1. to say or write what someone or something is like
描述、形容（某人或某物的樣子、特徵）
Can you describe the man you saw?
你能描述一下你看到的那個男人嗎？
She described her new house in detail.
她詳細地描述了她的新房子。
Describe Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
describe
verb
快速理解
What does "Describe" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Describe"?
「describe」意指用言語或文字來表達某人、某物或某事的特徵、外觀或過程。
- 1
描述外觀或特徵
EN: to say or write what someone or something is like
翻譯: 用言語或文字說明某人或某物的樣子或特質。
- 2
敘述事件或過程
EN: to give an account of an event or process
翻譯: 講述或記錄一個事件或過程的發生經過。
- 3
在幾何中描繪圖形
EN: to draw or trace the outline of a shape
翻譯: 在數學或幾何中，畫出或標示出一個圖形的輪廓。
- 4
將…稱為；形容為
EN: to call someone or something by a particular name or quality
翻譯: 用特定的名稱或性質來稱呼或形容某人或某物。
小提醒：注意「describe」後面的介系詞搭配。描述事物用「describe + 受詞」，描述事物給某人聽用「describe something to someone」，將某人形容為…則用「describe someone/something as...」。
發音（How to Pronounce "Describe" in English）
How to pronounce "Describe" in English?"Describe" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Describe" from YouTube Videos
How To Cold Email Investors - Michael Seibel
Y Combinator
“and then the last thing and the most important thing is: you don't- this is a double negative- don't not describe what your company does.”
(1 out of 55)
Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Describe"?How does "Describe" change by context?
2. to give an account of an event or experience
敘述、講述（事件或經歷）
He described how the accident happened.
他敘述了事故是如何發生的。
The book describes her journey across Asia.
這本書講述了她穿越亞洲的旅程。
3. to draw or trace the outline of a shape
畫出…的輪廓；描繪（形狀）
The child used a stick to describe a circle in the sand.
那個孩子用一根棍子在沙地上畫出一個圓圈。
The satellite's orbit describes an ellipse around the Earth.
這顆衛星的軌道繞地球畫出一個橢圓形。
4. to be something that is difficult to explain or define
難以形容；是…的體現
Her beauty is beyond words to describe.
她的美難以用言語形容。
The chaos after the storm is best described as apocalyptic.
暴風雨後的混亂，最貼切的形容就是如同世界末日。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Describe"?How to make natural sentences with "Describe"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| describe + noun/pronoun | 描述（某人或某物） | Can you describe the suspect? (你能描述一下嫌疑犯嗎？) |
| describe + noun/pronoun + as + noun/adjective | 將…描述為… | He described the experience as terrifying. (他將那次經歷描述為非常恐怖。) |
| describe + wh-clause (what, how, etc.) | 描述（某事的情況） | The witness described what happened next. (目擊者描述了接下來發生的事。) |
| describe + noun/pronoun + to + person | 向（某人）描述… | She described the process to me in detail. (她向我詳細描述了這個過程。) |
| be + described + as + noun/adjective | 被描述為… | The new policy has been described as revolutionary. (這項新政策被描述為革命性的。) |
用法說明
How is "Describe" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Describe"?
describe doing vs describe to do
- describe doing 用於描述一個正在進行或習慣性的動作、狀態或過程。
- describe to do 則較為少見，通常出現在「describe + 受詞 + to + 動詞」的結構中，表示「向某人描述以達成某目的」。
- 在「describe + how/what/where...」等名詞子句前，直接接子句，不加
to。 - 最常見且無爭議的用法是 describe + 名詞/受詞 或 describe + 名詞子句。 EN: The witness described seeing a tall figure near the gate. 翻譯: 目擊者描述說在閘門附近看到一個高大的身影。
EN:She described the scene to help us visualize it.
