goal

goal, aim, purpose

这组词的共同含义是“目的”,常通用,如aim〔goal,purpose〕 in life人生目标。它们之间的区别主要在于:
1.goal指比较宏大的总目标; purpose指近期比较确定的意图; aim指短期内比较具体、实际的目标。例如:
He often asked himself what his goal in life should be.他常常自问人生的目标该是什么。
Do you come here for the purpose of seeing your family or for business purpose?你来此地是为了看家还是为了做生意?
Their aim was to take over industry for her.他们的目标是为她接管产业。
再如下面把aim和goal用在同一个句子里,它们的区别就更明显易见了：
His aim was to pass his examinations this year and go to college so he could eventually reach his goal of being a teacher.他的目标是今年考上大学,以便最终实现当教师的抱负。
2.purpose强调“有意去做”(行动坚决); aim强调“集中精力去做”(联想“瞄准”)。在努力程度上, aim比purpose要弱。例如:
I am afraid he did it on purpose.我担心他是有意这么做的。
His only aim in life is to make a fortune.他生活的唯一目标是赚钱发财。
3.goal具有理想性,并不强调最后一定要实现; purpose和aim则暗示能够实现,这在动词aim for中体现最明显。例如:
The presidency was the goal of his ambition.他的奋斗目标是当总统。
His aim is to become a doctor.他的目标是当一个医生。
4.purpose可以由他人来完成; 而goal则往往靠自己去努力。例如:
The purpose of a tutorial system was to let each student realize his own educational goal.导师制旨在让学生认清自己的学习目标。
5.aim不如goal和purpose生动。