explain, explicate, expound, interpret
这四个词都有“解释”“阐明”的意思。它们的区别在于:
1.explain指对不了解、不明白或不清楚之事进行解释; explicate指对复杂的事情进行讨论或说明; expound指对某问题或道理进行解释说明; interpret指对难以理解的疑难点解释说明清楚。例如:
Explain yourself! Why did you do it?你说清楚!为什么干那种事?
The principle is explicated into three axioms.这一原理可以分析成三条公理。
The priest expounded his religion to us.那位神父向我们阐述了他所信的宗教。
The professor interpreted the poem for us.教授为我们解释了那首诗的真正含义。
2.explain是仔细、详尽地运用专业知识进行解释; explicate是逐点讨论和仔细说明; expound是指某人在具有渊博知识的基础上,详细地、系统地解释说明; interpret是用言语或表演等方式解释说明。例如:
He explained how to use the parachute.他讲解怎样使用降落伞。
I am sure you can explicate this work to me.我确信你能为我分析一下这篇作品。
In these two chapters, the author expounds the law of universal gravitation.在这两章里,作者详尽阐述了万有引力定律。
The poet read and then interpreted his poem about nature.诗人先读,然后解释了他那首关于大自然的诗。
