Word · CEFR C1 · Frequency #7017
portray
描绘；描画
To show or represent someone or something in a painting, drawing, or other image.
指以图像形式表现，如绘画、摄影等
- 1.
To paint or draw the likeness of.
画出...的肖像或画像
- 2.
To represent by an image or look.
以形象或外观表现
- 3.
To describe in words; to convey.
用言语描述；传达
- 4.
To play a role; to depict a character, person, situation, or event.
扮演角色；刻画人物、场景或事件
描述；描写；扮演；饰演；画出...的肖像或画像；以形象或外观表现；用言语描述；传达
In use
The artist portrays the queen with a gentle smile in the portrait.
The documentary portrayed the scientist as a dedicated researcher.
She is portraying a brave firefighter in the school play.
portray sb/sth
直接宾语表示被描绘的对象，不强调描绘的角度或媒介。
The artist portrayed the queen in a majestic pose.
这位艺术家以庄严的姿态描绘了女王。
portray sb/sth as sth
as后接名词或形容词，表示描绘的特定形象或特征。
The media portrayed the politician as a hero.
媒体把这位政治家描绘成英雄。
portray sb/sth in sth
in后常接表示媒介或背景的名词，如film, novel, book等。
Connections
Collocations
- portray sb as sth
- 把某人描绘成某物
- The media portrayed him as a hero.媒体把他描绘成英雄。
- portray in a positive light
- 以正面角度描绘
- The article portrays the company in a positive light.这篇文章从正面角度描绘了该公司。
- portray accurately
- 准确地描绘
- The film portrays the historical events accurately.这部电影准确地描绘了历史事件。
- portray vividly
- 生动地描绘
- The author portrays the scenery vividly.作者生动地描绘了风景。
- portray in words
- 用文字描绘
- He portrayed the scene in words so that we could imagine it.他用文字描绘了那个场景，以便我们能想象出来。
- portray the character
Learner notes
Memory Tip
联想“port”（港口）和“ray”（光线），想象海港的光线描绘出一幅生动的画面。
Context & Register
通常用于文学描写或艺术表现，文体偏正式。常见于作品评论、人物描述等场景。
Pronunciation & Spelling
All listed words rhyme with 'portray' (stressed vowel /eɪ/ and following consonant). No common look-alike words with a different pronunciation were identified.
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 2，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, OCTANOVE, WIKTIONARY, WORDNET.