explain
verbWord Family
- explain verb
- explanation noun
- explanatory adjective
- explicable adjective (≠ inexplicable)
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they explain | |
| he / she / it explains | |
| past simple explained | |
| past participle explained | |
| -ing form explaining |
- [transitive, intransitive]
to tell somebody about something in a way that makes it easy to understand 解释；说明；阐明 - explain (something)
He was trying to explain the difference between hip hop and rap. 他试图解释嘻哈音乐和说唱音乐的区别。 First, I'll explain the rules of the game. 首先我要说明一下游戏规则。 The theory is not explained in detail. 理论没有详细解释。 ‘Let me explain!’ he added helpfully. “让我来说明一下！” 他热心地补充道。 - explain (something) to somebody
It was difficult to explain the concept to beginners. 很难向初学者解释这个概念。 - explain that…
I explained that an ambulance would be coming soon. 我解释说救护车很快就到。 - explain who, how, etc…
He explained who each person in the photo was. 他一一介绍了照片里的人。 Can you explain how this machine works? 你能解释一下这台机器是如何工作的吗？ - explain to somebody who, how, etc…
She explained to the children exactly what to do in an emergency. 她向孩子们解释在紧急情况下该做什么。 - + speech
‘It works like this,’ she explained. “它是这样工作的。” 她解释道。 - it is explained that…
It was explained that attendance was compulsory. 所给的解释是必须到场。
Express Yourself Asking for clarificationAsking for clarification 请求澄清 When you are given some information or asked to do something, you may need to check that you have understood correctly. Here are some ways of asking people to clarify what they said: 别人告知一些信息或提出要求时需要核实自己的理解是否正确。以下是一些请求他人澄清事由的方式： 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？
Extra ExamplesShe saw his quick frown and hastened to explain. 她看到他立即皱起眉头，就连忙解释起来。 I'll explain the system in greater detail next time. 下次我会更详细地解释这个系统。 The general principles behind the method used are explained clearly and concisely. 使用的方法所依据的一般原则得到了简单明了的解释。 It is a book which seeks to explain the birth of Greek tragedy. 这是一本试图解释希腊悲剧起源的书。 Many theories purport to explain growth in terms of a single cause. 许多理论都意在以单一原因解释生长。 I tried to explain the problem to the technician. 我试图向那个技术员解释这个问题。 She explained the plan to me very carefully. 她向我仔细解释了这个计划。 It's difficult to explain exactly how the system works. 很难确切地解释这个系统是如何工作的。 Let me explain what I mean. 让我解释一下我的意思。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- in detail
- fully
- adequately
- …
- be able to
- be unable to
- can
- …
- about
- to
- explain everything
- go a long way, some way, etc. towards/toward explaining something
- explain (something)
- [intransitive, transitive]
to give a reason, or be a reason, for something 说明（…的）原因；解释（…的）理由 She tried to explain but he wouldn't listen. 她试图说明一下原因，可他根本不听。 - explain that…
Alex explained that his car had broken down. 亚历克斯解释说他的汽车出了毛病。 - explain why, how, etc…
Well, that doesn't explain why you didn't phone. 嗳，那不是你不打电话的理由。 - explain something
Please explain your reasons. 请说明理由。 - (informal)
Oh well then, that explains it (= I understand now why something happened). 噢，原来是这么回事。 The phenomenon is partly explained by the fact that global temperatures are rising. 这一现象的部分原因是全球气温正在上升。 Slow growth in the economy is to be explained in terms of a lack of demand. 经济增长缓慢可以用需求不足来解释。 - explain something to somebody
The government now has to explain its decision to the public. 政府现在必须向公众解释决策的理由。 - + speech
‘It was like this,’ she explained. “事情就是这样了。”她解释道。 You're going to have some explaining to do when your parents get home! 当你父母回家时，你要做一些解释。
Extra ExamplesThere's no need to explain. We understand. 没有必要解释，我们明白。 She was unable to explain her behaviour. 她无法解释自己的行为。 The official explained patiently that our documents were not valid. 这位官员耐心地解释说，我们的文件无效。 scientific findings that help explain the origins of the universe 有助于解释宇宙起源的科学发现 I can explain everything! I was just trying to help her with her homework! 我可以解释一切！我只是想帮她做作业！ He explained awkwardly that he had not slept at his own home that night. 他尴尬地解释说，那天晚上他没有在自己家里睡觉。 This partly explains why he was so late. 这部份解释了他为什么会这么晚。 This goes some way towards explaining the hostility between the two groups. 这在一定程度上解释了两个团体间的对立。 The reasons for the accident have not been fully explained. 事故的原因还未得到充分解释。 I know I'm late, but I can explain why. 我知道迟到了，但我可以解释原因。 I have a letter here which explains everything. 我这里有一封信可以解释一切。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- in detail
- fully
- adequately
- …
- be able to
- be unable to
- can
- …
- about
- to
- explain everything
- go a long way, some way, etc. towards/toward explaining something
You cannot say ‘explain me, him, her, etc.’ Can you explain the situation to me? • Can you explain me the situation? • I'll explain to you why I like it. • I’ll explain you why I like it.
Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin explanare, based on planus ‘plain’.
Idioms
explain yourself
to give somebody reasons for your behaviour, especially when they are angry or upset because of it 为自己的行为作说明（或解释） to say what you mean in a clear way 把自己的意思解释清楚