why
adv, conjunction
interjection
noun
waɪ
adv, conjunction
1
used
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?
网上可以办的事，为什么还要浪费时间去银行？
3
why not?
used
to
say
that
you
agree
with
a
suggestion
为什么不…？〔用于表示赞同某一建议〕
‘We
could
invite
John
and
Barbara.’
‘Yes,
why
not?’
“我们可以邀请约翰和芭芭拉。”“是呀，干吗不呢？”
4
why doesn’t sb do sth? why not do sth?
a.
also
又作
used
to
make
a
suggestion
b.
used
to
say
angrily
that
someone
should
do
something
为什么不…？〔用于气愤地表示某人应该做某事〕
Why
don’t
you
bring
over
a
video
for
us
to
watch?
你干吗不带一盘录像带来给我们看看？
Why
not
relax
and
enjoy
the
atmosphere?
为什么不放松放松，享受一下这气氛？
Why
don’t
you
mind
your
own
business?
你为什么不去管好你自己的事情？
5
why sb?
used
to
ask
why
a
particular
person
has
been
chosen
or
is
suffering
为什么是某人？
Why
me?
Why
can’t
someone
else
drive
you?
为什么是我？ 为什么别人不能开车送你？
6
why oh why...?
used
to
show
that
you
are
very
sorry
or
angry
about
something
[口] 为什么要…？〔表示对某事非常后悔或生气〕
Why
oh
why
did
I
say
those
horrible
things?
为什么呀，为什么我要说这些难听的话？
interjection
7
used
when
you
are
surprised
or
have
suddenly
realized
something
[过时] 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.
我对自己说，嗨，我能行的。
noun
8
the whys and (the) wherefores
the
reasons
or
explanations
for
something
缘故，理由
The
whys
and
the
wherefores
of
these
procedures
need
to
be
explained.
这些手续的缘由需要作出解释。