬、不愿花钱或分享（形容词）。

• mean 本词

  General adjective for someone unwilling to share money or possessions; carries a moral tone of unkindness or selfishness, common in British English, often with 'mean to' or 'mean about'.

  泛指不愿与人分享钱财或物品的人，带有为人自私、刻薄的道德意味，英式英语中较常用，常与「mean to do」或「mean about」搭配。

  He's too mean to buy his own kids new shoes.

  他太吝啬了，连给自己孩子买双新鞋都舍不得。

• tight

  Informal, casual adjective focused narrowly on reluctance to spend money; lighter in tone than mean, very common in everyday speech, often in the fixed phrase 'tight with money' or 'tight-fisted'.

  口语化、语气较轻的说法，专指不愿花钱，比mean语气更轻松，日常口语中很常用，常见固定搭配「tight with money」或「tight-fisted」。

  My uncle is tight with money and never buys anyone a drink.

  我叔叔在钱上很抠门，从不请别人喝一杯。

Mean and tight both mean unwilling to spend or share money. Mean is stronger, carrying a moral tone of selfishness or unkindness, common in British English. Tight is more casual and lighter, focused only on reluctance to spend, often in 'tight with money'.

这两个词在这一义项上都表示「吝啬、不愿花钱或分享」，但mean语气更重，带有为人自私、刻薄的负面评价，属英式英语常用词；tight较为口语、语气较轻，只强调不愿花钱。这里不比较mean表示「意图、打算」的动词义，也不比较tight表示「紧的、绷紧的」或「严格的」等其他义项。