rough

Compared meaning: a surface covered with rocks or uneven (adjective).

比较义项：表面凹凸不平、布满石头（形容词）。

• rough 本词

  Rough is the general word for an uneven, bumpy surface; the unevenness doesn't have to come from rocks, so it also describes fabric, skin, roads, or seas, unlike the more specific rocky and stony.

  rough 是泛指表面凹凸不平的通用词，不一定与石头有关，因此也可以形容布料、皮肤、道路或海面，不像 rocky 和 stony 那样具体指向石头。

  The old wooden table had a rough surface that scratched my fingers.

  这张旧木桌表面粗糙，刮到了我的手指。

• rocky

  Rocky describes ground or terrain covered with rocks, often large ones, especially mountains, cliffs, and coastlines; it points to the rocks themselves rather than general unevenness.

  rocky 形容布满岩石（通常较大）的地面或地形，尤其是山地、悬崖和海岸线；它指向岩石本身，而不只是表面不平。

  The rocky cliffs along the coast are dangerous to climb without proper gear.

  沿海岸的多石悬崖，没有合适的装备攀爬会很危险。

• stony

  Stony usually describes ground, soil, or a path full of smaller stones, as in stony soil or a stony beach; it can also describe a person's cold, unfriendly expression, a sense not compared here.

  stony 通常形容布满（较小）石子的地面、土壤或小路，如 stony soil（多石的土壤）或 stony beach（多石的海滩）；它也可以形容人冷淡、面无表情的样子，但这个引申义此处不作比较。

  The soil in this garden is too stony to grow vegetables easily.

  这个花园里的土壤太多石子，不容易种蔬菜。

All three describe an uneven, rocky surface, but differently. Rough is general, for any bumpy surface, not only rocks. Rocky describes ground covered with large rocks, like mountains or cliffs. Stony describes ground full of small stones, like a beach.

这三个词都可以形容凹凸不平、布满石头的地面或表面，但侧重点不同：rough 泛指表面粗糙不平，不一定与石头有关；rocky 强调布满（通常较大的）岩石；stony 强调布满（通常较小的）石子，也常用于形容土壤。此处不比较 stony 表示“冷淡、面无表情”的引申义（如 a stony look／a stony silence）。

Compared meaning: not exact, roughly correct (adjective).

比较义项：不精确的，大概的（形容词）。

• rough 本词

  Informal and common with estimates, plans, or numbers; suggests a quick guess that is close but not calculated exactly.

  该词较为口语化，常用于估算、计划或数字，表示凭直觉给出的、接近但并非精确计算的说法，例如粗略估计或粗略计算。

  Can you give me a rough estimate of the total cost?

  你能给我一个总费用的粗略估计吗？

• loose

  Used mainly for translations, interpretations, or descriptions rather than numbers; suggests something not strict or literal, focused on looseness of meaning.

  该词主要用于翻译、解读或描述，而非数字；强调内容不严格、不逐字对应，侧重含义上的宽泛，而非对数量的估算。

  The judge gave a loose interpretation of the law, ignoring minor details.

  法官对法律做了宽泛的解读，忽略了细节。

• approximate

  More formal and neutral than rough; used mainly with numbers, quantities, times, or measurements, common in official or written contexts.

  该词比rough更正式、更中性，主要用于数字、数量、时间或测量值，常见于正式、技术性或书面语境，而非口语。

  The approximate distance between the two cities is three hundred kilometers.

  这两座城市之间的大约距离是三百公里。

Rough, loose, and approximate all mean not exact, but differ. Rough is informal, common with estimates, suggesting a quick guess. Loose is used for translations, meaning not literal. Approximate is more formal, used with numbers. Not compared: rough's 'uneven' sense, and loose's 'not tight-fitting' sense.

这三个词都可以表示“不精确”，但语体和搭配不同：rough语气随意，常用于估算和计划；loose侧重内容不严格、不逐字对应；approximate更正式，多用于数字和数量。这里不比较rough表示“凹凸不平”的义项（如例句中崎岖的道路），也不比较loose表示“宽松，不紧身”的义项（如例句中肥大的衬衫）。