explicit、definite、specific与express这些形容词均含“明确的”之意。
explicit : 指清楚明白，毫不含糊其辞，因而无任何理解困难。
- I gave her very explicit directions how to get here.
我明确地告诉她来这儿怎么走。 - She was very explicit about (= said very clearly and exactly) what she thought was wrong with the plans.
她明确地指出了计划中她认为有误的地方。 - I wasn't aware that I would be paying - you certainly didn't make it explicit (= state it clearly).
我不知道我得付款——毫无疑问是你没说清楚。
definite : 指对所提到的事的范围及其细节毫无疑问，含有明确和确定界限的意味。
- The date for the meeting is now definite: 5 March .
开会的日期现在已经确定了：3月5日。 - She has very definite opinions.
她的意见非常明确。 - We need a definite answer by tomorrow.
我们需要在明天之前得到明确的答复。 - "Are you sure I'm invited too?" "Yes, Dan was very definite about it on the phone."
“你能肯定我也受到了邀请吗？”“当然，这一点丹在电话中说得很明确。” - There's been a definite improvement in your English since you came here.
从你到这儿以后你的英语确实有了进步。
specific : 强调内容明确，毫不抽象、笼统。
- No specific allegations have yet been made about the prison officers' behaviour.
对于典狱官的行为，尚未作出明确的指控。 - Can you be more specific about where your back hurts?
你能不能更具体一点说你的背哪里疼？
express : 语气较强，较正式，指不但清楚明确，而且含有直截了当和有力等的意思。
- It is my express wish that after my death, my books be given to my old college library.
我明确表示，死后要把我的藏书捐给母校的图书馆。 - The lawyer argued that the accused had gone to the victim's house with the express purpose of killing her.
律师辩道，被告到被害人家中去时，怀有很明确的杀人动机。
