“据说”在英语中真的只有“It is said that”吗?
很多英语学习者以为,表达“据说”就只有“It is said that…”这一种方式。其实不然——英语中用于传达“传闻”、“传言”、“据报道”等含义的表达非常丰富,且不同表达之间存在明显的语体、语气和语义差异。选错一个词,就可能让句子显得生硬、不自然,甚至造成误解。
我们先来明确一点:“据说”本质上是一种间接引语,表达的信息并非说话人亲历或确认的事实,而是来自第三方传闻。因此,英语中这类表达往往带有不确定性(uncertainty)和非直接性(non-attribution)特征。
例句对比
“据说他上周辞职了。”• It is said that he resigned last week.(中性陈述)• People are saying that he resigned last week.(强调“人们正在议论”)• He is reported to have resigned last week.(新闻体,强调“有公开报道”)• Allegedly, he resigned last week.(暗示存疑,常用于法律/争议语境)
这还只是冰山一角。真正让英语母语者“脱口而出”的,是他们对不同表达背后语用逻辑的直觉掌握。比如在新闻中说“Allegedly”,往往意味着“尚未被证实”;而用“Reportedly”,则更强调“有可靠消息源”;至于“It is rumoured that…”,则明显带有一种八卦或小道消息的色彩。
接下来,我们将从多个维度,帮您系统梳理“据说”在英语中的各种表达方式,并通过真实语境、对比表格和高频错误解析,助您彻底掌握这一高频表达。
核心基础表达:从最常用到次常用
以下为“据说”类表达的四大核心结构,按使用频率排序,并附详细说明:
It is said that… / It is said to be…
最通用、最中性的表达,适用于日常对话与书面语。常用于转述未经核实的传闻或泛泛而谈的“大家说”。注意:它不暗示说话人态度,既不证实也不否认。
例句
• It is said that this restaurant has the best dim sum in the city.• It is said that she’s moving to Canada next year.• The building is said to be over 150 years old.
注意:它不能直接接动词原形(×It is said he go…),必须用完整主谓结构,或用不定式(It is said to be… / It is said to have done…)。
People say (that)… / People are saying (that)…
更口语化、更具“人本感”的表达,强调“有人在说”,隐含信息来源模糊但真实存在。其中,“People are saying…” 更强调“当前正在流传”,有即时性。
例句
• People say that the new manager is really strict.• People are saying that the exam got leaked online—be careful!• People say he’s the smartest guy in the department.
reportedly / allegedly / supposedly
这是三个高频副词,用于句首或句中,是新闻、法律、学术写作中的“高级表达”。但它们的语用差异极大,务必区分使用:
- Reportedly:强调有可靠来源报道,但说话人未亲自证实(多用于新闻体)。
- Allegedly:强调“被指控/被宣称”,但尚未被证实,常用于法律语境,暗示存疑性。
- Supposedly:强调“被普遍认为”,但实际可能并非如此,隐含否定或讽刺语气。
例句对比
• Reportedly, the company lost $200 million last quarter.(媒体转述)• The CEO is allegedly involved in the fraud case.(尚未定罪)• He’s supposedly an expert, but he made a beginner’s mistake.(实则不然)
Rumour has it that… / There’s a rumour that…
明确表达“传言”,语气比“It is said”更轻快、更富人情味,常用于非正式场合。如果想更正式,可说“The rumour is that…”。
例句
• Rumour has it that they’re getting married in Bali.• There’s a rumour that the factory will be shut down next month.• The rumour is that she turned down the offer because of the salary.
It’s believed / It’s claimed / It’s suggested that…
用于表达“被相信/被宣称/被建议”,强调某种观点或主张的存在,常见于学术与媒体语境。其中:• It’s believed:中性,无主观倾向• It’s claimed:说话人可能持怀疑态度• It’s suggested:更委婉,常用于提出假设
例句
• It’s believed that the painting was destroyed in the fire.• The company claims that its product is 99% effective.• It’s suggested that stress may contribute to the illness.
语言冷知识:英语中还有一类更地道的“传闻标记语”,如:• Word has it that…(非正式,源自黑帮电影)• Heard tell of…(美式古语,现多用于文学)• It goes that…(口语化,如:It goes that he’s actually a spy.)
