1、accept 相当于汉语的“收到并接受”，即既有动作上的收到，又有心理上的愿意接受；指主观上接受或同意建议、邀请等；也指认为某人或某物足够好而接受。

2、receive相当于汉语的“接收”，即仅仅表示接到或收到的动作，并无强调心理上的接受与否的含义。指收到信件、消息、礼物等，表示客观上接收这一行为，不涉及接收者的主观意愿；也指接受医院的治疗。

从下面的例句中可以看出二者的区别：

He received a watch of a famous brand from his friend and accepted it.

昨天他收到朋友寄来的一只名表并收下了它。

Eventually Sam persuaded her to accept an offer of marriage

最终萨姆说服她接受了求婚。

Did you receive my card?

你收到我的贺卡了吗？

The Council will meet to decide if it should accept his resignation.

委员会将召开会议决定是否接受他的辞呈。

She was quite satisfied with the boy so she readily accepted the small gift. 她对那个男孩挺满意的，所以欣然接受了他的小礼物。

The security guard patiently explained to him that he could not bring electronics into the room. He finally accepted. 保安耐心地跟他解释说不能带电子产品进入房间，他最终接受了。

He received an invitation to dinner, but he didn’t intend to go. 他收到了宴会邀请，但是不打算去。

John accepted the invitation to the party.

约翰接受了参加晚会的邀请。

He was sent to hospital and would receive professional treatment immediately. 他被送去了医院，将马上接受专业的治疗。

Please accept our sincere apologies.

请接受我们真诚的道歉。

另外，take使用最广泛，泛指接受、接收的动作或行为，如接收信息、接受工作、接受意见等等，例如：

Well, you are right. I will take your advice. 好吧，你是对的，我会接受你的建议的。

She had a hard time getting into the final interview, but she didn’t take the opportunity in the end. 她好不容易才进入最终面试，但是她却没有接受这个机会。

Why don’t you take that job?

你为什么不接受那份工作？

Please take my advice and give him another chance.

请接受我的建议，再给他一次机会。

In his opinion, it is not impossible for the staff to agree to take a 1% pay cut.

在他看来，让员工同意接受1%的降薪并非是不可能的。