speak
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++speak /spiːk/ ●●● S1 W1 verb (past tense spoke /spəʊk $ spoʊk/, past participle spoken /ˈspəʊkən $ ˈspoʊ-/) 1 in conversation 在会话中 [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]SPEAK A LANGUAGE to talk to someone about something 谈话，交谈speak to somebody I spoke to her last Wednesday. 上星期三我和她谈过了。 ‘Hello, may I speak to Jim Smith?’ ‘Yes, speaking (=used on the telephone)’. “喂，请让吉姆·史密斯听电话好吗？”“对，我就是。” I know her by sight, but not to speak to (=not well enough to talk to her). 我只是认得她，但没跟她说过话。speak to somebody about something I haven’t spoken to Steve about all this. 我还没跟史蒂夫谈过这一切。speak with somebody especially American English They did not want to speak with reporters. 他们不想和记者说话。speak of something It was the first time she had ever spoken of marriage. 那是她头一次谈及婚姻。► see thesaurus at talk2 say words 说话 [intransitive]TALK TO somebody to use your voice to produce words 说话，讲话 I was so shocked I couldn’t speak. 我震惊得说不出话来。 He spoke very softly (=quietly). 他说话声音非常轻柔。3 language 语言 [transitive not in progressive]SLLSPEAK A LANGUAGE to be able to talk in a particular language 会说，会讲〔某种语言〕 Do you speak English? 你会说英语吗？ I don’t speak a word of French (=do not speak any French at all). 我一句法语也不会说。can/can’t speak something Several children in the class can’t speak English. 班上有几个小孩不会讲英语。French-speaking/Italian-speaking etc a German-speaking secretary 会说德语的秘书4 formal speech 正式演讲 [intransitive]TALK/MAKE A SPEECH to make a formal speech 演说，演讲；发言speak at Jones spoke at the teachers’ annual convention. 琼斯在教师年会上发言。speak to She asked me to speak to her students about my work in marketing. 她请我给她的学生讲讲我的市场营销工作。speak in favour of/against Only one MP spoke against the bill. 只有一位议员发言反对那项议案。 → speaker(1)5 express ideas/opinions 表达想法/意见 [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]SAYHONEST to say something that expresses your ideas or opinions 表达，表明〔观点或意见〕speak as a parent/teacher/democrat etc He emphasized that he was speaking as a private citizen, not in any official capacity. 他强调，他是以公民身份，而不是以任何官方的身份在说话。speak well/highly/ill of somebody (=say good or bad things about someone) 说某人的好话/对某人评价很高/说某人的坏话 Her co-workers spoke highly of her. 她的同事对她评价很高。 It’s wrong to speak ill of the dead. 说死者的坏话是不对的。strictly/generally/roughly speaking (=used when expressing an idea that you think is exactly true, generally true etc) 严格说来/一般说来/大致上说 Strictly speaking, it’s my money, not yours. I earned it. 严格说来，这是我的钱，不是你的。 是我挣来的。6 so to speak used when you are saying something in words that do not have their usual meaning 可以说〔用于所说的话不是平常的意思时〕7 speak your mind to tell people exactly what you think, even if it offends them 说出心里话，直抒己见8 be not speaking/not be on speaking terms TALK TO somebodyif two people are not speaking, they do not talk to each other, usually because they have argued 彼此不说话，互不理睬〔一般因为吵过架〕9 speak volumes (about/for something) EXPRESSif something speaks volumes, it clearly shows the nature of something or the feelings of a person 充分证明，清楚表明（某事）10 speak with one voice if a group of people speak with one voice, they all express the same opinion 众口一词，异口同声11. speak the same language if two people or groups speak the same language, they have similar attitudes and opinions 有共同语言〔表示两个人或团体的态度意见相近〕12. speak out of turn SAYto say something when you do not have the right or authority to say it 说话鲁莽，讲话不合身份 → actions speak louder than words at action1(13), → the facts speak for themselves at fact(8), → in a manner of speaking at manner(5)n COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 5: to say something that expresses your ideas or opinionsadverbsspeak well/highly of somebody (=say good things about them)He always spoke very highly of Marge.speak ill of somebody (=say bad things about them)She never speaks ill of him.speaking personallySpeaking personally, yes, this is a worry.strictly speakingStrictly speaking, the tomato is a fruit.generally speakingGenerally speaking, the results have been good.roughly/broadly speakingThese innovations are, roughly speaking, what this book is about.relatively speakingRelatively speaking, property there is still cheap.phrasesspeak as a parent/teacher etcSpeaking as a medical man, I'd advise you to take some exercise every day. THESAURUSto speak a language 说一种语言speak to be able to talk in a foreign language 说〔外语〕Do you speak German? 