say 和 speak 有什么区别？

在英语学习中，say 和 speak 都可以表示“说”，但它们的用法和语境有明显不同。正确区分二者，有助于提升表达的准确性与地道程度。

1. 核心区别

say 强调说话的内容，通常后接具体的话语（直接引语或间接引语）；而 speak 更侧重于说话的动作、语言能力或正式场合的发言，一般不直接接具体内容。

2. 用法对比

• say：
  • ✅ say something / say that...
  • ✅ She said, “I love you.”
  • ✅ He said he was tired.
  • ❌ 不说语言：不能说 “say English”
• speak：
  • ✅ speak + 语言：speak English, speak Chinese
  • ✅ speak to/with someone
  • ✅ speak at a conference（在会议上发言）
  • ❌ 一般不说具体内容：不能说 “speak ‘hello’”

3. 常见搭配

• say：say hello/goodbye, say a word, say sorry, what did he say?
• speak：speak fluently, speak loudly, speak on the phone, speak in public

4. 记忆小技巧

记住一句话：
“We say words, but we speak languages.”

5. 错误示例纠正

• ❌ I want to speak “thank you”. → ✅ I want to say “thank you”.
• ❌ She says French very well. → ✅ She speaks French very well.

掌握这些细微差别，你的英语表达会更自然、更地道！