explain
[ɪk'spleɪn] verb intransitive or transitive
ESSENTIAL
■to make something clear or easy to understand by describing or giving information about it 解释；说明；阐明•If there's anything you don't understand, I'll be happy to explain.如果你有甚么不明白的地方，我很乐意为你讲解。 •The teacher explained the rules to the children.老师向小朋友说明规则。 •[+ question word] Our guide explained wh ere the cathedral was.导游向我们讲解了大教堂的位置。 •He explained how the machine worked.他解释了这部机器的操作原理。 •Please could you explain wh y you're so late.你可不可以解释一下你迟到这么久的原因？ •[+ that] She explained that she was going to stay with her sister.她解释说她要去和妹妹一起住。 •[+ speech] "Someone must have hit the wrong button," an official explained.“一定有人误按了按钮，”一位官员解释说。 •[R] Molly asked the teacher if she could explain herself a bit more clearly (= say more clearly what she meant).莫莉请老师再讲清楚些。 •No one has been able to explain (= give the reason for) the accident.还没有人能解释事故的原因。 explain yourself
■to give reasons for your behaviour 为自己的行为作出说明（或解释）•He hadn't been home for three days so I asked him to explain himself.他一连三天没有回家，所以我要他解释一下发生甚么事。
[ɪk'spleɪn] verb intransitive or transitive
Phrasal Verbs [M] explain sth away
■to avoid blame for something that has happened by making it seem not important or not your fault 为…辩解；对…加以解释以减轻其严重性（或避免被指责等）•I don't know how you're going to explain away that dent you made in dad's car.你把爸爸的车撞凹了，我看你怎样解释才能过这一关。
[ɪk'spleɪn] verb intransitive or transitive
Common Learner Errors explainWhen explain is followed by an indirect object, remember to use the preposition to.Don't say 'explain someone', say explain to someone :
✗ I had to explain him that I had lost his keys.I had to explain to him that I had lost his keys. |