These are all words for talking about what sb/sth intends to do or achieve.以上各词均指意图、目的、目标。
purpose what sth is supposed to achieve; what sb is trying to achieve指目的、目标：◆Our campaign's main purpose is to raise money.我们这次活动的主要目的是募款。
aim what sb is trying to achieve; what sth is supposed to achieve指目标、目的：◆She went to London with the aim of finding a job.她去伦敦是为了找工作。◆Our main aim is to increase sales in Europe.我们的主要目标是增加在欧洲的销售量。
purpose or aim?用 purpose 还是 aim？
Your purpose for doing something is your reason for doing it; your aim is what you want to achieve. Aim can suggest that you are only trying to achieve sth; purpose gives a stronger sense of achievement being certain. Aim can be sb's aim or the aim of sth. Purpose is more usually the purpose of sth: you can talk about sb's purpose but that is more formal. * purpose 指做某事的原因，aim 指要达到的目的。aim 可意味着做成某事尚在尝试阶段，purpose 表示达成目标的把握更大。aim 可指某人的目的 (sb's aim)，也可指某事的目的 (the aim of sth)，purpose 更常指做某事的原因 (he purpose of sth)，也可指某人的目的 (sb's purpose)，但这样用较正式。
intention what you intend to do指打算、计划、意图：◆I have no intention of going to the wedding.我无意去参加婚礼。◆She's full of good intentions but they rarely work out.她虽然处处出于善意，却很少行的通。
plan what you intend to do or achieve指计划、打算：◆There are no plans to build new offices.现在没有建新办公楼的计划。
intention or plan?用 intention 还是 plan？
Your intentions are what you want to do, especially in the near future; your plans are what you have decided or arranged to do, often, but not always, in the longer term. * intention 尤指近期的打算、意图；plan 通常但不总是指较长远的计划、安排。
point(ratherinformal) the purpose or aim of sth指意图、目的、理由：◆What's the point of all this violence?这些暴行的意图何在？◆The point of the lesson is to compare the two countries.本课的目的是比较这两个国家。
idea(ratherinformal) the purpose of sth; sb's aim指目的、意图：◆The whole idea of going was so that we could meet her new boyfriend.我们去的唯一目的就是要见她的新男朋友。◆What's the idea behind this?这背后的意图是什么？
point or idea?用 point 还是 idea？
Point is a more negative word than idea. If you say What's the point…? you are suggesting that there is no point; if you say What's the idea…? you are genuinely asking a question. Point, but not idea, is used to talk about things you feel annoyed or unhappy about. * point 比 idea 有更多的否定含义：what's the point ...? 暗指毫无意义；what's the idea ...? 用于真正询问目的。用 point 而非 idea 表示对所谈论的事情感到不快：◆There's no idea in…◆I don't see the idea of…
