内容简介
“Discreet” 和 “discrete” 这两个单词虽然具有完全不同的含义，拼法却十分接近，读音更是完全相同。那么我们该如何区分它们呢？在口语交流中，我们可以根据谈话的上下文和场景来辨别对方想要使用哪个单词；而在阅读和书写时，我们则需要注意区分这两个单词的拼写方式，避免在使用中混淆它们。听节目，跟主持人 Georgie 和步理一起学习单词 “discreet” 和 “discrete” 的用法。
文字稿
（关于台词的备注: 请注意这不是广播节目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能没有体现录制、编辑过程中对节目做出的改变。）
Buli
大家好，欢迎收听 BBC 英语教学的 “你问我答” 节目。I'm Buli.
Georgie
And I'm Georgie. We have a question here from one of our listeners.
Question
我总是混淆 “discreet” 和 “discrete” 的意思，能否详细讲解一下？
Georgie
Well, this is a great question because even native speakers get these two words confused sometimes! The words are both adjectives, and even though they sound the same, the words are spelled differently and have different meanings.
Buli
是的。这两个单词不但读音完全相同，而且拼写也非常类似。首先我们来学习以 “eet” 结尾的 “discreet”。这个 “discreet” 既可以作形容词，也可以作副词，意思是 “谨慎的；不引人注意地做某事”。英语中通常用这个词来形容 “不想让别人知道或者引起尴尬时那种小心翼翼的行动方式”。
Georgie
Yes. Discreet with 'eet' at the end can describe the actions of a person when they are doing something subtly or privately. Let's hear some examples.
Examples
She knew I wasn't ready to tell everyone about my new job yet, so she waited until we were alone to ask me about it. She was very discreet.
（她知道我没准备好告诉大家我的新工作，所以她一直等到我们单独在一起的时候才问我有关新工作的事。她非常谨慎。）
I was grateful when my boss was discreet about my mistake and didn't mention it to the team.
（我非常感谢我的老板，她对我犯的错缄口不言，没有告诉整个团队。）
Buli
在我们刚刚听到的例句中，“discreet” 都被用来形容一个人。我们也可以用这个词来形容一个动作，比如，“a discreet exit（悄悄地离开）”。来听两个例句。
Examples
The couple made a discreet exit from the party. They said goodbye to one or two people, but otherwise they left without anyone noticing.
（这对夫妇悄悄地离开了聚会。他们只对一两个人道了别，但除此之外没有让其他任何人发觉。）
I gave Jim a discreet nod to let him know it was his turn to walk on stage for his speech.
（我悄悄地向吉姆点了点头，好让他知道轮到他上台演讲了。）
Georgie
Lastly, you can also describe objects as discreet, and it means they are subtle and do not grab attention. Let's hear some examples.
Examples
I prefer wearing discreet jewellery – nothing too colourful or bold.
（我喜欢戴不张扬的首饰，颜色不要太鲜艳或过于醒目。）
The restaurant lighting was very discreet – it made me feel very relaxed.
（这个餐厅的灯光非常私密，让我感到放松。）
Buli
接下来我们再来学习一下以 “ete” 结尾的单词 “discrete”。这是一个形容词，意思是 “分开的，彼此不同的”。除此之外，它还可以在数学等科学领域表示 “离散的，不连续的”。
Georgie
Yes. It's most used in the context of maths and science, when talking about discrete categories, rather than a continuous range. Let's hear some examples.
Examples
The scientists separated the data into six discrete categories.
（科学家们把数据分为了六个不同的种类。）
Their project was divided into three discrete stages: planning, development and testing.
（他们的项目被划分为了三个彼此独立的阶段：规划、研发和测试阶段。）
Georgie
OK Buli. I think it's time to recap.
Buli
Right. 以 “eet” 结尾的 “d-i-s-c-r-e-e-t, discreet” 的意思是 “谨慎的，不引人注意的”。我们既可以用这个单词形容 “一个人做事小心谨慎”，也可以用它来形容 “一个谨慎的、不引人注意的动作”。而以 “ete” 结尾的 “d-i-s-c-r-e-t-e, discrete” 的意思则是 “彼此分开的，彼此不同的”，更常用在与技术或科学相关的语境中。
在日常交流中，我们可以这样区分这两个单词：如果你们谈论的是一个人或者一个动作，那么通常对方使用的是以 “eet” 结尾的 “discreet”；如果你们正在谈论的是事物的不同类别和阶段等等，或者和科学相关的概念，那么很可能对方使用的是以 “ete” 结尾的 “discrete”。
Georgie
On the other hand, if you want to use these words yourself when speaking or writing, keep in mind that they may sound exactly the same, but have discrete meanings and spellings.
Remember, if you have a question that you'd like us to answer, you can email us too at questions.chinaelt@bbc.co.uk
Buli
你也可以通过微博向我们提问。我们的微博账号是 “BBC英语教学”。Bye!
Georgie
Good-bye!