一、基本含义
say 通常强调“说的内容”,即某人说了什么话。常用于引述具体话语。
例句:She said, “I love English.”(她说:“我喜欢英语。”)
speak 更侧重于“说话”这一行为或能力,常用于正式场合或指语言能力。
例句:He speaks three languages fluently.(他能流利地说三种语言。)
二、主要区别
- 宾语不同:say 后接说话内容;speak 后通常接语言名称或表示“对某人说话”。
- 语体差异:speak 更正式,say 更口语化。
- 搭配习惯:
- say hello / say sorry / say something
- speak to someone / speak English / speak at a meeting
三、常见错误示例
❌ I want to speak that I’m tired.
✅ I want to say that I’m tired.
❌ Can you say Chinese?
✅ Can you speak Chinese?
四、小结
记住一个简单口诀:
“Say what, speak how or which language.”
即:用 say 表达“说了什么”,用 speak 表示“如何说”或“说什么语言”。