notion
Definitions
An idea, concept, or rough understanding of something.
概念，观念，想法。
A vague belief or impulse, often without solid basis.
（模糊的）念头，臆想。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivednot (from nota 'mark,' tied to nōscere 'know') + -ion (act/result). A notion is something 'marked' or registered in the mind — an idea you've taken note of. It often stays loose and unfinished, which is why it can mean a half-formed or vague belief.
Root not still carries 19 more wordsWhy It Means This
Notion sits at the abstract end of the family. Where note is ink on paper, notion is the mark left in the mind. The word carries a hint of vagueness it doesn't fully shake: 'I have no notion what he meant' feels softer and more uncertain than 'I have no idea.'
Example Sentences
- 1.
He had a vague notion that something was wrong.
- 2.
The notion that money buys happiness is widely questioned.
- 3.
I haven't the faintest notion where she went.
Synonym Comparison
- notion — a loose, often vague idea you've registered
- idea — the general, neutral word for a thought
- concept — a defined, structured idea (a concept in physics)
- theory — an idea that has been worked out or tested
- impression — a feeling-based sense, less reasoned than a notion