tell
单词辨析：
最普通用词，指用语言表达思想，侧重于所说的具体内容，通常用作及物动词。
Did you finish what you wanted to say?
你想说的话都说完了吗?
How do you say this in Japanese?
这在日语中怎么说?
She said 'Good Morning' to the teacher.
她向老师说了声“早上好”。
The letter says that he will come next week.
信上说他下周要来。
用作不及物动词时，侧重指说话的动作而非内容，可指长篇演讲或三言两语的交谈，也可指简单的开口说话的能力；用作及物动词时，其宾语常为某种语言。
The child hasn't learnt to speak yet.
那孩子还没有学会说话。
He spoke at the meeting.
他在会议上发言了。
Can you speak Chinese?
你会说汉语吗？
- Who's speaking?
——请问你是谁?
- This is Peter speaking.
——我是彼得。（电话用语）
普通用词，用作不及物动词时，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，强调说话的动作而非内容；用作及物动词时，宾语多为 sense，nonsense，business，rubbish 等。
Human beings can talk while animals can't.
人能讲话，而动物不能。
He could have come to the office if he wanted to talk.
他若想商谈什么事情，本可以到办公室来。
I don't understand what you're talking about.
我不懂你在说什么。
He's talking nonsense.
他在胡说八道。
普通用词，指直接给某人讲述或以间接的方式转述某事，有时含嘱托、命令之意，常后接双宾语或复合宾语。
Tell me your address and telephone number, please.
请告诉我你的住址和电话号码。
You can tell them that I hope to be back by tomorrow night.
你可以告诉他们，我希望明晚回来。
The light tells you if the machine is on.
指示灯告诉你机器是否在工作。
Her mother told her not to talk to any strangers.
母亲叫她别跟陌生人说话。
相关例句：
The facts tell us that this is not true
事实告诉我们，这不是真的。
A passer-by told the driver to move his car so that it was not causing an obstruction
一个过路人叫那个司机把他的车挪一挪，免得挡道。
I tell you what, I'll bring the water in a separate glass.
要不这样吧，我用另一个玻璃杯把水端过来。
I told myself I would be satisfied with whatever I could get.
我告诉自己，不管得到什么我都会心满意足的。
Claire had made me promise to tell her the truth
克莱尔要我保证把真相告诉她。
The evidence of our eyes tells us a different story
我们亲眼所见的可不是那么一回事。