reach

Compared meaning: to arrive at a place or level (verb).

比较义项：到达（某处、某数值或某阶段）（动词）。

• reach 本词

  Neutral, general verb for arriving at a place, level or result, often after effort or distance; also covers physically extending or stretching to touch something.

  中性、通用的动词，指经过努力或距离到达某个地方、水平或结果；也可指身体伸展去够到某物。

  You need to stand on a chair to reach the top shelf.

  你需要站在椅子上才能够到最上面的搁板。

• hit

  Informal, conversational verb often used when someone suddenly arrives at a number, milestone or low point; carries a sense of impact or surprise, and is not used for physical extension.

  口语化、较随意的动词，常用于突然达到某个数值、里程碑或低谷，带有冲击感或意外感，不用于表示身体延伸够到某物。

  After losing his job, he felt like he had hit rock bottom.

  失业之后，他感觉自己跌到了人生谷底。

Reach and hit both mean to arrive at a place, number, or level. Reach is neutral and formal, often after distance or effort. Hit is informal, suggesting a sudden arrival at a number or a low point. Hit meaning to strike something is not compared.

reach 和 hit 在表示“到达”时意思相近，但 reach 语气中性、书面，强调经过距离或努力到达某处、某数值，也可指身体延伸够到某物；hit 语气更口语化，强调突然到达某个数值、阶段或低谷，带有一点意外或戏剧性的意味。这里不比较 hit 表示“撞击、打中”的意思，例如 the ball hit the window and broke the glass 中的用法。

Compared meaning: the extent or limit something covers (noun).

比较义项：某事物所涵盖或达到的范围、限度（名词）。

• scope

  Scope marks the boundary of what a subject, task, plan or person's authority covers; common in formal or professional contexts, often paired with phrases meaning 'beyond' or 'within' that boundary, or 'narrow/widen' it.

  scope强调某个学科、任务、计划或职权所涵盖的边界，常用于正式或专业场合，人们常说某事“超出scope”或“缩小/扩大scope”。

  Discussing salary is beyond the scope of today's meeting.

  讨论薪水超出了今天会议的范围。

• range

  Range highlights the variety of different types or items within one category, and is typically used with countable things like products, options or skills, as in describing something as offering a wide selection.

  range强调同一类别内不同种类或项目的多样性，通常与产品、选项等可数事物搭配，常说“种类繁多的range”或“广泛的range”。

  The bakery offers a wide range of gluten-free breads and cakes.

  这家面包店提供种类繁多的无麸质面包和蛋糕。

• reach 本词

  Reach refers to how far someone's or something's influence, ability or effect extends, whether a physical distance or a figurative limit, often describing what is or is not attainable for someone.

  reach指某人或某事物的影响力、能力或效力所能达到的远近，可指实际距离，也可指比喻意义上的限度，常用来描述某事对某人来说是否力所能及。

  Owning a home in that city is beyond his reach financially.

  在那个城市买房在经济上是他力所不能及的。

• compass

  Compass is a formal, rather literary word for the extent or range of something, used mainly in written or academic style, especially in the fixed phrase describing what falls within that range.

  compass是较为正式、书面化的说法，指某事物的范围或限度，多用于书面或学术语体，常出现在描述某事是否落在这个范围之内的固定说法中。

  No one can master every language within the compass of a single lifetime.

  没有人能够在一生的时间范围内掌握所有语言。

Scope, range, reach, and compass all mean the extent something covers. Scope is a task's or authority's limit. Range means variety within a category, like products. Reach is how far influence extends. Compass is formal, literary. Reach's 'touch' and compass's 'direction' meanings are not compared.

这四个词在“范围、限度”这一义项上比较接近，容易混淆，但语气和用法不同：scope和range常用于日常或专业语境，reach强调影响力或效力所能达到的远近，compass语气最为正式、书面化。这里不比较reach作动词“伸手够到”的用法（如“you can reach the top shelf”），也不比较compass更常见的“指南针”义项。

Compared meaning: to get in touch with someone (verb).

比较义项：联系上某人（电话、邮件等方式）（动词）。

• reach 本词

  Implies successfully getting in touch with someone, often despite difficulty; common in negative or effortful contexts like 'hard to reach' or 'couldn't reach'.

  强调成功联系上某人，尤其是在费了一番周折或对方不易联系的情况下；常见于“hard to reach”“couldn't reach”等否定或强调费力的语境中。

  After days of trying, I finally managed to reach my old classmate.

  试了好几天之后，我终于联系上了我的老同学。

• contact

  A neutral, general word for getting in touch that does not imply success or difficulty; very common in formal instructions and business language.

  语气中性，泛指与某人取得联系的动作，不强调是否成功或是否费力；在正式指示语和商务用语中非常常见。

  Please contact our office if you need to reschedule your appointment.

  如需重新安排预约时间，请联系我们的办公室。

Contact and reach both mean to get in touch with someone. Reach implies succeeding in contacting someone, often despite difficulty, as in 'hard to reach'. Contact is neutral, not implying success or difficulty, common in business language. Reach's 'to touch something' meaning is not compared.

这两个词在“联系上某人”这个意义上很接近，但语气不同：contact 语气中性，只是表示发起联系的动作，常见于正式或商务场合；reach 则强调成功联系上对方，尤其是在对方不容易联系到的情况下使用。这里不比较 reach 的“够到，伸手够到某物”这一义项。