why

Word family

why1 /waɪ/ S1 W1 adverbadv

1 REASONused to ask or talk about the reason for something 为什么

Why are you crying?

你为什么哭？

Why do we have to take all these tests?

我们为什么一定要参加这些测验？

‘She wants to meet you.’ ‘Why?’

“她想认识你。”“为什么？”

‘I won’t be able to come into work tomorrow.’ ‘Why not?’

“我明天不能来上班。”“为什么？”

I have no idea why the television isn’t working.

我不明白电视机为什么坏了。

Simon loves you – that’s why he wants to be with you.

西蒙爱你——所以他想和你在一起。

He’s angry with me and I don’t know why.

他生我气了，我不知道为什么。

There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be friends.

我们没有理由不成为朋友。

why on earth/why ever etc (=used for emphasis when you are surprised, angry etc) 究竟为什么〔用于强调〕

Why on earth didn’t you ask me to help?

你到底为什么不叫我帮忙？

‘I don’t want us to be seen together.’ ‘Why ever not?’

“我不想被人看见我们在一起。”“到底为什么？”

2 used to introduce a question that shows you do not think it is necessary to do something 为什么…〔用于引出疑问句，表示认为没必要做某事〕

Why worry? You can’t do anything about it.

为什么担心？这件事你无能为力。

Why waste time going to the bank when you can do it all over the Internet?

全都可以在网上办的事，为什么还要浪费时间去银行？

SPOKEN PHRASES

Examples from the Corpus

Why not• Why do you need carpet in your new store, Bill? Why not cement floors?• This year, Victorine snorted: she and Léonie would have to do it. Why not chutney?• Every other big business has to pay market wages to its workers. Why not college sports?• Q: Why not give up an Aki Berg if you can get a Nieuwendyk?• Liturgical occasions? Why not let the people know?• They also make perfect presents. Why not make a special bookmark for Thinking Day?• Why a fear of turtles? Why not the conventional witch, robbers and monsters?

why2 interjection old-fashioned

SURPRISEDused when you are surprised or have suddenly realized something 哎呀，嗨〔表示惊讶或突然意识到某事〕

Why, look who’s here!

哎呀，看看这是谁！

And I thought to myself, why, I can do that.

我就对自己说，嗨，我能行的。

why3 noun

the whys and (the) wherefores REASONthe reasons or explanations for something 缘故，理由

The whys and the wherefores of these procedures need to be explained.

需要对这些手续的缘由作出解释。