你会说德语吗？I learnt Spanish for years, but I still don’t speak it very well. 我西班牙语学了好多年,可是仍旧不是说得很好。be fluent in something to be very good at speaking and understanding a foreign language, so that you can speak it almost as well as your own language 外语说得流利Applicants should be fluent in Cantonese. 求职者应该会说流利的粤语。get by to speak enough of a language to be able to buy things, ask for help etc 〔用外语〕能够应付〔购物、求助等〕‘What’s your Italian like?’ ‘Not great, but I can get by.’ “你的意大利语怎么样？”“不是很好,但能应付。”I’ve just bought a book called ‘Get by in Portuguese'. 我刚买了一本《葡萄牙语点点通》。have/pick up a smattering of something to speak or learn to speak a small but useful amount of a language 学了一点…While I was in Bali, I picked up a smattering of Indonesian. 我在巴厘岛的时候学了点印度尼西亚语。 PHRASAL VERBS→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
speak• She was too nervous to speak.• Don't interrupt me when I'm speaking.• How old are babies when they learn to speak?• He doesn't speak a word of French.• Is there anyone here who can speak Arabic?• Ambassador Simons has been asked to speak at the dinner.• I've been invited to speak at the party's annual convention.• Who are they getting to speak at this year's graduation ceremony?• Why do people not just speak directly and say what they mean?• At the convention Ford spoke on immigration and social issues.• The brothers haven't spoken since the funeral.• Nadia speaks six languages.• Elaine speaks Spanish and Russian.• Sean didn't speak the whole time we were in the car.• I spoke to a few people at the party who knew him.• Speaking to Congress, the President appealed for cooperation in dealing with the sagging economy.• The shamans explain that, at that point, they begin to speak to the dolphins mind to mind.• People we spoke to were undecided.• There's a man from the Times on the phone who wants to speak to you.• Can you speak up? -- I can't hear you.• She mumbled something and Dove asked her to speak up.• Don said he would be, but to please wait until after the Super Bowl to speak with him.• I had spoken with other newspaper executives, too, on that day.• When both parties cease to speak you have hit deadlock - wrong!speak of something• None of us ever heard her speak of the war again.speak in favour of/against• A forceful moderate, he electrified his colleagues by speaking in favour of collegiality, the Vatican s codeword for internal democracy.strictly/generally/roughly speaking• Neither the input nor the output of a Turing machine can, strictly speaking, be an infinite decimal.• Not strictly speaking, because the wedding was in a register office, and you don't have a best man.• It is, strictly speaking, conferred by the Constitution.• His point, strictly speaking, is correct.• By s.4 land generally speaking is not property which can be stolen.• Thus the importance of coinage for our understanding of the past diminishes, generally speaking, the more up to date we come.• Progress would enhance the wealth of those who, generally speaking, were already rich but not that of the masses.• If you use straw as bedding for farm animals, generally speaking you improve the welfare of those animals.-speak /spiːk/ suffix [in nouns] 1 SLLthe special language or difficult words that are used in a particular business or activity 行话；…术语；…语言 computerspeak 计算机术语From Longman Business Dictionary-speak-speak /spiːk/ suffix added to other words to form nouns that mean the special language of a particular business or activity, especially slang or technical words that are difficult for ordinary people to understandI can’t understand this computerspeak.business-speakOrigin speak Old English sprecan, specanspeak verb →n COLLOCATIONS1 →THESAURUS1
→PHRASAL VERBS1-speak suffixLDOCE OnlineChinese
→PHRASAL VERBS1-speak suffixLDOCE OnlineChinese
to Corpus talk something Business someone to about
speak
speak S1 W1 /spiːk/
verb (past tense spoke /spəʊk $ spoʊk/, past participle spoken /ˈspəʊkən $ ˈspoʊ-/)
speak to
I spoke to her last Wednesday.
