These words all describe statements, often about sth unpleasant, that are very clear, not trying to hide anything, and not using more words than necessary. 以上各词常形容令人不快的陈述清楚明白、直截了当、简单明了。

• plain used for talking about a fact that other people may not like to hear; honest and direct in way that other people may not like 用于他人可能不乐意听的事实，或指直率、直接得让人不喜欢：◆The plain fact is that nobody really knows. 事实很明显，没有人真正了解。
• simple [only before noun] used for talking about a fact that other people may not like to hear; very obvious and not complicated by anything else 用于他人可能不乐意听的事实，或指事物简单明了：◆The simple truth is that we just can't afford it. 事实很简单，我们就是付不起。

plain or simple? 用 plain 还是 simple？

When it is being used to emphasize facts that other people may not like to hear, plain is usually used in the expression the plain fact/truth is that… . Simple can be used in this way too, but it can also be used in a wider variety of structures and collocations (such as reason and matter). 用以强调他人可能不乐意听的事实时，plain 通常用于 the plain fact/truth is that... 短语中。simple 也可用这种表达方式，但是还可用于更多种类的句型结构，与更多的词语（如 reason 和 matter）搭配：◆The problem was due to the simple fact that… 问题源于这一简单的事实…◆The problem was due to the plain fact that…◆for the plain reason that…◆It's a plain matter of… Expressions with simple often suggest impatience with other people's behaviour. 与 simple 构成的表达法通常暗指对别人的行为不耐烦。

• stark (rather formal) used for describing an unpleasant fact or difference that is very obvious 用于描述令人不快的事实或区别十分明显、鲜明：◆The stark truth is that there is not enough money left. 明摆着的事实是剩下的钱已经不够了。 NOTE The simple/plain truth may be sth that some people do not want to hear, but it may be good for them to hear it anyway. The stark truth is sth particularly unpleasant and has no good side to it at all. * simple/plain truth 指所谈的事尽管不中听，但听了可能会有好处。stark truth 指所谈之事特别令人不快，而且没有任何好处。
• bare [only before noun] the most basic or simple, with nothing extra 指最基本的、最简单的：◆She gave me only the bare facts of the case. 她只给我介绍了这个案件的一些基本情况。
• unequivocal (formal) expressing your opinion or intention very clearly and firmly 指表达明确的、毫不含糊的、斩钉截铁的：◆The reply was an unequivocal 'no'. 回答是个干脆利落的 “不” 字。

Patterns

• the plain/simple/stark/bare/unequivocal truth
• a(n) plain/simple/stark/bare/unequivocal fact/statement
• a(n) plain/simple/unequivocal answer