1
in an undertone
常用于描述小声说话。
She murmured something in an undertone.
她低声咕哝了些什么。
潜在的意思；弦外之音；暗流
undertones — plural of undertone
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
潜在的意思；弦外之音；暗流
An underlying or implied quality, message, or feeling expressed indirectly.
She murmured something in an undertone.
她低声咕哝了些什么。
低音；低声调
An auditory tone of low pitch or volume.
隐含信息；潜在含义；暗流
An implicit message perceived subtly alongside, but not detracting noticeably from, the explicit message conveyed in or by a book, film, speech or similar (contrast with overtone); an undercurrent.
底色；浅色
A pale colour, or one seen underneath another colour.
(身体机能的)低潮状态
A low state of the physical faculties.
Her praise carried a jealous undertone.
她的赞扬带着一丝嫉妒的弦外之音。
The conversation seemed friendly, but I detected an undertone of tension.
那次谈话看似友好，但我察觉到一丝紧张的暗流。
His speech had a hopeful undertone that inspired the audience.
他的演讲带有一种乐观的潜台词，激励了听众。
常用于描述小声说话。
She murmured something in an undertone.
她低声咕哝了些什么。
表示隐含的情感或态度。
His voice carried an undertone of resentment.
他的声音里带着一丝怨恨的意味。
指颜色中隐约可见的底色。
The wall had an undertone of blue.
墙面带有一层蓝色底调。
Not this
He spoke with an undertone.
Use this
He spoke in an undertone.
当表示'低声说话'时，正确的介词是 in，而不是 with。'in an undertone' 是一个固定搭配，表示用低沉的声音说话。
Not this
The painting has a blue overtone.
Use this
The painting has a blue undertone.
表示'底色'或'浅色'时，用 undertone，而不是 overtone。Overtone 通常指'泛音'或'明显的附加意味'，而 undertone 指'淡色'或'隐含的感觉'。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
低声地；小声地
She told me the secret in an undertone.
她低声告诉我这个秘密。
一丝悲伤的意味
There was an undertone of sadness in his voice.
他的声音里带着一丝悲伤的意味。
政治色彩；政治含义
The movie has a political undertone.
这部电影带有政治色彩。
讽刺的弦外之音
Her praise had an ironic undertone.
她的赞扬带有讽刺的弦外之音。
隐隐的焦虑；焦虑的暗流
Underneath his calm exterior, there was an undertone of anxiety.
在他平静的外表下，隐隐藏着一丝焦虑。
暖色调的底色
This lipstick has a warm undertone.
这款口红带有暖色调的底色。
低声地；轻声地
She made a joke in an undertone.
她低声开了个玩笑。
低声地；悄悄地
They discussed the news in undertones.
他们低声议论着这条消息。
一种……的隐含意味；一丝……的意味
There was an undertone of irony in his compliment.
他的恭维中带着一丝讽刺的意味。
Use undertones naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
记住“under”（下面）+“tone”（音调）：低声或藏在话语下的含义，就像水面下的暗流。
语域：neutral 常见场景：quiet conversation、music/acoustics、literary description 在‘低声/低音’这一义项下，语体为中性，既不算正式也不算随意，通常用在描写说话声或声音的场合，如 speak in an undertone（低声说话）。
常用单数形式表示低音或底色，但复数形式也正确。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY, WORDNET.