翻譯:她描述了那個場景，以幫助我們想像。
總結建議
建議優先使用「describe + 名詞/受詞」或「describe + 名詞子句」的結構，若需描述一個動作過程，可使用「describe doing」。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Describe" and similar words?How to choose "Describe" vs alternatives?
describe vs explain
「describe」著重於客觀描述外觀、特徵或過程；「explain」則強調說明原因、理由或背後的原理。
describe vs depict
「describe」通常指用語言文字進行描述；「depict」則更常用於視覺藝術（如繪畫、電影）中的描繪或刻畫。
describe vs portray
「describe」是較為通用、中性的描述；「portray」則常帶有詮釋、表現特定形象或本質的意涵，尤其在藝術或媒體中。
口語用法
How is "Describe" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Describe"?
引述
在口語中，常用來引述或轉述他人的話語或想法，結構較為鬆散。 EN: So I was trying to describe to him what happened, and he just wasn't getting it. 翻譯: 所以我當時試著跟他描述發生了什麼事，但他就是聽不懂。
EN:She described the movie as "mind-blowing," but I thought it was just okay.
翻譯:她把那部電影描述為「震撼人心」，但我覺得普普通通。
語氣強調
常與副詞連用，強調描述的過程、方式或困難度，使敘述更生動。 EN: Can you just describe, like, exactly what you saw? Every little detail. 翻譯: 你能不能就描述一下，嗯，你到底看到了什麼？每一個小細節。
EN:It's really hard to describe the feeling—it was a mix of joy and relief.
翻譯:那種感覺真的很難描述——那是喜悅和解脫交織在一起。
停頓填充
在組織思緒或尋找合適詞彙時，用作對話中的填充語，常伴隨停頓詞（如 "um", "you know"）。 EN: The place was... how do I describe it?... chaotic but beautiful. 翻譯: 那個地方是……我該怎麼描述呢？……混亂但很美。
EN:He has a personality that's, you know, hard to describe. Very unique.
翻譯:他的個性嘛，你知道的，很難描述。非常獨特。
正式寫作注意：在學術或正式報告中，應避免使用口語中的填充停頓（如 "like", "you know"）及過於鬆散的句子結構。建議使用更精確的動詞（如 "depict", "portray", "characterize"）或更嚴謹的句式來替代口語化的 describe。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Describe"?What fixed phrases with "Describe" should I remember?
describe as
describe [sb/sth] as [adj/noun phrase]
將…描述為…
describe in detail
describe [sth] in detail
詳細描述
describe accurately
describe [sth] accurately
準確描述
describe vividly
describe [sth] vividly
生動地描述
describe the scene
describe the scene
描述現場/場景
describe briefly
describe [sth] briefly
簡要描述
hard to describe
hard/difficult to describe
難以形容
describe the process
describe the process (of)
描述過程
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Describe"?Which "Describe" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×He described about the accident.
✓He described the accident.
動詞 "describe" 是及物動詞，後面直接接受詞，不需要介系詞 "about"。
×She described me the situation.
✓She described the situation to me.
動詞 "describe" 的句型是 "describe something to someone"，而不是 "describe someone something"。
×The book describes about ancient history.
✓The book describes ancient history.
與錯誤1類似，"describe" 是及物動詞，直接接名詞受詞，不需 "about"。使用 "about" 是受中文「描述『關於』...」的影響。
×I can't describe how beautiful it was.
✓I can't describe how beautiful it was.
此句文法正確，但學習者常誤解 "describe" 在此的用法。這裡 "describe" 的受詞是後面的名詞子句 "how beautiful it was"，意思是「我無法描述它有多美」，而非「我無法描述它『如何』美麗」。
×He was described as a kind and helpful person.
✓He was described as a kind and helpful person.
此句文法正確，但學習者常混淆 "describe as" 與 "describe to be"。被動語態或補語結構中，正確的搭配是 "be described as + 名詞/形容詞"，而不是 "be described to be"。
×Please describe what happened in the meeting.
✓Please describe what happened in the meeting.
此句文法正確，但學習者可能誤用 "explain" 或 "tell" 來表達「描述事件經過」。"Describe" 強調生動、詳細地描繪細節、外觀、過程，而 "explain" 側重解釋原因或方法，"tell" 側重敘述事件。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Describe"?What are tense/participle forms of "Describe"?
describes(3rd_singular)describing(present_participle)described(past)described(past_participle)