These words all mean to write or speak about sb/sth, often in order to give an example or prove sth. 以上各词均含写到、说到、谈及或举例说明之义。

• mention to write or speak about sth/sb, especially without giving much information 指提到、写到、说到，尤指未给出详细信息：◆Nobody mentioned anything to me about it. 没人跟我提过这事。
• refer to sb/sth (rather formal) to mention or speak about sb/sth 指提到、谈及、说起：◆I promised not to refer to the matter again. 我答应过再不提这事了。
• speak to mention or describe sb/sth 指提起、讲述：◆Witnesses spoke of a great ball of flame. 目击者都谈到有个大火球。
• cite (formal) to mention sth as a reason or an example, or in order to support what you are saying 指提及（原因）、举出（示例）证明：◆He cited his heavy workload as the reason for his breakdown. 他提到繁重的工作负荷是导致他累垮的原因。
• quote to mention an example of sth to support what you are saying 指举例说明：◆Can you quote me an instance of when this happened? 你能否给我举例说明一下发生这事的情况？

cite or quote? 用 cite 还是 quote？

• You can cite reasons or examples, but you can only quote examples. * cite 可指提及原因或举出示例，但 quote 只用于举例：◆He quoted his heavy workload as the reason for his breakdown. Cite is a more formal word than quote and is often used in more formal situations, for example in descriptions of legal cases. * cite 较 quote 正式，常用于较正式的场合中，如说明法律案件。

Patterns

• to mention/refer to/speak of/cite/quote sb/sth as sb/sth
• to mention/refer to/cite/quote a(n) example/instance/case of sth
• frequently/often mentioned/referred to/spoken of/cited/quoted
• the example mentioned/referred to/cited/quoted above/earlier/previously