区别辨析say、speak、state、talk、tell与utter

say、speak、state、talk、tell与utter这些动词均有“说、讲”之意。

say : 最普通常用词,指用语言表达思想,着重所说的内容。

  • But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds.
    但是对于等候在正义之宫门口的心急如焚的人们,有些话我是必须说的。在争取合法地位的过程中,我们不要采取错误的做法。
    ——《我有一个梦想》(I have a dream

speak : 侧重于说话动作的本身,着重说话的能力而不在内容,可以是长篇大论的演讲,也可以是三言两语的交谈,甚至指简单的开口发声说话。

  • I am not speaking metaphorically; nor is this the opening gambit of some melodramatic, riddling, grubby appeal for pity.
    我这不是比喻,这也不是什么耸人听闻、故意叫人摸不透、卑鄙的恳求怜悯的开场白。
    ——《午夜之子》(Midnight's Children

state : 较正式用词,通常指用明确的语言或文字着重地叙述事实,既强调内容又注重语气。

  • 在庆祝香港回归祖国20周年大会上,我曾经讲过,中央贯彻“一国两制”方针坚持两点,一是坚定不移,确保不会变、不动摇;二是全面准确,确保不走样、不变形。
    At the meeting celebrating the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland in 2017, I stated that the central government, in implementing the principle of "one country, two systems," will maintain two key points: first, the central government will remain resolute in implementing the principle, and will not change or vacillate in this stand; and second, the principle will be implemented as what it is originally intended precisely.
    ——习主席在庆祝香港回归祖国25周年大会暨香港特别行政区第六届政府就职典礼上的讲话(双语全文)

talk : 普通用词,侧重指与人交谈时的连续说话,可指单方面较长谈话,和speak一样,着重说活动作而不侧重内容。

  • 以轻松愉快的闲谈来度过令人疲乏的长途旅行
    beguile a long and weary journey with pleasant talk

tell : 普通用词,指把某事告诉或讲述给某人听,口语或书面语均可用。

  • The best way to divulge a secret is to tell someone not to say anything about it.
    泄露一个秘密的最好方法是告诉某个人不要说任何关于它的事。
    ——查尔斯·弗莱舍(Charles Fleischer)

utter : 着重说话的行为,常指声音的使用,突出用噪子发声。

  • She sat through the whole meeting without uttering a word.
    整个会议期间她一言不发。