trail

Compared meaning: to follow closely behind someone (verb).

比较义项：尾随、跟随某人（动词）。

• trail 本词

  Trail suggests following behind someone at a distance, often to track, observe, or pursue them; it can sound neutral or even suspicious, and also means to lag behind in a race or contest.

  trail 表示在一定距离之外跟随某人，常用于跟踪、观察或追捕，语气较中性，有时略带可疑意味；它也可以表示在比赛中落后于人。

  The wolf trailed the wounded deer for miles before finally catching up with it.

  那只狼尾随受伤的鹿走了好几英里，最后才追上它。

• tag

  Tag (usually as 'tag along') is informal and suggests sticking closely to someone as an extra companion, often uninvited or childlike, rather than tracking or pursuing them.

  tag（常用 tag along）比较口语化，指像跟屁虫一样紧跟着某人，常常是不请自来或带点孩子气，而不是跟踪或追捕的意思。

  My little brother always tags along whenever I go out with my friends.

  每次我和朋友出去，我弟弟总是跟着一起去。

Both mean following someone, but with different tone. Trail is fairly neutral, for tracking or pursuing someone, and can also mean falling behind in a race. Tag (tag along) is informal, suggesting sticking closely as an uninvited companion. Tag's label meaning is not compared here.

这两个词在“跟随、尾随某人”这个意义上很接近，但语气和用法不同：trail 语气较中性，常用于跟踪、观察或追捕某人，也可以指在比赛中落后于人；tag（通常与 along 连用，构成 tag along）语气随意、口语化，多指像跟屁虫一样紧跟着别人，带有不请自来、略显幼稚的意味。这里不比较 tag 的“给…贴标签、标注”这个意思。