why

adv.

1. （用于问句）为什么，为何
   used in questions to ask the reason for or purpose of sth
   1. Why were you late?
      你为什么迟到？
   2. Tell me why you did it.
      告诉我你为什么这样做。
   3. ‘I would like you to go.’ ‘ Why me? ’
      “我希望你去。”“为什么要我去呢？”
   4. Why oh why do people keep leaving the door open?
      人们到底为什么总敞着门呢？
2. （反问，表示不必）何必
   used in questions to suggest that it is not necessary to do sth
   1. Why get upset just because you got one bad grade?
      何必因为一次成绩不好就想不开呢？
   2. Why bother to write? We'll see him tomorrow.
      还费事写信干什么？我们明天就见到他了。
3. （说明理由）为什么，…的原因
   used to give or talk about a reason
   1. That's why I left so early.
      这就是我早早离去的原因。
   2. I know you did it─I just want to know why.
      我知道这是你干的，我只是想知道为什么。
   3. The reason why the injection needs repeating every year is that the virus changes.
      每年需要重新注射的原因是这病毒经常变化。

exclamation

1. （惊讶、不耐烦等时说）哎呀，呦，哟，嗨
   used to express surprise, lack of patience, etc.
   1. Why Jane, it's you!
      呦，简，是你呀！
   2. Why, it's easy─a child could do it!
      嗨，这容易得很，连小孩子都干得了！

noun

noun

The conjunction and the pronoun are usually pronounced /waɪ/. 用作连词和代词时在句中通常不作重读。


1. QUEST （用于提问原因）为什么
   You use why in questions when you ask about the reasons for something.
   1. Why hasn't he brought the whisky?...
      他为什么没把威士忌拿来？
   2. Why didn't he stop me?...
      为什么他没阻止我？
   3. Why can't I remember the exact year we married?...
      为什么我记不起我们结婚的准确年份了？
   4. 'I just want to see him.'—'Why?'...
      “我就是想见见他”——“为什么？”
   5. Why should I leave?
      为什么我该离开？
2. CONJ-SUBORD (用于从句句首)为什么
   You use why at the beginning of a clause in which you talk about the reasons for something.
   1. He still could not throw any further light on why the elevator could have become jammed...
      对于电梯为什么会卡住他仍旧给不出更多的解释。
   2. Experts wonder why the US government is not taking similarly strong actions against AIDS in this country...
      专家们对为什么美国政府没在这个国家采取类似的强硬措施来对抗艾滋病而感到疑惑。
   3. I can't understand why they don't want us.
      我不明白为什么他们不要我们。
   4. Why is also an adverb.
      
   5. I don't know why...
      我不知道为什么。
   6. It's obvious why...
      原因很明显。
   7. Here's why.
      这就是原因。
3. PRON-REL (用于reason后引导关系从句)
   You use why to introduce a relative clause after the word 'reason'.
   1. There's a reason why women don't read this stuff; it's not funny...
      女人不读这种东西是有原因的，它并不好笑。
   2. Unless you're ill, there's no reason why you can't get those 15 minutes of walking in daily.
      除非你病了，否则你没有理由每天连走15分钟都做不到的。
   3. Why is also an adverb.
      
   4. He confirmed that the city had been closed to foreigners, but gave no reason why.
      他证实这座城市已禁止外国人进入，但是没有解释为什么。
4. QUEST (问句中与 not 连用表示建议)为什么(不)
   You use why with 'not' in questions in order to introduce a suggestion.
   1. Why not give Claire a call?...
      为什么不给克莱尔打个电话？
   2. Why don't you come home with me until you sort things out?...
      你何不先和我一起回家，等事情解决了再走？
   3. Why don't we talk it through?
      为什么我们不把这事谈开呢？
5. QUEST (问句中与 not 连用表示恼怒或气愤)为什么(不)
   You use why with 'not' in questions in order to express your annoyance or anger.
   1. Why don't you look where you're going?...
      走路怎么不看着点儿道呢？
   2. Why don't they just leave it alone?
      他们就不能别管了吗？
6. CONVENTION (表示同意别人的建议)为什么不呢，好，行
   You say why not in order to agree with what someone has suggested.
   1. 'Want to spend the afternoon with me?' — 'Why not?'...
      “想和我共度这个下午吗？”——“好啊！”
   2. 'Shall I tell them about poor Mrs Blair?'—'Why not?'
      “我应该告诉他们可怜的布莱尔太太的情况吗？”——“为什么不呢？”
7. EXCLAM (用于句首表示惊讶、震惊或生气)哎呀，哟，嗨
   People say 'Why!' at the beginning of a sentence when they are surprised, shocked, or angry.
   1. Why hello, Tom...
      哎呀，你好，汤姆。
   2. Why, this is nothing but common vegetable soup...
      啊，这只不过是普通的蔬菜汤而已。
   3. Why, I wouldn't give the end off one of my fingers for all the money you've got!
      哼，我是绝对不会碰你那些钱的！
8. the whys and wherefores → see: wherefores

