做书面表达时，我们常常会碰到这种情况：一个意思往往因一个单词不会而表达不清；一个好的句子因一个单词想不起来而不能完成。面对这种情况，该如何应对呢？
一、换用笼统词
词大体可分为两类：笼统词和具体词。笼统词的特点在于意义广泛、搭配性强。虽然它们独自不能精确表达一个动作，但在构成词组以后可替代很多具体词。写作中遇到一些具体词写不出来的时候，用笼统词取代，能收到异曲同工之妙。常用的笼统词有 have，take 等。
例：迈克经历了一个极其艰苦的时代。Mike experienced a terrible hard time．写作时，若忘记了 experience 可用笼统词 have 代替，写成 M ike had a terrible hard time．同
样能收到预期效果。
再看几例：Are you married？＝ Do you have a wife ／husband？
Do you understand my meaning？＝Do you take my meaning？
She will subscribe（订阅）to Chi‐ na Today．＝She will take China To‐ day．
二、换用同义词、反义词
遇到未曾学过的词或一时想不起的词时，可采用发散性思维，发挥想象力，尽可能想出与之有关的同义词、反义词，利用语言的内在联系、多层次、多角度地运用语言，使单词受阻现象得以解决。
例：昨晚李雷做了一场恶梦。
Li Lei had a nightmare last night．因 nightmare 使用率不高，不易记住。但其同义词 bad dream 易记。上句可换译为：Li Lei had a bad dream last night．
再如：The food is tasty．＝The food is nice toeat．＝The food is delicious．
We discontinued the work at nine．＝We stopped the work at nine．
This woman is talkative．＝This woman is never quiet．
This car is expensive．＝This car is not cheap．
三、换用迂回表达
当一个词或某些信息表达起来有困难时，要充分利用语言本身词汇丰富、句型多变等特点，进行迂回表达。因为任何一种表达形式，只要能达意便可接受。请仔细观察划线部分词语，看看是如何迂回表达的。
1.我从未见到过这样顽固的人。
I've never seen such a stubborn person．＝I've never seen such a person who never listens to other's advice．
2．如果我们想得到文凭，我们必须首先通过考试。
If we want to obtain a diploma，we must first pass the exams．＝If we want to get a graduation paper，we must first pass the exams．
3．工厂里的烟囱（chimney）拔地而起。
High chimneys have appeared in the factories．＝The factories are full of high chimneys．＝A lot of high chimneys can be seen in the factories．
4．他数学考试取得优异成绩，被大学录取了。
He passed the maths exam ／succeeded in the maths exam and became a college student．
5．中午我们吃了野餐。
At noon we had a picnic．＝At noon we had our lunch in the open air.
