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。
- Small children find it difficult to say long words.
小孩子觉得长词不好说。 - She said goodbye to all her friends and left.
她跟所有的朋友道别后就离开了。 - Ben never forgets to say "Please" and "Thank you".
本从来不忘说“请”和“谢谢”。 - How do you say "goodbye" in French?
“法语里的‘再见’怎么说？” - Do you know what she said to him?
你知道她对他说了什么吗？
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。
- Would you mind speaking more slowly, please?
请你再慢点说，好吗？ - [mainly UK] "Can I speak to Dan please?"
“请问丹在吗？” - [mainly US] "Can I speak with Scott please?"
“请问斯科特在吗？” - "Speaking." (= This is Scott.)
“我就是。” - If he tells Julie what I said, I'll never speak to him again.
如果他把我说的话告诉朱莉，我就再也不和他说话。 - Sue speaks with an American accent.
苏说话带美国口音。 - Why are you speaking in a whisper (= very quietly)?
你为什么说话这么小声？
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。
- Our warranty clearly states the limits of our liability.
我们的保修证书清楚地界定了我们的保修范围。 - Union members stated (that) they were unhappy with the proposal.
工会成员对提案表示不满。 - Please state why you wish to apply for this grant.
请说明申请这笔补助的原因。 - Children in the stated (= named) areas were at risk from a lack of food, the report said.
报告中称，上述地区的儿童面临着食物匮乏的威胁。
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。
- We were just talking about Gareth's new girlfriend.
我们刚才在谈论加雷斯的新女友。 - My little girl has just started to talk.
我的小女儿刚开始说话。 - She talks to her mother on the phone every week.
她每周都跟母亲通电话。
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。
- Tell me about your holiday then.
那么跟我说说你的假期吧。 - Can you tell me how to get to the library?
请问去图书馆怎么走？ - Did you tell anyone (that) you were coming to see me?
你有没有跟任何人说起要来看我？ - "I'm leaving you," she told him.
“我要离开你，”她跟他说。 - I told her to go home.
我叫她回家。 - He told us of his extraordinary childhood.
他给我们讲述了他不寻常的童年。 - I can't tell you how grateful I am for your help (= I am extremely grateful).
我对你的帮助感激不尽。
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。
