why是指：為什么，為什么目的、原因或起源；以什么目標(biāo)、借口或動機(jī)?！癟he reason why [regular verbs] are called regular is that we can predict what all the other three forms are” - Randolph Quirk

傳統(tǒng)詞典

AHD:[hwo, wo]

D.J.[hwai, wai]

K.K.[hwa!, wa!]

adv.（副詞）

For what purpose, reason, or cause; with what intention, justification, or motive:

Why is the door shut? Why do birds sing?

門為什么關(guān)了?鳥為什么唱歌?

conj.（連接詞）

The reason, cause, or purpose for which:

為…的原因、起因或目的：

I know why you left.

我知道你離開的原因

Usage Problem On account of which; for which:

【用法疑難】 因為，為什么：

“The reason why [regular verbs] are called regular is that we can predict what all the other three forms are” - Randolph Quirk

“[規(guī)則動詞] 之所以稱為規(guī)則是因為我們能夠預(yù)知動詞另三種形式的變化” - 倫道夫·夸克

n.（名詞）

【復(fù)數(shù)】 whys

The cause or intention underlying a given action or situation:

原因，動機(jī)：在一特點行為或情況下隱藏的起因或目的：

studying the whys of antisocial behavior.

研究反社會行為的原因

A difficult problem or question.

難題，令人費解的問題

interj.（感嘆詞）

Used to express mild surprise, indignation, or impatience.

用于表示輕微的吃驚、生氣或不耐煩

詞組搭配

why?so?

for?what?reason?or?purpose?

為什么這樣？

語源

Middle English

中古英語

from Old English hwt} * see k wo-

源自 古英語 hwt} *參見 k wo-

用法

Many critics have held that why is redundant in the expression the reason why, as in The reason why he accepted the nomination is not clear. It is true that why could be eliminated from such examples with no loss to the sense, but the construction has been used by reputable English writers since the Renaissance.See Usage Note at where

許多批評家認(rèn)為在the reason why 這種表達(dá)中， why 是多余的， 如在句子The reason why he accepted the nomination is not clear.（他接受提名的原因不太明確。） why 可以從這種例子中除去，對句子意義并不影響，但是自從文藝復(fù)興以來這種結(jié)構(gòu)已為頗有名望的英語作家的廣泛應(yīng)用。