mutter

Compared meaning: to speak or say words aloud (verb).

比较义项：开口说话、说出话来（动词）。

• mutter 本词

  Means to speak in a low, unclear voice, often to oneself or when complaining; the words are hard for others to make out.

  指小声、含糊地说话，常常是自言自语或抱怨，别人很难听清具体内容。

  She muttered a complaint under her breath so no one would hear.

  她低声抱怨了一句，声音小得没人能听见。

• say

  The plain, neutral verb for producing words; it simply introduces what was said, with no built-in idea of volume, tone, or an audience.

  是最普通、最中性的“说”，只是引出说的内容，本身不带音量、语气或对象的含义。

  Please say your name clearly so everyone can hear you.

  请把你的名字说清楚，好让大家都能听见。

• talk

  Focuses on exchanging words with another person, i.e. having a conversation, rather than on the exact words spoken; often followed by to/about.

  强调与他人交流、进行对话，而不是说了哪些具体的话，常与 to/about 搭配使用。

  We need to talk about the budget before the deadline.

  我们得在截止日期前谈谈预算的事。

• shout

  Means to speak in a loud, raised voice, usually so someone far away can hear or to show anger or urgency.

  指提高嗓门大声说话，通常是为了让远处的人听见，或表达愤怒、紧急的情绪。

  The lifeguard had to shout to warn the swimmers of danger.

  救生员不得不大声喊叫，警告游泳的人有危险。

All four verbs mean to speak. Mutter: speak low and unclear, often alone or complaining. Say: the plain, neutral word for speaking. Talk: have a conversation with someone, not exact words. Shout: speak loudly, often to be heard far away.

这四个词都表示“说话”，但说话的方式、音量和搭配对象不同：mutter 指低声、含糊地咕哝，常带自言自语或抱怨的意味；say 是最基本、最中性的“说”，后面直接跟说的内容；talk 强调与人交谈、沟通，常与 to/about 连用；shout 指提高嗓门大声喊叫，多为了让远处的人听见或表达激动情绪。四者语气差别较大，学习者容易混用。

Compared meaning: to speak quietly with complaint (verb).

比较义项：小声抱怨、低声说出不满（动词）。

• mutter 本词

  Mutter stresses speaking in a low, barely audible voice, often to oneself or under one's breath, with the complaint suggested more by tone than by clear words.

  mutter强调压低声音、含糊不清地说话，常常是自言自语或小声嘀咕，不满更多是通过语气暗示，而不是清楚说出来。

  He muttered something under his breath as he left the meeting room.

  他离开会议室时，嘴里小声嘀咕着什么。

• grumble

  Grumble stresses a bad-tempered, complaining attitude voiced fairly openly, often to other people, about something ongoing or repeated.

  grumble强调一种坏脾气、爱抱怨的态度，说出来的方式相对公开，通常是对别人抱怨某件持续或反复发生的事。

  The staff kept grumbling about the broken air conditioner all summer.

  整个夏天，员工们都在抱怨坏掉的空调。

Both verbs can mean speaking quietly with complaint, but differently. Mutter stresses speaking in a low, unclear voice, often alone, with the complaint shown more by tone than clear words. Grumble stresses a bad-tempered, complaining attitude, said fairly openly, often to other people.

这两个词都可指因不满而小声或带情绪地说话，但mutter重在“声音低、含糊”，常是自言自语；grumble重在“态度坏、爱抱怨”，说话对象常是别人，声音不一定低。

Compared meaning: a soft, unclear sound of speaking (noun).

比较义项：小声说话的声音（名词）。

• mutter 本词

  Implies a low, often discontented or grumbling tone, usually one person speaking quietly to themselves or under their breath.

  常带有不满或抱怨的语气，通常是一个人压低声音自言自语或嘀咕。

  There was an irritated mutter from the back row when the test was announced.

  宣布要考试时，后排传来一阵不满的嘀咕声。

• murmur

  Describes a soft, indistinct, often continuous sound of voices, typically neutral or pleasant, like background talk in a crowd.

  指柔和、模糊、常常持续不断的说话声，语气较中性甚至令人愉悦，如人群中的背景交谈声。

  A soft murmur of approval spread through the audience after her speech.

  她演讲结束后，观众席传来一阵轻柔的赞许低语声。

Both nouns describe a low, unclear sound of talking, with different feelings. Mutter suggests a discontented or grumbling tone, usually one person speaking quietly to themselves. Murmur describes a soft, indistinct, continuous sound of voices, usually neutral, like background talk in a crowd.

两者都指含糊、低声的说话声，但语气和使用场合不同：mutter 常带不满、抱怨或嘀咕的意味，多指一个人小声自言自语；murmur 强调声音轻柔、模糊、常常连续不断，多用于描述一群人交谈的背景声，语气较中性甚至温和。