‘Hello, may I speak to Jim Smith?’ ‘Yes, speaking’ (=used on the telephone).
I know her by sight, but not to speak to (=not well enough to talk to her).
speak to somebody about something
I haven’t spoken to Steve about all this.
speak with especially American English:
They did not want to speak with reporters.
speak of
It was the first time she had ever spoken of marriage.
2. SAY WORDS [intransitive] to use your voice to produce words:
I was so shocked I couldn’t speak.
He spoke very softly (=quietly).
3. LANGUAGE [transitive not in progressive] to be able to talk in a particular language:
Do you speak English?
I don’t speak a word of French (=do not speak any French at all).
can/can’t speak something
Several children in the class can’t speak English.
French-speaking/Italian-speaking etc
a German-speaking secretary
4. FORMAL SPEECH [intransitive] to make a formal speech
speak at
Jones spoke at the teachers’ annual convention.
speak to
She asked me to speak to her students about my work in marketing.
speak in favour of/against
Only one MP spoke against the bill. ⇨ speaker(1)
5. EXPRESS IDEAS/OPINIONS [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to say something that expresses your ideas or opinions
speak as a parent/teacher/democrat etc
He emphasized that he was speaking as a private citizen, not in any official capacity.
speak well/highly/ill of somebody (=say good or bad things about someone)
Her co-workers spoke highly of her.
It’s wrong to speak ill of the dead.
strictly/generally/roughly speaking (=used when expressing an idea that you think is exactly true, generally true etc)
Strictly speaking, it’s my money, not yours. I earned it.
6. so to speak used when you are saying something in words that do not have their usual meaning:
We have to pull down the barriers, so to speak, of poverty.
7. speak your mind to tell people exactly what you think, even if it offends them:
He was a tough politician who wasn’t afraid to speak his mind.
8. be not speaking/not be on speaking terms if two people are not speaking, they do not talk to each other, usually because they have argued:
He was not on speaking terms with his brother or sisters.
9. speak volumes (about/for something) if something speaks volumes, it clearly shows the nature of something or the feelings of a person:
What you wear speaks volumes about you.
10. speak with one voice if a group of people speak with one voice, they all express the same opinion:
On this issue, the 12 organizations spoke with one voice.
11. speak the same language if two people or groups speak the same language, they have similar attitudes and opinions
12. speak out of turn to say something when you do not have the right or authority to say it
⇨ actions speak louder than words at action1(13), ⇨ the facts speak for themselves at fact(8), ⇨ in a manner of speaking at manner(5)
■ adverbs
▪speak well/highly of somebody (=say good things about them) He always spoke very highly of Marge.
▪speak ill of somebody (=say bad things about them) She never speaks ill of him.
▪speaking personally Speaking personally, yes, this is a worry.
▪strictly speaking Strictly speaking, the tomato is a fruit.
▪generally speaking Generally speaking, the results have been good.
▪roughly/broadly speaking These innovations are, roughly speaking, what this book is about.
▪relatively speaking Relatively speaking, property there is still cheap.
■ phrases
▪speak as a parent/teacher etc Speaking as a medical man, I'd advise you to take some exercise every day.
■ to speak a language
▪speak to be able to talk in a foreign language: Do you speak German? | I learnt Spanish for years, but I still don’t speak it very well.
▪be fluent in something to be very good at speaking and understanding a foreign language, so that you can speak it almost as well as your own language: Applicants should be fluent in Cantonese.
▪get by to speak enough of a language to be able to buy things, ask for help etc: ‘What’s your Italian like?’ ‘Not great, but I can get by.’ | I’ve just bought a book called ‘Get by in Portuguese'.
▪have/pick up a smattering of something to speak or learn to speak a small but useful amount of a language: While I was in Bali, I picked up a smattering of Indonesian.
speak for phrasal verb
1. speak for somebody/something to express the feelings, thoughts, or beliefs of a person or group of people:
Dan, speaking for the students, started the meeting.
2. speak for yourself spoken used to tell someone that you do not have the same opinion as they do, or that something that is true for them is not true for you:
‘We don’t want to go.’ ‘Speak for yourself__’
3. be spoken for if something or someone is spoken for, they have already been promised to someone else:
They’re all either married or spoken for.
