mention

Compared meaning: communicate information in words (verb).

比较义项：用言语表达、告知或说明信息（动词）。

• mention 本词

  Used for referring to something briefly, without going into detail, often to note that a topic was or wasn't raised in conversation.

  用于简略提及某事，不深入细节，常用来说明某个话题在谈话中有没有被提到。

  She didn't mention the party when we spoke earlier.

  她之前和我们说话时没有提到那个聚会。

• say

  The most neutral, general word for producing words; it does not take a person as a direct object (say something, not say someone something).

  语气最中性、最一般的“说”，用来表达说出的话语本身，后面一般不直接跟“某人”作宾语（是说某事，而不是说某人某事）。

  Did she say what time the meeting starts?

  她说会议几点开始了吗？

• explain

  Focuses on making something clear or understandable, especially when it is complicated; usually followed by 'to somebody' rather than a direct personal object.

  重点在于把复杂或不易懂的事情讲清楚、讲明白，如果后面要带“对象”，通常要说 explain...to somebody，而不是把人直接作宾语。

  Can you explain how this machine works, please?

  你能解释一下这台机器是怎么运作的吗？

• tell

  Normally needs a direct object naming the person told (tell somebody something); focuses on giving information to a specific listener.

  后面通常要直接跟一个表示“听者”的宾语（tell somebody something），强调把信息告诉某个具体的人。

  Please tell me what happened at the meeting.

  请告诉我会议上发生了什么事。

Mention, say, explain, and tell all mean giving information in words, but they differ. Mention is brief, with no detail. Say is the most general, neutral word. Explain makes something clear, usually with 'to somebody'. Tell needs a person as its direct object.

这四个词都表示“用言语传达信息”，但侧重点和语法搭配不同：mention 只是简略带过，say 是最中性笼统的“说”，tell 强调告诉某个具体的人，explain 则强调把事情讲清楚、讲明白。使用时要特别注意语法：tell 后面要直接跟“听者”（tell somebody something），而 say 和 explain 通常不能直接把人作宾语，explain 要说成 explain...to somebody。