show

Compared meaning: to show that something is true (verb).

比较义项：证明、表明某事是真实的（动词）。

• evidence

  Formal and typically written; the subject is usually a fact, statistic, or object that serves as proof, not a person constructing an argument; less common in everyday speech.

  较为正式，多用于书面语；主语通常是充当证据的事实、数据或物证，而不是进行论证的人；日常口语中较少使用。

  The latest audit results evidence a significant improvement in efficiency.

  最新的审计结果表明效率有了显著提高。

• testify

  Often specifically legal: a person gives spoken evidence in court as a witness; when followed by 'to', it means to serve as a clear sign of something.

  常特指法律场景：某人作为证人在法庭上口头作证；后接介词 to 时，意为“证明……的存在”。

  The witness had to testify in court about what she saw during the accident.

  目击者不得不在法庭上就她在事故中看到的情况作证。

• show 本词

  The most common, neutral, everyday word; used casually about facts, results, photos, or documents that make something clear, with no special formality.

  四者中最常用、最中性、最口语化的词；用于日常谈论能说明问题的事实、结果、照片或文件，不带特殊正式色彩。

  The photos on his phone show he was at the party that night.

  他手机里的照片表明那晚他在派对上。

• prove

  Stronger than 'show': it implies establishing something conclusively through solid evidence or logical argument, especially after doubt or testing.

  语气比 show 更强：强调通过确凿的证据或严密的论证，最终使某事得到证实，尤其是在经过怀疑或检验之后。

  Scientists finally proved that the vaccine was safe after years of testing.

  经过多年测试，科学家们终于证明了这种疫苗是安全的。

These four words mean to show something is true. Evidence is formal, usually a fact or statistic. Testify often means giving evidence in court, or being a sign of something. Show is the most common, everyday word. Prove is strongest, meaning to establish truth clearly.

这四个词都可表示“证明、表明”，但正式程度和使用场景不同：evidence 多用于书面语，主语常是充当证据的事实或数据；testify 常特指在法庭上作证，或与 to 连用表示“证明……的存在”；show 是四者中最常用、最口语化的说法；prove 语气更强，强调经确凿证据或推理最终得到证实。这里不比较 evidence 更常见的名词义“证据”，也不比较 show 的“展示、播出节目”等其他义项。

Compared meaning: an act or arrangement of showing things (noun).

比较义项：展示（名词，指展示的行为或陈列的事物）。

• show 本词

  Refers to an act or event of showing something, often performance-like or public, as in a car show or a show of force; emphasizes the action, not the objects on view.

  指展示某事物的行为或活动，常带有表演性质或公开场合的意味，例如车展或武力展示，强调的是展示这一行为本身，而不是陈列出来的物品。

  The parade was an impressive show of local pride and unity.

  这场游行是当地人自豪感和团结精神的一次精彩展示。

• display

  Refers to an arrangement of objects set out for people to look at, typically in a fixed place such as a shop window, museum, or exhibition; emphasizes the arranged items, not an event.

  指为供人观看而摆放整齐的一组物品，通常摆在固定的地方，比如橱窗、博物馆或展览会，强调的是陈列出来的物品本身，而不是某个展示的行为或场合。

  The store put the new phones on display near the entrance.

  商店把新款手机摆在入口附近展示。

Show and display both relate to showing things. Show is an event or act, like a car show, emphasizing action, not objects. Display is an arrangement of objects set out for people to look at, like a shop window, emphasizing items, not an event.

show 和 display 在“展示”这个意义上很接近，但 show 强调展示的行为或场合（如车展、表演），而 display 强调摆放整齐供人观看的物品（如橱窗陈列）。这里不比较 show 作动词表示“演示，给……看”的用法（如“show me how to use this phone”），也不比较 display 表示“显示器”这一具体设备的义项。