4. speak for itself/themselves to show something very clearly:
The results speak for themselves.
speak of something phrasal verb
1. literary to show clearly that something happened or exists:
Her skin spoke of warm summer days spent in the sun.
2. no ... to speak of (also none/nothing to speak of) very little of something or a very small thing:
There’s been no rain to speak of for several months.
The house had no garden to speak of.
speak out phrasal verb
to publicly speak in protest about something, especially when protesting could be dangerous
speak out about/against
Five students who had spoken out against the regime were arrested.
speak to phrasal verb
1. to talk to someone who has done something wrong and tell them not to do it again:
Joe was late again today. You’ll have to speak to him.
2. if something such as a poem, painting, or piece of music speaks to you, you like it because it expresses a particular meaning, quality, or feeling to you:
Modern art just doesn’t speak to me.
speak up phrasal verb
1. used to ask someone to speak louder:
Could you speak up, please?
2. to say something, especially to express your opinion:
There was a brief silence, then Gerald spoke up.
3. speak up for somebody to speak in support of someone:
He is willing to speak up for the rights of women.
speak S1 W1 /spiːk/
verb (past tense spoke /spəʊk $ spoʊk/, past participle spoken /ˈspəʊkən $ ˈspoʊ-/) Word Family: adjective: unspeakable, speechless, outspoken, spoken ≠ unspoken; noun: speaker, speech; verb: speak; adverb: unspeakably
Language: Old English
Origin: sprecan, specan
1. IN CONVERSATION [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to talk to someone about somethingOrigin: sprecan, specan
speak to
speak to somebody about something
speak with especially American English:
speak of
2. SAY WORDS [intransitive] to use your voice to produce words:
3. LANGUAGE [transitive not in progressive] to be able to talk in a particular language:
can/can’t speak something
French-speaking/Italian-speaking etc
4. FORMAL SPEECH [intransitive] to make a formal speech
speak at
speak to
speak in favour of/against
5. EXPRESS IDEAS/OPINIONS [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to say something that expresses your ideas or opinions
speak as a parent/teacher/democrat etc
speak well/highly/ill of somebody (=say good or bad things about someone)
strictly/generally/roughly speaking (=used when expressing an idea that you think is exactly true, generally true etc)
6. so to speak used when you are saying something in words that do not have their usual meaning:
7. speak your mind to tell people exactly what you think, even if it offends them:
8. be not speaking/not be on speaking terms if two people are not speaking, they do not talk to each other, usually because they have argued:
9. speak volumes (about/for something) if something speaks volumes, it clearly shows the nature of something or the feelings of a person:
10. speak with one voice if a group of people speak with one voice, they all express the same opinion:
11. speak the same language if two people or groups speak the same language, they have similar attitudes and opinions
12. speak out of turn to say something when you do not have the right or authority to say it
⇨ actions speak louder than words at action1(13), ⇨ the facts speak for themselves at fact(8), ⇨ in a manner of speaking at manner(5)
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speak for phrasal verb
1. speak for somebody/something to express the feelings, thoughts, or beliefs of a person or group of people:
2. speak for yourself spoken used to tell someone that you do not have the same opinion as they do, or that something that is true for them is not true for you:
3. be spoken for if something or someone is spoken for, they have already been promised to someone else:
4. speak for itself/themselves to show something very clearly:
speak of something phrasal verb
1. literary to show clearly that something happened or exists:
2. no ... to speak of (also none/nothing to speak of) very little of something or a very small thing:
speak out phrasal verb
to publicly speak in protest about something, especially when protesting could be dangerous
