address

Compared meaning: a formal talk to an audience (noun).

比较义项：正式演讲、演说（名词）。

• address 本词

  More formal and ceremonial than speech; often the fixed term for a set-piece talk given by a leader or official on a serious public occasion.

  比speech更正式、更具仪式感，常用于指领导人或官员在重要公开场合发表的固定形式讲话。

  Every January the president gives the State of the Union address to Congress.

  每年一月，总统都会向国会发表国情咨文演说。

• speech

  The general, everyday word for a formal talk to an audience; used for almost any occasion, from a school assembly to a wedding toast.

  是更普通、更日常的用词，指对听众发表的正式谈话，几乎适用于任何场合，从学校集会到婚礼祝酒词都可以使用。

  My little sister was too shy to give her speech at the school assembly.

  我妹妹太害羞了，不敢在学校集会上发表她的演讲。

Address and speech both mean a formal talk to an audience. Address is formal and ceremonial, often the term for a leader's talk. Speech is the everyday word for any talk, from school events to weddings. Address's 'location' and 'speak to' senses are not compared.

address 和 speech 在“正式演讲”这个意义上很接近，但 address 更正式、更具仪式感，常用于领导人或官员在重要场合发表的讲话；speech 是更常见的日常用词，几乎任何正式讲话场合都能使用。这里不比较 address 的“地址”义，也不比较它作动词时“向……讲话、处理（问题）”的义项。

Compared meaning: give a speech to an audience (verb).

比较义项：发表演讲（动词）。

• speak

  The everyday, neutral word for giving a speech; used intransitively, usually followed by 'to' or 'at' plus the audience; fits both casual and formal occasions.

  在“发表演讲”这个意义上是最常见、语域中性的说法；用作不及物动词，后面通常跟to或at加听众；正式和非正式场合都适用。

  She spoke to a packed hall about her research.

  她向座无虚席的大厅听众讲述了自己的研究。

• address 本词

  A more formal word for giving an official or important speech; used transitively, taking the audience directly as its object, without 'to'.

  语气更正式，指发表正式或重要的演讲；用作及物动词，直接接听众作宾语，不加to。

  The president will address the nation about the crisis tonight.

  总统今晚将就这场危机向全国发表演说。

Both mean 'give a speech', but differ in formality: speak is neutral and common, address is more formal. Speak takes 'to' or 'at' before the audience; address takes the audience as object. Not covered: speak's 'speak a language' sense, address's 'a place' or 'call someone'.

这两个词在“发表演讲”这个意义上很接近，但语域和语法不同：address更正式，常用于重要或正式场合，且直接接听众作宾语（address the nation）；speak更常用、语域中性，通常接to或at加听众。这里不比较speak的“讲/说某种语言”之义，也不比较address的“地址”或“称呼某人”之义。

Compared meaning: deal with or handle a problem (verb).

比较义项：处理（应对/解决问题或事务）（动词）。

• deal

  The everyday, neutral choice; must be followed by "with" (deal with sth) to mean handle a problem, unlike the other two which take a direct object.

  最常见、语气中性的说法；表示处理问题时必须接介词 with（deal with sth），这一点与另外两个直接接宾语的词不同。

  We need to deal with this issue before the deadline.

  我们必须在截止日期前处理这个问题。

• address 本词

  More formal; used to publicly raise, discuss or officially deal with a problem, concern or issue, taking a direct object with no preposition.

  更正式；用于公开提出、讨论或正式处理问题、忧虑或议题，直接接宾语，不加介词。

  The council promised to address parking problems at tonight's meeting.

  市议会承诺在今晚的会议上处理停车问题。

• handle

  Emphasizes competent, hands-on management of a task, situation or person, implying skill or responsibility; takes a direct object with no preposition.

  强调熟练、亲力亲为地应对具体任务、情况或人，暗示能力或责任感；直接接宾语，不加介词。

  She handled the difficult client calmly and professionally.

  她冷静而专业地应对了那位难缠的客户。

All three mean handling a problem, but grammar and formality differ. Deal needs 'with' (deal with something), unlike the other two. Address is more formal, used to publicly raise or officially deal with an issue. Handle emphasizes competent, hands-on management of a task.

这三个词在“处理”这一义项上意思相近，但正式程度和搭配不同：deal 最常用，须与介词 with 连用（deal with sth）；address 更正式，常用于公开场合处理问题或议题，直接接宾语；handle 强调熟练或负责地应对具体事务，也直接接宾语。这里不比较 deal 的“交易；发牌”、address 的“地址”和 handle 的“把手”等其他义项。