一起搞懂英语里最常用的"way"

According to the Cambridge International Corpus, we use the word "way" 848 times in every million words, making it extremely common (by contrast, "method" comes up 65 times per million).

根据剑桥国际语料库，我们在每百万字中使用“way”一词848次，属于非常普遍的使用频率。（相比之下，“method”一词在每百万字中出现65次）。

Firstly, we often use "way" to talk about routes to and from places:

首先，我们经常用“way”来谈论往返路线：

Is this the way to the station?

I’ll meet you at Anna’s house. Do you know the way?

What’s the quickest way to the supermarket from here?

We were on the way to Bristol.

You need to go this/that way.

We also use "way" to talk about the direction that something is facing:

我们也用“way”来谈论物品的朝向：

Which way were you facing?

Which way up does the container go?

I turned the vase the other way round.

"Way" is also common for talking about distance or length of time:

“way”在谈论距离或时间长度时也很常见：

It’s a long way to my school.

We had to walk all the way.

My exams are still a long way off/away.

"Way" is often used to talk about the manner in which someone does something. With this meaning, "way" is often followed by a (that) clause or of + -ing verb or has an adjective in front of it. Be careful not to use an infinitive or say ‘the way how’ – these are common mistakes for learners:

“way”通常用于谈论某人做某事的方式。表达这个意思时，way 后面通常跟着一个 -that从句或 + -ing 动词，或者前面有一个形容词。注意不要使用to不定式或说“the way how”——这些是学习者的常见错误：

I don’t like the way (that) she talks to me. (Not ‘the way how …’)

He has an odd way of speaking. (Not ‘way to speak’)

They waved in a friendly way.

When "way" means ‘method’, we usually use the patterns + to infinitive or + of + -ing verb. Remember not to say ‘the way how’:

当“way”表示“方法”时，我们通常加to不定式或of+动词ing。记住不要说“the way how”：

I couldn’t remember the way to turn the heating on. (Not ‘the way how to …)

He knew a good way of making pancakes.

Then, we will look at just a few of the very many useful phrases that contain "way".

然后，我们看看包含“way”的几个常用短语。

Let’s start with the phrase: No way! This can either be an emphatic way of saying ‘no’, or an expression of surprise. We also use “no way” in sentences to show that something is impossible:

No way 可以是一种强调说“不”的方式，也可以是一种惊讶的表达。我们也在句子中使用它来表明某些事情是不可能的：

“Can I borrow your car?” “No way! You’re a terrible driver!”

“I bumped into Andrew yesterday.” “No way! I haven’t seen him for years.”

There’s no way that box will fit in this space.

There are some very common phrases connected with the idea of having enough space to do something or see something. If someone or something is in the way or in someone’s way, they are blocking someone or something. You might ask them to move/get out of the way:

如果某人或某事被挡住了或挡住了某人的路，你可能会要求他们让一让：

I wanted to sit down, but Tom’s suitcase was in the way.

Could you move your car, please? You’re in my way.

He asked me to move my books out of the way.

Get out of the way! The ambulance needs to get through!

We use the phrase "in a way" to make what we are saying slightly less emphatic. "In some ways" is similar, while "in many ways" is a little stronger, but still shows some doubt:

我们使用"in a way"是使我们所说的内容稍微不那么强调，"in some ways"也类似，不过"in many ways"虽然强烈一点，但仍然表现出一些怀疑：

In a way, I’m relieved she’s not coming.

In some ways, now is a good time to start a family.

The new job suits me better in many ways, but I’m earning a lot less.

If someone "gets/has their own way", they are allowed to do or have what they want, and if someone "has it both ways", they get the advantage from two opposite things:

His parents always let him get his own way.

Either you turn up to rehearsals or you leave the show. You can’t have it both ways.

The phrase by the way is used to add an extra piece of information to something you are saying or to change the subject in a conversation:

I bought his new book, which is great by the way.

By the way, have you noticed the new flowerbeds outside the mosque?

If you make your way to a place, you go there. This phrase can also be used for things, to say they have started to be or exist somewhere:

We made our way towards the entrance.

Some of these ideas have made their way into the party’s election manifesto.