speak out about/against
speak to phrasal verb
1. to talk to someone who has done something wrong and tell them not to do it again:
2. if something such as a poem, painting, or piece of music speaks to you, you like it because it expresses a particular meaning, quality, or feeling to you:
speak up phrasal verb
1. used to ask someone to speak louder:
2. to say something, especially to express your opinion:
3. speak up for somebody to speak in support of someone:
especially
talk to speak in order to give information, express feelings or share ideas 指说话、讲话、谈话 ：◆ We talked on the phone for over an hour. 我们在电话里谈了一个多小时。 discuss ( to talk and share ideas on a subject or problem with other people, especially in order to decide sthrather
指谈论、讨论、商量 ：◆ Have you discussed the problem with anyone? 你与谁商量过这个问题吗？ NOTE You cannot say 'discuss about sth'. 不能说 discuss about sth ：◆ I'm not prepared to discuss about this on the phone. speak to talk to sb about sth; to have a conversation with sb 指谈话、交谈 ：◆ I've spoken to the manager about it. 那件事我已经和经理谈过了。 ◆ 'Can I speak to Susan?' 'Speaking.' (= at the beginning of a telephone conversation )“请问苏珊在吗？” “我就是。”
talk or speak? 用 talk 还是 speak？
communicate ( to exchange information or ideas with sbrather
指与某人交流信息或意见 ：◆ We only communicate by email. 我们只通过电子邮件进行交流。 ◆ Dolphins use sound to communicate with each other. 海豚用声音相互沟通。 NOTE Communicate is often used when the speaker wants to draw attention to the means of communication used.说话者要让人注意交流的方式时常用 communicate。 debate to discuss sth, especially formally, before making a decision or finding a solution （尤指正式）讨论、辩论 ：◆ Politicians will be debating the bill later this week. 政界将在本周晚些时候讨论这项议案。 consult ( to discuss sth with sb in order to get their permission for sth, or to help you make a decisionrather
指（与某人）商议、商量（以得到许可或帮助决策） ：◆ You shouldn't have done it without consulting me. 你不该不和我商量就做。
Patterns
to talk/discuss sth/speak/communicate/debate/consult with sbto talk/speak to sbto talk/speak to sb/consult sb about sthto talk/speak of sth
mention to write or speak about sth/sb, especially without giving much information 指提到、写到、说到，尤指未给出详细信息 ：◆ Nobody mentioned anything to me about it. 没人跟我提过这事。 refer to sb/sth ( to mention or speak about sb/sthrather
指提到、谈及、说起 ：◆ I promised not to refer to the matter again. 我答应过再不提这事了。 speak to mention or describe sb/sth 指提起、讲述 ：◆ Witnesses spoke of a great ball of flame.目击者都谈到有个大火球。 cite ( to mention sth as a reason or an example, or in order to support what you are saying指提及（原因）、举出（示例）证明 ：◆ He cited his heavy workload as the reason for his breakdown. 他提到繁重的工作负荷是导致他累垮的原因。 quote to mention an example of sth to support what you are saying 指举例说明 ：◆ Can you quote me an instance of when this happened? 你能否给我举例说明一下发生这事的情况？
cite or quote? 用 cite 还是 quote？
You can cite reasons or examples, but you can onlyquote examples.* cite 可指提及原因或举出示例，但 quote 只用于举例 ：◆ He quoted his heavy workload as the reason for his breakdown. Cite is a more formal word thanquote and is often used in more formal situations, for example in descriptions of legal cases.* cite 较 quote 正式，常用于较正式的场合中，如说明法律案件。
Patterns
to mention/refer to/speak of/cite/quote sb/sth as sb/sthto mention/refer to/cite/quote a(n) example/instance/case of sthfrequently/often mentioned/referred to/spoken of/cited/quotedthe example mentioned/referred to/cited/quoted above/earlier/previously
Ways of saying 'in general' “通常” 的表达方式
◆ Women generally earn less than men.女人通常比男人挣钱少。 ◆ Generally speaking , jobs traditionally done by women are paid at a lower rate than those traditionally done by men.一般来说，传统上由妇女干的工作比传统上由男人干的工作报酬低。 ◆ In general /By and large , women do not earn as much as men.总的说来，女人不如男人挣钱多。 ◆ Certain jobs, like nursing and cleaning, are still mainly carried out by women.有些工作仍然主要由女性做，比如护理和保洁。 ◆ Senior management posts are predominantly held by men.高层管理职位大多由男性担任。 ◆ Most senior management posts tend to be held by men.大多数高层管理职位通常由男性担任。 ◆ Women are, for the most part , still paid less than men.女人的薪水多半仍比男人低。 ◆ Economic and social factors are, to a large extent , responsible for women being concentrated in low-paid jobs.经济和社会因素在很大程度上导致女性集中于低报酬工作。
