expand

Compared meaning: to make something bigger (verb).

比较义项：使变大，扩大（动词）。

• expand 本词

  Broader in use: can be intransitive (something expands on its own) or transitive, and often describes growth in scope, size, or influence, such as a business, market, or gas. Common in abstract or non-physical contexts.

  用法更广：既可作不及物动词（事物自行膨胀、扩张），也可作及物动词，常用于描述范围、规模或影响力的扩大，例如业务、市场或气体；常用于抽象或非实体的语境。

  Gas expands when it is heated, filling the container completely.

  气体受热时会膨胀，充满整个容器。

• enlarge

  Almost always transitive: someone enlarges something. Typically used for making a physical thing bigger, such as a photo, image, or room, rather than abstract growth.

  几乎总是及物动词：某人使某物变大，通常用于把具体实物变大，例如照片、图像或房间，而不是抽象意义上的增长。

  Could you enlarge this photo so we can see her face more clearly?

  你能把这张照片放大一点，让我们看清楚她的脸吗？

Expand and enlarge both mean to make something bigger. Expand can be used with or without an object, and often describes growth in scope, like a business. Enlarge almost always needs an object, and means making something physical bigger, like a photo or room.

expand 和 enlarge 都表示“使变大”，但用法有别：expand 既可作不及物动词（事物自行膨胀、扩张），也可作及物动词，常用于描述范围、规模或影响力的扩大，例如业务、市场或气体；enlarge 几乎总是及物动词，强调把具体、可见的事物变大，例如照片、房间等。

Compared meaning: to explain in more detail (verb).

比较义项：详述（动词）。

• expand 本词

  The everyday choice; normally used as 'expand on/upon' a point, common in speech and writing across all registers.

  日常最常用的说法，通常搭配 on/upon，用来对某个观点做进一步说明，口语和书面语中都很常见。

  The teacher asked him to expand on his answer with a specific example.

  老师让他用一个具体的例子来详细说明自己的答案。

• amplify

  A formal, less common alternative; typically used in writing to add detail, evidence or emphasis to a statement or argument, rarely used in casual speech.

  较正式、不常用的说法，通常用于书面语中，通过补充细节、证据或强调来充实某个陈述或论点，很少用于日常口语。

  The witness was asked to amplify her earlier statement with more specific dates.

  证人被要求用更具体的日期来补充说明她之前的陈述。

Expand and amplify both mean to explain a point in more detail. Expand is the everyday word, usually said as 'expand on' something. Amplify is more formal, often adding evidence. This does not compare expand as 'grow a business', or amplify as 'make sound louder'.

这两个词在“详细说明某个观点”这个意义上相近，但 expand 更口语化、更常用，amplify 更正式、多见于书面语，且常带有补充证据或强调的意味。这里不比较 expand 的“扩大，扩展（业务、规模等）”，也不比较 amplify 的“放大（声音、信号等）”。