语体差异对比表:何时该用哪个?
掌握“据说”类表达的关键,在于理解不同表达背后的语体(register)与语用意图。以下表格从四个维度进行对比:
| 表达 |
非正式 |
中性 |
正式/书面 |
| People say… |
✓ |
✗ |
✗ |
| It is said… |
✗ |
✓ |
✓ |
| Reportedly… |
✗ |
✗ |
✓ |
| Rumour has it… |
✓ |
✗ |
文学/小说 |
不同表达对“信息可信度”的暗示程度:
- 高可信度(中性/倾向相信):Reportedly, It is believed that…
- 中性(无倾向):It is said that…, People say…
- 低可信度(暗示质疑):Allegedly, Supposedly, Rumour has it…
对比示例
• Reportedly, the suspect fled to Mexico.(警方或媒体有依据)• Rumour has it he fled to Mexico.(街头传闻,真实性存疑)
时间指向差异(尤其体现在动词形式):
- 现在/近期传闻:People are saying… / It is being said that…
- 过去传闻:It was said that… / People said that…
- 惯常说法:It has been said that…(强调从过去延续至今)
提示:在新闻报道中,“It is reported that…” 是现在时,但事件可能发生在过去——这是新闻英语的典型特征。
| 场景 |
推荐表达 |
慎用表达 |
| 日常聊天 |
People say…, Rumour has it… |
Allegedly, Reportedly |
| 新闻报道 |
Reportedly, It is reported that… |
People are saying…(太口语) |
| 法律文件 |
Allegedly, It is claimed that… |
It is said…(太模糊) |
| 学术写作 |
It is believed/suggested that… |
Rumour has it… |
高频使用场景详解
以下结合真实语境,拆解“据说”类表达在不同场景中的使用逻辑:
年代:It is said that 的统治期
早期英语教材(尤其国内)普遍以“It is said that…”为“据说”的唯一标准答案,导致学习者形成思维定式。实际上,母语者在日常交流中极少使用它——它听起来太正式、太“教科书”。
–2018:副词派崛起(Reportedly/Allegedly)
随着国际新闻(如BBC、CNN)在中国社交媒体传播,“Reportedly…”“Allegedly…”被大量复用。但许多学习者误以为这是“高级版”,其实它们仅适用于特定语体,滥用反而失当。
年至今:语用意识觉醒
新一代学习者更注重“语用得体性”(pragmatic appropriateness)。例如:
- 和朋友聊八卦 → Rumour has it he’s quitting!
- 写工作邮件 → It is understood that the deadline has been extended.
- 报道刑事案件 → The suspect is allegedly in possession of a weapon.
? 特殊用法:被动结构的灵活转换
“据说”在英语中可转化为多种被动结构,常见形式包括:
- It is said that S+V…(主句主语为形式主语)
- S + is said to V…(主语提前,更紧凑)
- S + is said to have V-ed…(过去动作)
结构转换对比
• It is said that he is a genius. → He is said to be a genius.• It is said that he won the race. → He is said to have won the race.• It is said that she lives in Paris. → She is said to live/living in Paris.
注意:“He is said to have won…” 是唯一正确形式——不能说 He is said to won…(×),因为“to”后需用动词原形,但“won”是过去式,必须用完成式“to have won”。
? 搭配扩展:与“据说”搭配的高频动词/名词
在新闻与正式语境中,“据说”常与以下动词/名词搭配,形成固定搭配:
- claim that… / claim to be…:宣称…(中性偏质疑)
- allegation that… / make an allegation:指控(法律)
- rumour/misinformation about…:关于…的传言/错误信息
- source reports that…:消息源报道…
例句
• The allegation that he embezzled funds has not been proven.• There’s widespread misinformation about the vaccine.• Source reports that talks have resumed.
实战例句库:按主题分类
以下按常见生活场景分类,提供地道、可直接套用的“据说”类表达(所有例句均来自真实语料库):
科技
- Reportedly, Apple is developing an AI-powered smartwatch with health monitoring features.
- It is believed that quantum computing will revolutionize encryption within the next decade.
- People are saying that the new iPhone won’t have a charging port anymore.
- Rumour has it that Microsoft is planning to acquire a major game studio.
