plain

plain¹
adjective

not decorated or elaborate; simple or ordinary in character
无装饰的，简易的，不复杂的；素净的，清淡的，朴素的，简朴的
good plain food.
美味而清淡的食品。
everyone dined at a plain wooden table.
大家都在一张简易木桌上吃饭。
■without a pattern; in only one colour
平纹的；单色的，素色的
a plain fabric.
平纹织物。
■bearing no indication as to contents or affiliation
空白的
donations can be put in a plain envelope.
可以把捐款放进一个空白信封中。
■(of paper) without lines
（纸）无行线的
■(of a person) having no pretensions; not remarkable or special
（人）朴实的；普通的，平凡的
a plain, honest man with no nonsense about him.
一个朴实诚恳不轻浮的人。
■[attrib.](of a person) without a special title or status
（人）无头衔的，无身份的
for years he was just plain Bill.
多年来，比尔不过是个平头老百姓。
easy to perceive or understand; clear
明显的，明白的；清晰的，清楚的
the advantages were plain to see.
优势显而易见。
it was plain that something was very wrong.
很显然有地方出大错了。
■[attrib.](of written or spoken usage) clearly expressed, without the use of technical or abstruse terms
（书面或口头用法）表达清楚的，清新的；不用技术词汇或深奥词汇的
written in plain English.
用朴实的英语写成。
■not using concealment or deception; frank
无遮拦的，真诚的；直截了当的，坦率的
he recalled her plain speaking.
他回忆起她坦诚的话语。
(of a woman or girl) not beautiful or attractive
（妇女，少女）不漂亮的，不迷人的
the dark-haired, rather plain woman.
长相很一般的黑发女人。
[attrib.]sheer; simple (used for emphasis)
[用于强调]纯粹的；简直的
the main problem is just plain exhaustion.
主要问题就是太疲倦了。
(of a knitting stitch) made by putting the needle through the front of the stitch from left to right
（针法）平针的。比较purl

adverb
(informal)(非正式)

[as submodifier]used for emphasis
[用于强调]
perhaps the youth was just plain stupid.
或许那位青年不过是太笨了而已。
clearly; unequivocally
明白地；不含糊地
I'm finished with you, I'll tell you plain.
我们俩一刀两断了，明白告诉你。

noun

a large area of flat land with few trees
平原

常用词组
as plain as the nose on one's face

(informal)very obvious
(非正式)非常明显，明明白白

plain and simple

(informal)used to emphasize the statement preceding or following
(非正式)[用于强调前面或后面的观点]当然

plain as day

(informal)very clearly
(非正式)非常明显，明明白白

派生
plainness
noun
语源

Middle English: from Old French plain, from Latin planus, from a base meaning 'flat'

plain²
verb

[no obj.](archaic)mourn; lament
(古)哀悼；悲痛
■complain
抱怨
■emit a mournful or plaintive sound
悲叹；哀诉

语源

Middle English: from Old French plaindre, from Latin plangere 'to lament'

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