idea的基本意思是“想法,主意”,用作可数名词。idea也可用于学术方面,指“思想”“概念”。idea还可作“知道,了解”解。用于后两项意思时,既可用作不可数名词,也可用作可数名词。
idea后常接介词“of+名词、代词、动名词或疑问词从句”作定语,也可直接接that从句作定语。
I have a fair idea of how difficult things can be.
我大致了解情况会有多困难。
They have only a vague idea of the amount of water available.
他们只是大概知道可用水的总量。
Professor Baker is unacquainted with the idea of representative democracy.
贝克教授并不熟悉“代议制民主”这一思想。