Needs washed

American Slang Term American ★★★☆☆ Moderate Casual
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Meaning: A grammatical construction meaning 'needs to be washed' — dropping the 'to be' is a signature Midwest feature.

意思是'needs to be washed(需要洗)'的语法结构——省略'to be'是中西部的标志性语言特征。
Una construcción gramatical que significa 'needs to be washed' (necesita ser lavado) — omitir el 'to be' es un rasgo distintivo del Medio Oeste.
「needs to be washed(洗う必要がある)」を意味する文法構造——「to be」を省略するのが中西部の特徴。
'needs to be washed(세탁해야 한다)'를 뜻하는 문법 구조——'to be'를 빼는 것이 중서부의 특징적 표현.

In the Midwest, 'needs' can directly precede a past participle without 'to be.' The car 'needs washed,' the dog 'needs fed.' This construction is completely natural to Midwesterners but sounds wrong to speakers from other regions.

在中西部,'needs'可以直接跟过去分词,不需要加'to be'。车'needs washed',狗'needs fed'。这种用法对中西部人来说完全自然,但在其他地区的人听来不太对劲。
En el Medio Oeste, 'needs' puede preceder directamente a un participio pasado sin 'to be'. El coche 'needs washed', el perro 'needs fed'. Esta construcción es completamente natural para los habitantes del Medio Oeste, pero suena incorrecta a hablantes de otras regiones.
中西部では「needs」の後に「to be」なしで直接過去分詞を続けられる。車は「needs washed」、犬は「needs fed」。この構文は中西部の人には完全に自然だが、他の地域の話者には違和感がある。
중서부에서는 'needs' 뒤에 'to be' 없이 바로 과거분사가 올 수 있다. 차가 'needs washed', 개가 'needs fed'처럼. 이 구조는 중서부 사람들에게 완전히 자연스럽지만 다른 지역 사람들에게는 어색하게 들린다.

Examples

  1. The car needs washed before the weekend.
    周末之前车needs washed(得洗一下)。
    The car needs washed (hay que lavar el coche) antes del fin de semana.
    週末までに車をneeds washed(洗わないと)。
    주말 전에 차를 needs washed(세차해야 해).
  2. The dog needs fed — can you take care of it?
    狗needs fed(得喂了)——你能去弄一下吗?
    The dog needs fed (hay que dar de comer al perro) — ¿puedes encargarte?
    犬にneeds fed(餌やらないと)——やってくれる?
    강아지한테 needs fed(밥 줘야 해)——네가 해줄 수 있어?
  3. This floor needs mopped — it's getting sticky.
    这地板needs mopped(得拖一下)——开始发黏了。
    This floor needs mopped (hay que fregar este suelo) — se está poniendo pegajoso.
    この床needs mopped(モップがけしないと)——ベタベタしてきた。
    이 바닥 needs mopped(대걸레질 해야 해)——끈적거리기 시작했어.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: chores, daily conversation, requests

Tone: practical, matter-of-fact

✓ Do Say

  • The lawn needs mowed.
    草坪needs mowed(该修了)。
    El césped needs mowed (hay que cortarlo).
    芝生needs mowed(刈らないと)。
    잔디 needs mowed(깎아야 해).
  • That shirt needs washed.
    那件衬衫needs washed(该洗了)。
    Esa camisa needs washed (hay que lavarla).
    そのシャツneeds washed(洗わないと)。
    그 셔츠 needs washed(빨아야 해).

✗ Don't Say

  • Don't correct a Midwesterner who says 'needs washed' — it's a well-documented dialect feature
    不要纠正说'needs washed'的中西部人——这是有据可查的方言特征
    No corrijas a un habitante del Medio Oeste que dice 'needs washed' — es un rasgo dialectal bien documentado
    「needs washed」と言う中西部の人を訂正しないこと——十分に記録された方言の特徴である
    'needs washed'라고 말하는 중서부 사람을 고치려 하지 마세요——이것은 잘 기록된 방언 특징입니다

Origin & History

This grammatical feature comes from Scots-Irish English and was carried to the American interior by settlers from northern Britain and Ireland.

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Ohio, Indiana, western Pennsylvania

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