explain
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++ex·plain /ɪkˈspleɪn/ ●●● S1 W1 verb [intransitive, transitive] 1 EXPLAINto tell someone about something in a way that is clear or easy to understand 解释，说明 He carefully explained the procedure. 他仔细解释了程序。explain (to somebody) why/how/what etc The librarian will explain how to use the catalogue system. 图书馆管理员将说明如何使用目录系统。 Let me explain what I mean. 我来解释一下我的意思。explain that He explained that it had been a difficult film to make. 他解释说这部电影很难制作。explain something to somebody I explained the situation to my bank manager. 我向我的银行经理说明了情况。5 ► You explain something to someone: He explained the system to me (NOT explained me the system). 向某人说明某事用 to : He explained the system to me (不说 explained me the system). 他向我介绍了这个系统。2 REASONto give a reason for something or to be a reason for something 说明[是]…的原因 Wait! I can explain everything. 等一下！ 我可以解释一切。 How can you explain that sort of behaviour? 你如何解释那种行为？explain that She explained that she had been ill. 她解释说她病了。explain why/how/what etc I’ll explain why I don’t believe your story. 我会解释我为何不相信你说的情况。 That still doesn’t explain how he was able to hide the body. 那还是没有说明他怎么能够藏尸的。3 explain yourself a) REASONto tell someone who is angry or upset with you the reasons why you did something 解释自己的行为 I’m going to give you five seconds to explain yourself. 我给你五秒钟时间解释自己的行为。 b) EXPLAINto say clearly what you mean 把自己的意思说清楚 Sorry, I’m not explaining myself very well. 对不起，我没把自己的意思说得很清楚。4 explain something ↔ away phrasal verb REASONto make something seem less important or bad by giving reasons for it 为〔某事〕作辩解 The difference in the treatment they receive is hard to explain away. 很难为他们受到的不同待遇辩解。n GrammarYou explain something to someone: Alan explained the system to me. ✗Don’t say: Alan explained me the system. | Alan explained to me the system. THESAURUSexplain to give someone the information they need to understand something 解释，说明She explained how to use the software. 她解释了怎么使用这个软件。Doctors usually explain the risks of the treatment to patients. 医生一般都会向患者说明治疗有何风险。tell to explain something. People often use tell instead of explain in everyday conversation 告诉；说明〔在日常对话中，人们常用tell，而不用explain〕He told me how to get to his house. 他告诉我去他家怎么走。The book tells you how to improve your health through diet. 这本书告诉你怎样通过饮食改善健康状况。show to explain to someone how to do something by doing it while they watch you 〔通过演示〕解释，说明Ellen showed me how to work the coffee maker. 埃伦教我怎样使用煮咖啡机。demonstrate /ˈdemənstreɪt/ to explain to someone how to do something by doing it while they watch you, especially when it is part of your job 〔尤指出于工作职责而〕示范，演示The cabin crew demonstrated the safety procedures to the passengers. 客舱乘务员向乘客演示了安全规程。A qualified instructor will demonstrate how to use the equipment properly. 将有一名合格的教练示范如何正确使用这些设备。go through something to explain something carefully, especially one step at a time 〔尤指一步步地〕详细说明某事物Mrs. Riddell went through the homework assignment. 里德尔夫人仔细地讲解家庭作业。set out something to explain a series of ideas, reasons or opinions in an organized way in writing or in a speech 〔有条理地以书面或口头形式〕陈述[阐明]某事物In his speech, he intended to set out the party’s policies on education. 他的发言旨在陈述该政党的教育方针。→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
explain• But the dynamics of his thinking have never been easy to explain.• It's not so complicated - let me explain.• Let me show you - it's too difficult to explain.• She just doesn't like me. How else can you explain her behaviour?• I had nothing in my vocabulary of human behavior to explain him.• We were all puzzled: what could explain his sudden change of mind?• The doctor explained how the clinic operates.• The reason this requires explaining is that young women are different from other human beings in this respect.• If you don't get the joke, I'll explain it to you later.• I don't have time to explain now - just come with me quickly!• Sarah explained that she hadn't been feeling well recently.• We listened carefully while Pam explained the process.• Could you explain the rules of the game to me, please?• I would prefer the teacher to explain things rather than the computer.• Shakespeare took the time to explain this; director Jocelyn Moorhouse does not.• It was difficult explaining to the children why their father was leaving home.• Can you explain what the poem means?• The problem may explain why Brady has not made more of an impact since exploding on the scene three years ago.• This may, inpart, explain why current approaches seem so distant from those applied to other periods of the past.• She couldn't sleep last night, which explains why she was in such a bad mood this morning.• Doctors are unable to explain why the disease spread so quickly.• This explains why the extent of the use of crack is not necessarily indicated by the scale of seizures.explain (to somebody) why/how/what etc• He and Darcy have had a dispute, which he explains to Elizabeth.• Oh, how could she explain?• It is not necessary to explain to me why Anthony falls under the spell of a beautiful woman.• As riders and trainers we must explain to the horse what is acceptable and what is not.• Offer them coffee or a drink, explain exactly what is included in the sale, and sell your home.• Can you explain simply what one purpose or one redeeming quality that movie embraced?• Most class analysts do not explain in detail how policy decisions are actually made.explain that• But Giap spurned the advice, explaining that he could not desert his comrades.• Then she explained that I was there, and that I was hoping to talk to students.• Jack explained that it had been his father driving the car.• Eisenhower was asked about the case and explained that it was a matter of state concern.• Nonplussed, Loretta explained that she had driven right through the village without finding it.• Quinn explains that spending on roads and other infrastructure accounts for most of the deficit.• Jesse Young explains that... there was a good deal of a panic at the beginning of the battle.Origin explain (1500-1600) Latin explanare “to make level, unfold”, from planus “level, flat”ex·plain verb →n GRAMMAR1 →THESAURUS1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
about tell that to someone in a way Corpus something
explain
ex‧plain S1 W1 /ɪkˈspleɪn/
verb [intransitive and transitive]
He carefully explained the procedure.
