contain

Compared meaning: include or be made up of parts (verb).

比较义项：包含、由……构成（动词）。

• incorporate

  Incorporate stresses actively adding something new into an existing whole, often as a deliberate change; it collocates with "into" and fits plans, designs, or systems, not simple physical containers.

  incorporate强调主动把新内容纳入已有的整体，通常表示有意的改变；常与「into」搭配使用，适用于计划、设计或制度，而不是简单的实体容器。

  The company plans to incorporate new safety rules soon.

  这家公司计划很快将新的安全规定纳入其中。

• contain 本词

  Contain is the plainest and most common of the three; it simply states what is inside something, whether a box, a document, or a mixture, with no sense of an active process.

  contain是三者中最平常、最常用的词，只是客观说明某物内部有什么，无论是箱子、文件还是混合物，并不带有主动进行某个过程的意味。

  This box can contain up to twenty small books.

  这个箱子最多能容纳二十本小书。

• comprise

  Comprise is formal and always has the whole as its subject followed directly by the parts, describing composition; unlike incorporate, it does not suggest adding something new.

  comprise语气正式，主语总是整体，后面直接接组成部分，用来描述构成关系；与incorporate不同，它并不表示新增某物，常见于正式的描述性语句中。

  The committee will comprise five members from different departments.

  该委员会将由来自不同部门的五名成员组成。

Incorporate, contain, and comprise all mean to include or be made up of parts. Incorporate stresses adding something new into a whole. Contain is the plain, common word for what is inside. Comprise is formal: the whole is the subject, followed by its parts.

这三个词在该意义上都表示包含或由……构成，但侧重和正式程度不同：incorporate强调把新内容主动纳入整体，语气正式；contain只是客观说明里面有什么，是三者中最常用、语气最中性的词；comprise的主语是整体、后面直接接组成部分，多用于正式或书面场合，如描述委员会或系统的构成。这里不比较incorporate表示「注册成立（公司）」的意思，也不比较contain表示「克制（情绪）」的意思。

Compared meaning: to hold a certain amount (verb).

比较义项：容纳、装下一定数量或重量（动词）。

• contain 本词

  Focuses on spatial capacity — what fits inside a container or space; neutral and common in everyday and technical contexts.

  侧重空间容量——某个容器或空间里能装下什么；用法中性，日常和技术语境都常见。

  This box can contain up to twenty small books.

  这个箱子最多能装二十本小书。

• carry

  Focuses on weight or load capacity — what a vehicle, structure or container can bear or hold without breaking down; often paired with weight, passengers or loads.

  侧重重量或承载能力——某个交通工具、结构或容器能承受或装载多少而不出问题；常与重量、乘客或货物搭配使用。

  This lift can carry up to eight people at once.

  这部电梯一次最多能载八个人。

Contain and carry can both mean to hold a certain amount. Contain focuses on space — what fits inside something. Carry focuses on weight — what a vehicle or structure can bear without breaking. This does not compare carry's common meaning of 'to transport'.

两个词都能表示“装得下、容纳”，但侧重点不同：contain强调空间里装有或能装下某物，carry更常指能够承受、支撑一定的重量或数量。这里不比较carry表示“携带、运送”的常见义项。

Compared meaning: to hold back something harmful (verb).

比较义项：控制、抑制（动词）。

• contain 本词

  Contain stresses stopping something harmful, such as a fire, disease, or strong emotion, from spreading or getting worse; it is often used with crises, outbreaks, or feelings rather than ordinary situations.

  Contain 强调阻止有害的事物（如火灾、疾病或强烈情绪）进一步扩散或恶化；常用于危机、疫情或情绪，而不是普通情况。

  Firefighters managed to contain the blaze before it spread to nearby houses.

  消防员在大火蔓延到附近房屋之前将其控制住了。

• control

  Control is the most general and neutral of the three, meaning to direct or manage the behavior, course, or outcome of something; it fits almost any situation, from machines to emotions to people.

  Control 是三者中最通用、最中性的词，表示指挥或掌控某事物的行为、进程或结果；几乎适用于任何情境，从机器到情绪再到人。

  A skilled pilot must control the aircraft even in strong winds.

  熟练的飞行员即使在强风中也必须控制住飞机。

• curb

  Curb means to hold back or reduce an unwanted impulse, habit, or increase; it is more formal than control and typically collocates with spending, appetite, inflation, or growth rather than people directly.

  Curb 表示抑制或减少某种不良的冲动、习惯或增长；比 control 更正式，通常与支出、食欲、通货膨胀或增长等搭配，而不是直接用于人。

  The government introduced higher taxes to curb smoking among teenagers.

  政府提高了税率以抑制青少年吸烟。

Contain, control and curb can all mean to stop something harmful. Contain stresses stopping a crisis or fire from spreading. Control is most general, meaning to direct anything. Curb is formal, for spending or crime. This excludes contain meaning 'to hold inside a box'.

这三个词都可以表示“控制、抑制”某种不良或危险的状况，但语气强弱和搭配有别：contain 侧重阻止危机、火情或情绪进一步扩散、恶化；control 是最常见、最中性的说法，几乎可用于任何“掌控局面”的场合；curb 语气较正式，多与支出、食欲、通胀、犯罪率等不良增长搭配，强调“抑制、遏制”。这里不比较 contain 常见的“容纳、装有”义项（如 This box can contain up to twenty small books）。