基本含义
speak 通常强调“说话”这个行为本身,常用于正式场合、语言能力或单向表达。
say 更侧重于“说出的内容”,即具体说了什么话。
常见用法对比
- Speak:
- speak English(说英语)
- He spoke at the conference.(他在会议上发言。)
- May I speak to John?(我可以和约翰通话吗?)
- Say:
- She said “hello”.(她说“你好”。)
- What did he say?(他说了什么?)
- Don’t say that!(别说那个!)
关键区别总结
- 宾语不同:say 后可直接跟内容(say something),而 speak 通常不直接接具体内容(不说 speak “hello”)。
- 语言表达:谈语言能力时用 speak(speak Chinese),不用 say。
- 正式程度:speak 常用于较正式语境;say 更口语化、日常。
常见错误示例
❌ He said English very well.
✅ He speaks English very well.
❌ She spoke that she was tired.
✅ She said that she was tired.