explain (to somebody) why/how/what etc
The librarian will explain how to use the catalogue system.
Let me explain what I mean.
explain that
He explained that it had been a difficult film to make.
explain something to somebody
I explained the situation to my bank manager.
► You explain something to someone: He explained the system to me (NOT explained me the system).
2. to give a reason for something or to be a reason for something:
Wait! I can explain everything.
How can you explain that sort of behaviour?
explain that
She explained that she had been ill.
explain why/how/what etc
I’ll explain why I don’t believe your story.
That still doesn’t explain how he was able to hide the body.
3. explain yourself
a. to tell someone who is angry or upset with you the reasons why you did something:
I’m going to give you five seconds to explain yourself.
b. to say clearly what you mean:
Sorry, I’m not explaining myself very well.
▪ explain to give someone the information they need to understand something: She explained how to use the software. | Doctors usually explain the risks of the treatment to patients.
▪tell to explain something. People often use tell instead of explain in everyday conversation: He told me how to get to his house. | The book tells you how to improve your health through diet.
▪show to explain to someone how to do something by doing it while they watch you: Ellen showed me how to work the coffee maker.
▪demonstrate /ˈdemənstreɪt/ to explain to someone how to do something by doing it while they watch you, especially when it is part of your job: The cabin crew demonstrated the safety procedures to the passengers. | A qualified instructor will demonstrate how to use the equipment properly.
▪go through something to explain something carefully, especially one step at a time: Mrs. Riddell went through the homework assignment.
▪set out something to explain a series of ideas, reasons or opinions in an organized way in writing or in a speech: In his speech, he intended to set out the party’s policies on education.
explain something ↔ away phrasal verb
to make something seem less important or bad by giving reasons for it:
The difference in the treatment they receive is hard to explain away.
ex‧plain S1 W1 /ɪkˈspleɪn/
verb [intransitive and transitive] Word Family: adjective: unexplained, explanatory, explicable ≠ inexplicable; noun: explaining, explanation; verb: explain; adverb: inexplicably
Date: 1500-1600
Language: Latin
Origin: explanare 'to make level, unfold', from planus 'level, flat'
1. to tell someone about something in a way that is clear or easy to understand:Language: Latin
Origin: explanare 'to make level, unfold', from planus 'level, flat'
explain (to somebody) why/how/what etc
explain that
explain something to somebody
► You explain something to someone: He explained the system to me (NOT explained me the system).
2. to give a reason for something or to be a reason for something:
explain that
explain why/how/what etc
3. explain yourself
a. to tell someone who is angry or upset with you the reasons why you did something:
b. to say clearly what you mean:
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explain something ↔ away phrasal verb
to make something seem less important or bad by giving reasons for it:
◆ I'm sorry, I didn't quite understand. 对不起，我不太明白。 ◆ Would you mind explaining that again? I'm not sure that I've understood correctly.请你再解释一遍行吗？我拿不准我理解得对不对。 ◆ Sorry, I don't quite follow (you). 抱歉，我没太听懂（你的话）。 ◆ Can I just check that I've got this right? 我核实一下我的理解是否正确好吗？ ◆ I'm not quite/exactly clear about/really sure what I'm supposed to do.我不太清楚／不太肯定该做什么。 ◆ Sorry, could you repeat that? I didn't hear what you said.对不起，你能再说一遍吗？你刚才说的我没听到。 ◆ Sorry, would you mind repeating what you just said? 对不起，请你把刚才说的话重复一遍好吗？ ◆ If I understand you correctly, you want me to phone the customer and apologise?如果我的理解没错，你是要我打电话给客户道歉？ ◆ Do you mean (to say) that the deal's off?你的意思是（说）交易取消了？ ◆ What exactly are you saying? 你到底在说什么？ ◆ So you're saying that the meeting's cancelled?那么你是说会议取消了？ ◆ Sorry, did you mean that I should wait here or come back later?抱歉，你的意思是我该在这里等，还是一会儿再过来？ ◆ Can you just confirm your date of birth for me, please?请您帮我确认一下您的出生日期好吗？
