speak

Compared meaning: express or give information by talking (verb).

比较义项：说话、说出、告诉——用语言表达或传递信息（动词）。

• speak 本词

  General verb for producing spoken language; often used without an object, focusing on the ability or manner of talking rather than exact words or a listener.

  该词泛指说话或使用语言进行口头表达，常不带宾语，强调说话的能力或方式，而不是具体说的内容或听者。

  She was too nervous to speak during the interview.

  她在面试时太紧张，说不出话来。

• say

  Focuses on the exact words or content uttered, usually followed by a direct quote or a clause; a listener is optional and must be marked with 'to'.

  该词强调说出的具体话语或内容，后面常接直接引语或从句；听者是可选的，需要用“to”引出。

  She said she would call me back later.

  她说她晚些会给我回电话。

• tell

  Focuses on giving information or instructions to a specific listener; almost always takes a personal object (tell someone), with the exact wording less important.

  该词强调把信息或指示告诉给特定的听者，几乎总要接人作宾语（告诉某人），具体措辞不是重点。

  Can you tell me the way to the station?

  你能告诉我去车站的路吗？

All three mean 'to say something'. Speak often has no object; it focuses on talking. Say focuses on the exact words, often with a quote. Tell needs a listener, focusing on giving information. Not covered: speak as 'give a speech', tell as 'know the difference'.

这三个词都可译作“说”，容易被中国学习者混用，但语法结构和侧重点不同：speak 常不带宾语，强调说话这一动作或能力；say 强调说出的具体内容，后面常接引语或从句；tell 强调把信息告诉给某个听者，几乎总要带人作宾语。这里不比较 speak 表示“发表演讲”的用法，也不比较 tell 表示“分辨、看出”（如 tell the difference）的用法。

Compared meaning: give a speech to an audience (verb).

比较义项：发表演讲（动词）。

• speak 本词

  The everyday, neutral word for giving a speech; used intransitively, usually followed by 'to' or 'at' plus the audience; fits both casual and formal occasions.

  在“发表演讲”这个意义上是最常见、语域中性的说法；用作不及物动词，后面通常跟to或at加听众；正式和非正式场合都适用。

  She spoke to a packed hall about her research.

  她向座无虚席的大厅听众讲述了自己的研究。

• address

  A more formal word for giving an official or important speech; used transitively, taking the audience directly as its object, without 'to'.

  语气更正式，指发表正式或重要的演讲；用作及物动词，直接接听众作宾语，不加to。

  The president will address the nation about the crisis tonight.

  总统今晚将就这场危机向全国发表演说。

Both mean 'give a speech', but differ in formality: speak is neutral and common, address is more formal. Speak takes 'to' or 'at' before the audience; address takes the audience as object. Not covered: speak's 'speak a language' sense, address's 'a place' or 'call someone'.

这两个词在“发表演讲”这个意义上很接近，但语域和语法不同：address更正式，常用于重要或正式场合，且直接接听众作宾语（address the nation）；speak更常用、语域中性，通常接to或at加听众。这里不比较speak的“讲/说某种语言”之义，也不比较address的“地址”或“称呼某人”之义。