meaning

Compared meaning: meaning or importance of something (noun).

比较义项：意义，重要性（名词）。

• meaning 本词

  The most common, neutral word for what something expresses or represents; used in everyday contexts for words, symbols, dreams, or life in general.

  meaning是最常用、最中性的词，指某事物所表达或代表的内容，常用于日常语境中描述词语、符号、梦境或人生的意义。

  She wasn't sure of the meaning of his cryptic remark.

  她不确定他那句意味深长的话是什么意思。

• significance

  Emphasizes the importance or special meaning behind something, often an event or fact; common in explanatory or academic contexts.

  significance强调某事物背后的重要性或特殊意义，常用于解释性或学术语境，例如说明一项事实或事件的意义。

  Few people understood the significance of the discovery at the time.

  当时很少有人理解这项发现的重要意义。

• import

  A formal, literary word for importance or meaning, often used in phrases like 'of great import'; rare in everyday speech and distinct from the common verb 'import' (to bring in goods).

  import是正式、文学化的用词，表示重要性或含义，常见于“意义重大”这类表达，日常口语中很少使用，且与常见动词import（进口）拼写相同但意义不同。

  Few realized the full import of his resignation at the time.

  当时很少有人完全意识到他辞职的重大意义。

All three words relate to meaning or importance, but differ in register. Meaning is the most common, neutral word. Significance stresses importance, in explanatory or academic contexts. Import is formal, literary, and rare, differing from the everyday verb 'import' (to bring in goods).

这三个词在“意义／重要性”这一义项上相近，但语域和常见用法不同：meaning最常用、最中性；significance强调重要性，多用于解释性或学术语境；import是正式书面用词，日常口语中很少使用。这里不比较 import 作动词“进口”的意义。