telegram

Compared meaning: a message sent by telegraph (noun).

比较义项：电报（名词）。

• wire

  Informal, somewhat old-fashioned American way to say telegram, often heard in phrases like “send a wire”; wire also has many unrelated everyday senses (metal wire, electric wire) not compared here.

  口语化、略带过时意味的美式说法，指电报，常见于“send a wire”这类表达；wire还有“金属线、电线”等其他常见意思，这里不作比较。

  Soldiers overseas kept in touch by sending a wire whenever letters took too long.

  海外的士兵在信件太慢的时候，就靠发电报保持联系。

• telegram 本词

  The standard, neutral word for a telegram message, used in both formal writing and everyday speech, without the old-fashioned or casual flavor of wire.

  标准、中性的电报说法，正式书面语和日常口语中都能使用，没有wire那种过时或口语化的意味。

  Grandpa still remembers sending a telegram to announce his wedding.

  爷爷至今还记得当年发电报宣布他的婚礼。

Wire and telegram both mean a telegraph message, but differ. Wire is informal and old-fashioned, chiefly American, as in 'send a wire'. Telegram is the standard, neutral word, used in formal and everyday English. Wire's other senses, like metal or electric wire, are not compared.

这两个词在“电报”这个意思上很接近，但wire更口语化、带点过时的美式说法，常见于旧时新闻或口语表达；telegram则是更标准、中性的说法，正式和日常场合都能用。wire还有“金属线、电线”等其他常见意思，这里不作比较。