speak up
はっきり話す
解説 Definition
声を大きくしてはっきり話すこと。また、意見を堂々と述べる意味でも使う。
To speak up means to talk more loudly so people can hear you clearly. It can also mean to express your opinion or say something when you have been quiet. It is often used in classrooms, meetings, and group conversations.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
基本は speak「話す」に up「上へ」がつき、声や意見を一段持ち上げる感覚で覚える。小声でぼそぼそ言うのでなく、相手に届くようにはっきり出すイメージ。Could you speak up? は「もう少し大きな声で」の定番。会議や授業では「遠慮せず発言する」にもなる。似た表現の speak out は不正や問題に対して公然と声を上げる場面が多く、speak up のほうが日常的で広く使える。
Think of "up" as bringing your words up and out instead of keeping them inside. "Speak up" often means saying your opinion clearly, especially when staying silent would be easier. It is common in meetings, problems, and unfair situations.
例文
Could you speak up? I can't hear you from the back of the room.
もっと大きな声で話してもらえますか。部屋の後ろからでは聞こえません。
She finally spoke up about the unfair treatment at work.
彼女はついに職場での不当な扱いについてはっきりと意見を述べた。
If you disagree with the decision, you should speak up now.
その決定に反対なら、今はっきり言うべきだ。
speak up の類義語・関連語
speak up の語源・成り立ち Etymology
speak は古英語 specan「話す」、up は古英語 up「上へ」から成る句動詞で、語を“上に持ち上げる”感覚から「もっとはっきり、もっと大きく話す」になりました。speech や spokesman と同根で、声を前に出して届かせる動きがそのまま意味になった表現です。
This phrasal verb is made from speak, from Old English specan, and up, from Old English up. The idea is of lifting your words upward or forward so they can be heard better. From that image, it came to mean speaking more clearly or more loudly. Related English words include speech and spokesman.
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