be meant to do

be meant to do 粗略地说具有三层不同的含义。

A. 由命运、能力、天资等所“注定”或者由父母决定。例如：

1. He seems meant to be a soldier. (ALD) 他似乎生来就注定当士兵。

2. He believes he is meant to be a great man. (LDCE) 他相信他生来就是要当伟人的。

3. Books are meant to be read. (Bolinger) 书就是让人读的。

B.“被预料”“被期望”“被认为”：

1. Are parents meant to love all their children equally? 是否可以认为父母对他们所有的孩子都给予相同的爱？

2. I found a road that wasn't meant to be there. 我发现一条原来没有意料到的路。

3. They are meant to cooperate with each other only when it is in their interests to do so, to advance the cause of their allies, and even to spy on each other. (TIME) 人们预料他们只有在为了自己的利益时才会互相合作，会促进自己的结盟事业，甚至互相从事间谍活动。(时代周刊)(译文引自《现代英语报刊阅读词典》)

C. 在意义和用法上相当于半助动词 ought to 和 be supposed to (应该, 必须):

1. You're meant to take your shoes off when you enter an Hindu temple. (ALD) 进入印度寺庙时应当脱鞋。

2. You were meant to ask why I was disappointed with the idea. 你该问问为什么我对这个想法感到失望。

你所提问的句子,如果脱离上下文,可以有好几种理解:

1. 他生来就是当律师的材料。

2. 他父母决定让他当律师。

3. 他父母曾打算让他当律师。