区别辨析describe、represent、sketch与picture

这些动词均有“描写、描述”之意。

describe : 侧重指描述细节,给读者或听众提供清晰的视觉图像。

  • Could you describe your attacker?
    你能描述一下袭击你的人的样子吗?
  • He described the painting in detail.
    他详细地描述了那幅油画的内容。
  • Let me describe (to you) how it happened.
    让我来(给你)讲讲事情的经过吧。
  • She described Gary as shy.
    她说加利很害羞。

represent : 指有代表性或象征性地描述或讲述。

  • The statue represents St. George killing the dragon.
    这座雕像展现的是圣乔治斩龙的故事。
  • This new report represents the current situation in our schools.
    这份新的报告介绍了我们这儿的学校现状。
  • He represents himself as an expert, but he knows nothing.
    他自称是个专家,可是他一窍不通。

sketch : 指快速地勾勒或概略地叙述。

  • She sketched out her plan for tackling the problem.
    她简要叙述了解决问题的计划。
  • Cross sketched the story briefly, telling the facts just as they had happened.
    克罗斯简要地叙述了事情的经过,把当时发生的情况一五一十地说了一遍。

picture : 着重能够栩栩如生地把事物或场景等描绘出来。

  • Before the trial Liz had been pictured as a frail woman dominated by her husband.
    审讯之前,利兹被描绘成受丈夫操纵的孱弱女子。
  • I'll try and give you a better picture of what the boys do.
    我会试着更清楚地向你描述一下这些男孩子都干些什么。