/seɪ ||; se/verb [T] (
third person singular present says /sez
||; sɛz/
past tense past participle said /sed
||; sɛd/)
1 say sth (to sb);say that...;say sth (about sb) to speak or tell sb sth, using words 说，讲（话）: ‘Please come back,’ she said. “请回来。”她说。The teacher said we should hand in our essays on Friday. 老师说我们要在星期五交作文。I said goodbye to her at the station. 我在车站跟她说再见。We can ask him, but I'm sure he'll say no. 我们可以问他，但他肯定会说不行。He said to his mother that he would phone back later. 他对母亲说他晚一点会打电话回来。They just sat there without saying anything. 他们只是一言不发地坐在那里。‘This isn't going to be easy,’ she said to herself (= she thought). “这不会是容易的事。”她心里想着。‘What time is she coming?’ ‘I don't know -- she didn't say.’ “她什么时候来？”“我不知道。她没有说。” It is said that cats can sense the presence of ghosts. 据说，要是有鬼，猫儿能知道。 ☞ Say or tell ? Say is often used with the actual words that were spoken or before that in indirect speech ‘I'll catch the 9 o'clock train,’ he said. He said that he would catch the 9 o'clock train. Notice that you say sth to sb He said to me that he would catch the 9 o'clock train. Tell is always followed by a noun or pronoun, showing who you were speaking to He told me that he would catch the 9 o'clock train. Tell, not say, can also be used when you are talking about giving orders or advice I told them to hurry up. She's always telling me what I ought to do. 何时用say﹖何时用tell﹖say常用于直接引述所说的话﹐或在间接引语中用于that之前﹕'I'll catch the 9 o'clock train,' he said.“我会赶上９点钟那班火车。”他说。He said that he would catch the 9 o'clock train.他说他会赶上９点钟那班火车。注意﹕对某人说什么话用say sth to sb﹕He said to me that he would catch the 9 o'clock train.他对我说他会赶上９点钟那班火车。tell总是紧接名词或代名词﹐表示你正在对谁人说话﹕He told me that he would catch the 9 o'clock train.他对我说他会赶上９点钟那班火车。tell也可用于发命令或提出建议﹐say则不可以这样用﹕I told them to hurry up.我催促他们赶快些。She's always telling me what I ought to do.她老是告诉我应该干什么。
2 to express an opinion on sth 表达，发表（意见）: I wouldn't say she's unfriendly -- just shy. 我认为她不是不友善，只是腼腆。What is the artist trying to say in this painting? 画家究竟想用这幅画表达什么呢？Well, what do you say ? Do you think it's a good idea? 那么，你看怎么样？你认为这是个好主意吗？It's hard to say what I like about the book. 我喜欢这本书哪一点，这很难说清楚。‘When will it be finished?’ ‘ I couldn't say (= I don't know)’. “什么时候结束？”“我不知道。”
3 (used about a book, notice, etc) to give information （指书本、通知等）指示，显示，提供（信息）: What time does it say on that clock? 看那个钟上现在是几点了？The map says the hotel is just past the railway bridge. 地图显示过了铁路桥就是酒店。The sign clearly says ‘No dogs’. 告示牌上明确说“不准带狗”。
4 say sth (to sb) to show a feeling, a situation, etc without using words （不用言语）传达（感情、处境等）: His angry look said everything about the way he felt. 他愤怒的神情已表达了他的一切感受。
5 to imagine or guess sth about a situation; to suppose 想象；猜测；假设: We will need, say, £5000 for a new car. 我们大概需要5000英镑买一辆新车。Say you don't get a place at university, what will you do then? 假如你考不上大学，你会怎么办？
go without saying to be clear, so that you do not need to say it 显然；不用说:
It goes without saying that the children will be well looked after at all times. 不用说，孩子们时时都会得到周全的照顾。 have a lot, nothing, etc to say for yourself to have a lot, nothing, etc to say in a particular situation （在某情况下）有许多话要说或无话可说等:
Late again! What have you got to say for yourself? 又迟到了！你还有什么可说的？ I must say(
spoken 口语) used to emphasize your opinion （用于强调自己的看法）:
I must say, I didn't believe him at first. 我要说，我起先不相信他的话。 I wouldn't say no(
spoken 口语) used to say that you would like sth （表示想要某物）:
‘Coffee?’ ‘I wouldn't say no.’ “咖啡？”“好的。” Say when(
spoken 口语) used to tell sb to say when you have poured enough drink in his/her glass or put enough food on his/her plate （用于叫某人示意杯中饮料或盘中食物是否已添够）
that is to say... which means... 那就是说；换言之:
We're leaving on Friday, that's to say in a week's time. 我们星期五走，即一星期后。