To intone is to say words slowly and clearly, without much rise and fall in the voice — as if you were reading a chant, a prayer, or a list of rules, not chatting. The voice stays on one level, or moves in a small, even pattern.

To intone is intone指的是 to say words slowly and clearly慢慢、清楚地說話， without much rise and fall in the voice聲音沒什麼起伏 — as if you were reading a chant就好像在唸誦文、 a prayer禱詞、 or a list of rules或一份規則清單， not chatting而不是在聊天。 The voice stays on one level聲音停留在同一個音高， or moves in a small, even pattern或以小而平均的方式起伏。

Teachers, priests, and officials sometimes intone; so do people who are bored, or who want to sound serious. Though actually, in ordinary talk it can sound cold or mechanical, as if the speaker has taken the music out of speech.

Teachers教師、 priests神職人員、 and officials sometimes intone以及官員有時會用這種語調說話； so do people who are bored無聊的人也會這樣， or who want to sound serious想聽起來很嚴肅的人也會這樣。 Though actually不過其實， in ordinary talk在一般對話裡 it can sound cold or mechanical這樣講話會顯得冷淡或機械化， as if the speaker has taken the music out of speech就好像說話者把話語裡的音樂拿掉了。

It is still speaking, not singing, and it is not the same as being “in tune.” The related word intonation is the rise and fall itself; this verb is often the choice to do without much of that.

It is still speaking它仍然是在說話， not singing不是唱歌， and it is not the same as being "in tune."也跟「音準對」不是同一回事。 The related word intonation相關的字intonation指的是 is the rise and fall itself那個起伏本身； this verb is often the choice而這個動詞常常是選擇 to do without much of that不要那麼多起伏的說法。