这些形容词均有“简短的、简洁的”之意。
brief : 指语言文学简明扼要，短小精悍，也用于指时间意义很强的短暂的过程。
- His acceptance speech was mercifully brief.
幸而他的获奖感言很简短。 - I had a brief look at her report before the meeting.
会前我浏览了一下她的报告。 - It'll only be a brief visit because we really don't have much time.
我们的时间真的不多，所以只能作短暂的参观游览。 - After a brief spell/stint in the army, he started working as a teacher.
在部队呆了短暂的一段时间以后，他当起了教师。 - The company issued a brief statement about yesterday's accident.
那家公司就昨天的事故发表了简短的声明。
concise : 书面用词，可与brief换用，指语言文学言简意赅，无多余的话。
- Make your answers clear and concise.
回答要言简意赅。
compact : 指为了方便把某物压缩到最小程度，也指紧凑、简洁的文体。
- compact soil/sand
密实的土壤／沙子 - a compact camera/bag
小巧的相机／提包 - What a compact office! How did you fit so much into so little space?
多么小的办公室！你们是如何把这么多东西塞进这么小的空间的？ - He had a compact and muscular body.
他个子矮小健壮。