1. I couldn't imagine why he would want to be alone with me
   我想象不出为什么他会想和我独处。
2. I don't know why I settled on Aberdeen, but anyway I did
   我不知道为什么我定居在阿伯丁，尽管如此，我还是这么做了。
3. Why is it in this country that we have departed from good educational sense?
   为什么在这个国家我们背离了教育上明智的选择？
4. Why were you holding everyone up?
   你为什么耽搁了大家？
5. Why don't you leave this awful hole and come to live with me?
   你为什么不离开这个破地方，搬过来和我住？
6. They said you particularly wanted to talk to me. Why was that?
   他们说你特别想和我谈谈。为什么？
7. That's why I must trust you to keep this secret
   那就是为什么我必须得相信你会保守这个秘密的原因。
8. Why do I have the feeling I'm being used again?
   为什么我感觉又被利用了？
9. Why do you think we should have a vote on that?
   为什么你认为我们应该对那件事进行表决？
10. 'Why can't you tell me?' I whined
    “为什么你不能告诉我？”我嘀咕道。
11. Why hasn't he brought the whisky?
    他为什么没把威士忌拿来？
12. Why didn't he stop me?
    为什么他没阻止我？
13. Why can't I remember the exact year we married?
    为什么我记不起我们结婚的准确年份了？
14. Why should I leave?
    为什么我该离开？
15. He still could not throw any further light on why the elevator could have become jammed
    对于电梯为什么会卡住他仍旧给不出更多的解释。
16. Experts wonder why the US government is not taking similarly strong actions against AIDS in this country
    专家们对为什么美国政府没在这个国家采取类似的强硬措施来对抗艾滋病而感到疑惑。
17. I can't understand why they don't want us.
    我不明白为什么他们不要我们。
18. There's a reason why women don't read this stuff; it's not funny
    女人不读这种东西是有原因的，它并不好笑。
19. Why don't you come home with me until you sort things out?
    你何不先和我一起回家，等事情解决了再走？
20. Why don't we talk it through?
    为什么我们不把这事谈开呢？
21. Why don't you look where you're going?
    走路怎么不看着点儿道呢？
22. Why don't they just leave it alone?
    他们就不能别管了吗？
23. 'Want to spend the afternoon with me?' — 'Why not?'
    “想和我共度这个下午吗？”——“好啊！”
24. Why hello, Tom
    哎呀，你好，汤姆。
25. Why, this is nothing but common vegetable soup
    啊，这只不过是普通的蔬菜汤而已。
26. Why, I wouldn't give the end off one of my fingers for all the money you've got!
    哼，我是绝对不会碰你那些钱的！
27. I think you'd better tell us why you're asking these questions.
    我想你最好告诉我们你为什么要问这些问题。
28. Why, it's you!
    哎！是你啊！
29. Why, it's snowing!
    嘿，下雪了！

adv.

why ever

• （用于问句，语带惊讶）究竟为什么
  used in questions to mean ‘why’, expressing surprise
  1. Why ever didn't you tell us before?
     你为什么不早告诉我们呢？

why not?

• （提出或赞同建议）为什么不呢，好哇
  used to make or agree to a suggestion
  1. Why not write to her?
     为什么不给她写信呢？
  2. ‘Let's eat out.’ ‘ Why not? ’
     “咱们到外边吃去吧。”“好哇。”
  3. Why don't we go together?
     我们为什么不一起去呢？

n.

the whys and (the) wherefores

• 理由；原因；缘故
  the reasons for sth
  1. I had no intention of going into the whys and the wherefores of the situation.
     我无意深入调查这一情况的来龙去脉。

noun

1. the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase `the whys and wherefores'

   Synonym:    wherefore