1
be + telling
用于形容词，表示‘显露内心活动的、有说明力的’，常见于正式文体。
His silence was telling.
他的沉默很能说明问题。
讲述；叙述
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
讲述；叙述
the act of telling or narrating a story, event, etc.
His silence was telling.
他的沉默很能说明问题。
叙述的行为。
The act of narration.
叙述的行为
an act of narration
信息的披露
The disclosure of information.
用语言告知
informing by words
Her telling of the old legend made the children sit in silence.
她对那个古老传说的讲述让孩子们安静地坐着。
The book's telling of historical events is simple enough for young readers.
这本书对历史事件的叙述十分简单，年轻读者也能看懂。
I enjoyed his telling of the joke more than the joke itself.
比起笑话本身，我更欣赏他讲笑话的方式。
用于形容词，表示‘显露内心活动的、有说明力的’，常见于正式文体。
His silence was telling.
他的沉默很能说明问题。
形容词修饰名词，表示‘有效的、显著的’。
The painting contains a telling detail about the artist's life.
这幅画包含一个关于艺术家生活的显著细节。
名词用法，表示‘叙述、讲述’，通常与 of 连用。
The telling of the legend has been passed down through generations.
这个传说的讲述已经代代相传。
Not this
She gave a speech telling.
Use this
She gave a telling speech.
形容词'telling'应置于名词前，如'telling speech'。汉语中形容词常后置，但英语中多数形容词前置。
Not this
His expression was telling his feelings.
Use this
His expression was telling of his feelings.
形容词'telling'表示'显露'时，常与介词of连用，后面接所显露的内容。不能直接跟名词作宾语。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
叙述故事的过程
The telling of a story can change how we understand it.
叙述故事的方式会影响我们对它的理解。
实话实说
Truth telling is essential for rebuilding trust.
实话实说对于重建信任至关重要。
读钟表时间
Telling time requires knowing how to read a clock.
看时间需要知道如何读钟表。
难以预料；无从知晓
There's no telling how the market will react.
谁也无法预料市场会如何反应。
难以预料；谁也不知道
There's no telling what he'll do next.
谁也不知道他下一步会做什么。
无可奉告；这可是秘密
What did she say about me? That would be telling!
她是怎么说我的？这可是秘密！
可不是嘛；我完全同意
A: This project is so stressful. B: You're telling me!
A：这个项目压力太大了。B：可不是嘛！
Use telling naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
记忆联想：telling = tell + ing，想象你正在 tell 朋友一件事，这个“讲述”的动作就是 telling。
语域：mixed 常见场景：literary narration、formal disclosure、colloquial fixed phrase 'no telling' 作为名词，telling 多用于书面或正式表达，如 the telling of a story；口语中比较常见于 there’s no telling 这类固定搭配。整体语气偏中性至正式，具体需看搭配。
常与介词 of 连用
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.