narrate

Compared meaning: to give an account of something (verb).

比较义项：讲述、叙述某事（动词）。

• tell

  The most common, everyday word for giving someone an account; usually informal and takes a listener directly, as in 'tell someone something'; length and detail can vary widely.

  tell 是最常见、最口语化的词，指讲述给某个听者，语气随意，常用“tell someone something”的结构；讲述内容可长可短，没有固定形式。

  He told us exactly what happened during the storm last night.

  他把昨晚暴风雨期间发生的事情原原本本地告诉了我们。

• recount

  More formal or literary than tell; stresses describing an event in detail, often from personal experience, and needs 'to' before a listener rather than an indirect object.

  recount 比 tell 更正式、更书面，强调详细地描述一件事，常出自亲身经历，提到听者时要用“to”，而不能像 tell 那样直接接双宾语。

  She recounted every detail of the accident to the police officer.

  她向警察详细讲述了事故的每一个细节。

• recite

  Means to state facts or words from memory or a fixed list, in order, such as a poem or the facts of a case; not a spontaneous personal account.

  recite 指按固定顺序背诵或列举记住的内容，比如一首诗或案件事实，而不是即兴讲述亲身经历。

  The lawyer had to recite the facts of the case before the judge.

  律师必须在法官面前陈述这起案件的事实。

• narrate 本词

  Means to give a spoken or written account of events as a story, often in a formal storytelling role, such as narrating a film or documentary.

  narrate 指以讲故事的方式对事件进行口头或书面叙述，常带有正式的讲述者角色，比如为电影或纪录片配音讲述。

  A calm voice narrated the events of the battle for the documentary.

  一个平静的声音为这部纪录片讲述了这场战役的经过。

Tell, recount, recite and narrate all mean to give an account of something. Tell is common and informal. Recount is more formal, with personal detail. Recite means saying fixed words from memory. Narrate means telling a story formally. Recount can mean 'counting votes'.

tell、recount、recite 和 narrate 在“叙述”这一义项上意思相近，但正式程度、句子结构和内容来源不同；recount 作名词时还有“重新计票”的意思（如选举重新计票），这里不作比较。