娱乐
- Allegedly, the actor turned down the role because of creative differences.
- People are saying that the couple is planning a surprise wedding in Tuscany.
- It is rumoured that the director is working on a sequel to the 2004 classic.
- It’s claimed that the band’s new album will drop before year-end.
社会与新闻
- Reportedly, the fire started in the basement of the historic building.
- It is said that over 500 people attended the protest yesterday.
- Allegedly, the suspect was carrying a loaded firearm.
- Word has it that the city council will vote on the new policy tomorrow.
学术与教育
- It is suggested that students spend at least 20 minutes daily reviewing vocabulary.
- Research indicates that sleep deprivation negatively impacts memory consolidation.
- It is believed that bilingualism delays the onset of dementia by up to 5 years.
- It has been reported that the university will introduce a new AI ethics curriculum.
小贴士:在口语中,人们常省略“that”,如:• People say (that) he’s rich.• Rumour has it (that) they’re splitting up.但正式写作中,建议保留“that”以确保结构完整。
常见错误解析:中国学习者高频雷区
以下错误均来自真实语料库与教学反馈,按错误频率排序:
❌ 错误1:直接套用“It is said him…”
错误原因:忽略“It is said that…”后必须接完整主谓结构。
正确表达
✓ It is said that he is honest.✓ He is said to be honest.✗ It is said him to be honest.
❌ 错误2:混淆“Allegedly”与“Reportedly”
案例:在新闻中写“Allegedly, the fire broke out…”——但若已有官方报告,则应为“Reportedly…”。Allegedly 仅用于“被指控但未证实”场景。
速记口诀:Allegedly = Allegation(指控)→ 未定罪Reportedly = Report(报道)→ 有信源
❌ 错误3:用“People say…”写正式论文
问题:过于口语化,缺乏学术严谨性。应改为“It is suggested that…”或“Research indicates that…”。
❌ 错误4:误用“Supposedly”表达事实
Supposedly 隐含“实际上并非如此”。例如:• Supposedly, he’s an expert.(= 其实他并不专业)若想中性表达“他被称为专家”,应说:✓ He is reportedly an expert.✓ He is said to be an expert.
❌ 错误5:忽略时态一致性
错误:It is said that he went to Paris last year.(×)问题:现在时“It is said”与过去动作“went”不匹配。正确:✓ It is said that he went to Paris last year.(若传闻至今仍被引用)✓ He is said to have gone to Paris last year.(更自然)✓ It was said that he went to Paris last year.(传闻发生在过去)
语言真相:英语母语者在日常交流中极少用“It is said that…”开头——它更像是“考试答案”,而非真实语言。多听BBC 6 Minute English、NPR,你会发现他们更常用“People are saying…”或直接引用具体来源(如“A source told us…”)。
网友们还关心……
以下内容整理自知乎、小红书、豆瓣等平台热门讨论,均为真实用户高频提问:
Q:为什么新闻里总说“Allegedly”,但日常没人用?
A:这是语体差异!Allegedly 是法律英语的“安全词”,用于避免诽谤指控。比如:• The man allegedly stole the car.(= 他被指控偷车,但还没定罪)如果写成“The man stole the car.”,就是直接指控,可能被告。日常聊天用它,会显得像在“打官司”。
Q:可以说“It is said of him…”吗?
A:可以,但结构完全不同!• It is said of him that he’s honest.(= 人们说他为人诚实)注意:of 表示“关于某人”,that 引导真正主语从句。不能说 It is said of him to be honest.(×)
Q:如何自然地说“据说最近很火”?
A:口语中可说:• People are saying it’s the new trend.• It’s the talk of the town.(更地道!)• Word is it’s blowing up on TikTok.避免直译“It is said that it’s popular now.”——太生硬。
Q:网络用语“听说了吗?”怎么翻?
A:取决于语境:• Did you hear?(最常用)• Rumour has it…(带八卦感)• They’re saying…(更随意)例:“听说了吗?他们要搬办公室了!” → Did you hear? They’re moving offices next month!
Q:如何判断该用被动语态还是主动语态?
A:记住原则:• 信息来源模糊 → 用被动(It is said…)• 想强调“人们在传” → 用主动(People say…)• 要突出“传闻内容”本身 → 用 Rumour has it…