1
understate + noun phrase
直接宾语可以是具体的名词或名词短语。
The report understated the risks of the project.
这份报告低估了项目的风险。
轻描淡写；淡化
understating — present participle of understate
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
轻描淡写；淡化
to state something with less completeness or force than is true, minimising or downplaying it.
The report understated the risks of the project.
这份报告低估了项目的风险。
以不够完整的方式陈述；轻描淡写或淡化。
To state (something) with less completeness than needed; to minimise or downplay.
故意不加以强调地陈述,以表达讽刺。
To state (something) with an intentional lack of emphasis, in order to express irony.
将数量报得偏低。
To state a quantity that is too low.
understate
Base
原形
understates
3rd person
第三人称单数
understating
-ing
现在分词
understated
Past
过去式
understated
Past participle
过去分词
He often understates his achievements.
他经常低估自己的成就。
She understated the problem during the meeting.
她在会议中轻描淡写了问题。
They have understated the risks involved.
他们低估了所涉及的风险。
用于描述有意降低重要性。
The report understates the risks of the new policy.
这份报告低估了新政策的风险。
She tends to understate her achievements when talking about her career.
谈到自己的职业时，她总是轻描淡写自己的成就。
The official figures understate the true number of visitors.
官方数据少报了真实的游客人数。
直接宾语可以是具体的名词或名词短语。
The report understated the risks of the project.
这份报告低估了项目的风险。
从句常以how, what, that引导。
She understated how difficult the exam would be.
她轻描淡写了考试会有多难。
常用于抽象名词如importance, extent, significance等。
They understated the severity of the problem.
他们低估了问题的严重性。
Not this
He understated the cost of the project, thinking it would be cheaper.
Use this
He underestimated the cost of the project, thinking it would be cheaper.
中文学习者常混淆“轻描淡写”（understate）和“低估”（underestimate）。此处说他认为会更便宜，表示低估了成本，故应用 underestimate。
Not this
She understated about her achievements.
Use this
She understated her achievements.
Understate 是及物动词，直接接宾语，不需要介词 about。中文“轻描淡写地陈述某事”可能误导学习者添加介词，但英语中应省略。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
低估……的重要性
Never understate the importance of a good education.
绝不要低估良好教育的重要性。
低估……的严重性
The official report understated the severity of the flood.
这份官方报告低估了洪水的严重性。
轻描淡写；把情况说轻
To say the film was disappointing is to understate the case.
说这部电影令人失望，未免太轻描淡写了。
被大大低估
The true cost of the project has been greatly understated.
该项目的真实成本被大大低估了。
对自己的作用轻描淡写
She tends to understate her role in the success of the project.
她往往对自己在项目成功中的作用轻描淡写。
轻描淡写；把情况说得比实际轻微
To say the movie was fun is understating the case.
如果说这部电影有趣，那是轻描淡写。
把事情说得较轻；刻意低调描述
To say they were lucky would be understating things.
如果说他们幸运，那是说得太轻了。
谦称自己的成绩；不张扬自己的成就
She tends to understate her achievements during interviews.
她在面试时往往对自己的成绩轻描淡写。
Use understating naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
under（不足）+ state（陈述）：陈述不足，即轻描淡写、有意低调。
语域：mixed 常见场景：academic writing、news reporting、everyday conversation 该词通常用于书面或较正式的口语中，表示有意轻描淡写、低估或说得比实际程度轻；在日常对话里也可见于如 “that's understating it” 这类说法，整体语气偏中性而略正式。
常作及物动词，后接名词或that从句，表示轻描淡写地说某事。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY, WORDNET.