lie
含义: To say something untrue; to be in a horizontal position
Lie has two distinct meanings: to tell an untruth (past: lied), or to be in a flat position (past: lay, past participle: lain). 'White lie' is a harmless untruth. 'Lie down' means to rest horizontally. Be careful not to confuse 'lie' (to recline) with 'lay' (to put something down).
例句
- Don't lie to me – I know the truth. 不要对我撒谎——我知道真相。No me mientas – sé la verdad.嘘をつかないで——真実を知っているの。거짓말하지 마세요——저는 진실을 알고 있어요.
- I need to lie down for a bit. 我需要躺一会儿。Necesito acostarme un rato.少し横になる必要があります。잠깐 누워야 합니다.
- The town lies on the coast. 这个小镇位于海岸边。El pueblo está situado en la costa.その町は海岸沿いにあります。그 마을은 해안에 위치해 있습니다.
发音
用法指南
语境: general
语气: neutral
起源与历史
Two separate Old English words merged: 'lyge' meaning 'falsehood' (from 'lēogan', to tell lies) and 'licgan' meaning 'to recline'. Their identical modern spelling has caused endless grammatical confusion.
文化背景
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
故事与趣闻
The confusion between 'lie' and 'lay' is one of the most common grammar mistakes in English. 'Lie' means to recline (I lie down), while 'lay' means to put something down (I lay the book on the table) - but 'lay' is also the past tense of 'lie'!
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