英语短语 "that is to say" 的核心含义是 "也就是说" "换句话说""即",用于重述、解释或澄清前面的内容,将抽象/复杂的信息转化为更易懂的表达,确保前后信息等价(即后面的内容是前面的"另一种说法")。
连接等价信息,强调"前面的内容可以换种方式表达",帮助读者/听众理解抽象概念、补充细节或消除歧义。
"that is to say"的用法灵活,可放在句首、句中或句末(但句末较少见,通常需接解释内容),核心是用更简单的语言重述前面的信息。以下是常见场景及例子:
当提到专业术语、生僻词或抽象概念时,用"that is to say"转化为日常表达:
The book focuses on epistemology — that is to say, the study of how we gain knowledge.(这本书讲的是"认识论"——即研究我们如何获取知识的学科。)
She's a pediatrician, that is to say, a doctor who treats children.(她是儿科医生,也就是说,专门治疗儿童的医生。)
用于细化时间、地点、要求等具体内容,避免误解:
The deadline is Friday — that is to say, you must submit the report by 5 PM on October 13th.(截止日期是周五——即你必须在10月13日下午5点前提交报告。)
The party is at my place, that is to say, the apartment on 5th Street with the blue door.(派对在我家——也就是第五大街那间蓝色门的公寓。)
将长句或绕口的内容改写成更直白的说法:
The research found a positive correlation between exercise and mental health — that is to say, people who exercise regularly tend to feel happier.(研究发现运动和心理健康之间存在"正相关"——即经常锻炼的人往往更快乐。)
He's financially independent, that is to say, he doesn't rely on his parents for money.(他经济独立,换句话说,他不依赖父母的钱。)
当上文提出一个观点后,用"that is to say"在句首总结或重申,使逻辑更连贯:
The meeting was postponed. That is to say, it will be held next Monday instead of this Friday.(会议延期了。也就是说,原本周五的会议改到下周一。)
I can't attend the concert. That is to say, I already have plans that night.(我不能去听音乐会。也就是说,我那天晚上已经有安排了。)
用逗号或破折号将"that is to say"插入句中,解释中间的某个成分:
The new policy — that is to say, the one announced last week — will increase minimum wage.(新政策——即上周宣布的那项——将提高最低工资。)
We need two skills for the job: creativity, that is to say, the ability to think outside the box, and attention to detail.(这份工作需要两项技能:创造力——即跳出固有思维的能力——和注重细节。)
1、 等价性:后面的内容必须与前面完全等价,不能是额外信息(额外信息用"for example"/"besides"等)。
错误:She's a doctor, that is to say, she works in a hospital.(医生不一定都在医院工作,不等价)
正确:She's a surgeon, that is to say, a doctor who performs operations.(外科医生=做手术的医生,等价)
2、 标点配合:
前面常用逗号或破折号,分隔需要解释的内容;
后面直接接解释性短语/句子(无需额外标点,除非是从句)。
3、 同义词替换:
可与 "in other words"(换句话说)互换(口语/书面均适用);
更正式的书面语中,可用 "i.e."(拉丁语id est,意为"即"),但"that is to say"更口语化。
"that is to say"是解释说明的"桥梁短语",核心功能是将复杂/抽象的信息"翻译"成更易懂的表达,让逻辑更清晰。无论是口语对话还是书面写作,只要需要"换种方式说清楚",都可以用它!