Famous v. Popular

2022-07-23

00:00 / 00:00
复读宝 RABC v8.0beta 复读机按钮使用说明
播放/暂停
停止
播放时:倒退3秒/复读时:回退AB段
播放时:快进3秒/复读时:前进AB段
拖动:改变速度/点击:恢复正常速度1.0
拖动改变复读暂停时间
点击:复读最近5秒/拖动:改变复读次数
设置A点
设置B点
取消复读并清除AB点
播放一行
停止播放
后退一行
前进一行
复读一行
复读多行
变速复读一行
变速复读多行
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1
  • Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question from Mohammadreza from Iran about the difference between "famous" and "popular."
  • 2
  • Dear VOA teachers,
  • 3
  • Would you please let us know difference between the words "popular" and "famous," and how to use them in our day-to-day speech?
  • 4
  • Thanks,
  • 5
  • Mohammadreza
  • 6
  • Dear Mohammadreza,
  • 7
  • Thanks for writing to us and asking this question.
  • 8
  • Famous and popular are both adjectives.
  • 9
  • The words may seem similar, but their meanings are very different.
  • 10
  • Let's start with famous.
  • 11
  • "Famous" means known or recognized by many people. We often use the word when describing people.
  • 12
  • For example, movie actors, singers and professional athletes can be described as famous.
  • 13
  • For example: Taylor Swift is a famous singer-songwriter.
  • 14
  • Some famous people are known to people around the world. Others may be famous in their home country.
  • 15
  • Places can be famous, too. For example, the Eiffel Tower in France and the pyramids in Egypt are very famous.
  • 16
  • Now let's talk about popular. "Popular" means liked or enjoyed by many people.
  • 17
  • One way we use "popular" is to talk about trends like "popular fashion" or "popular styles."
  • 18
  • For example:
  • 19
  • The bucket hat was a popular trend in the 1990s, and now younger generations are wearing it again today.
  • 20
  • We also use popular to talk about people.
  • 21
  • For example, there are "popular students" at school.
  • 22
  • These people are generally well-liked by people in their class.
  • 23
  • They are not famous, though. People outside of the school probably do not know who they are.
  • 24
  • Places can also be described as popular. If we describe a place as popular, we mean a lot of people like to go there.
  • 25
  • "Famous" and "popular" mean different things.
  • 26
  • Just because someone is popular does not mean the person is famous.
  • 27
  • And some famous people might not be especially popular.
  • 28
  • Let us compare these two examples:
  • 29
  • This restaurant is famous.
  • 30
  • In this example, we are saying that many people know about this restaurant.
  • 31
  • Maybe it has become known for a special kind of food it serves.
  • 32
  • Maybe it appeared on a television show.
  • 33
  • This restaurant is popular.
  • 34
  • In this example, we are saying that many people go to the restaurant.
  • 35
  • But it may just be the local population that knows about it.
  • 36
  • Please let us know if these examples and explanations have helped you, Mohammedreza!
  • 37
  • What question do you have about American English? Send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com
  • 38
  • And that's Ask a Teacher.
  • 39
  • I'm Faith Pirlo.
  • 1
  • Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question from Mohammadreza from Iran about the difference between "famous" and "popular."
  • 2
  • Question:
  • 3
  • Dear VOA teachers,
  • 4
  • Would you please let us know difference between the words "popular" and "famous," and how to use them in our day-to-day speech?
  • 5
  • Thanks,
  • 6
  • Mohammadreza
  • 7
  • Answer:
  • 8
  • Dear Mohammadreza,
  • 9
  • Thanks for writing to us and asking this question.
  • 10
  • Famous and popular are both adjectives. The words may seem similar, but their meanings are very different.
  • 11
  • Let's start with famous.
  • 12
  • Famous
  • 13
  • "Famous" means known or recognized by many people. We often use the word when describing people.
  • 14
  • For example, movie actors, singers and professional athletes can be described as famous.
  • 15
  • For example: Taylor Swift is a famous singer-songwriter.
  • 16
  • Some famous people are known to people around the world. Others may be famous in their home country.
  • 17
  • Places can be famous, too. For example, the Eiffel Tower in France and the pyramids in Egypt are very famous.
  • 18
  • Popular
  • 19
  • Now let's talk about popular. "Popular" means liked or enjoyed by many people.
  • 20
  • One way we use "popular" is to talk about trends like "popular fashion" or "popular styles."
  • 21
  • For example:
  • 22
  • The bucket hat was a popular trend in the 1990s, and now younger generations are wearing it again today.
  • 23
  • We also use popular to talk about people. For example, there are "popular students" at school. These people are generally well-liked by people in their class. They are not famous, though. People outside of the school probably do not know who they are.
  • 24
  • Places can also be described as popular. If we describe a place as popular, we mean a lot of people like to go there.
  • 25
  • The difference
  • 26
  • "Famous" and "popular" mean different things. Just because someone is popular does not mean the person is famous. And some famous people might not be especially popular.
  • 27
  • Let us compare these two examples:
  • 28
  • This restaurant is famous.
  • 29
  • In this example, we are saying that many people know about this restaurant. Maybe it has become known for a special kind of food it serves. Maybe it appeared on a television show.
  • 30
  • This restaurant is popular.
  • 31
  • In this example, we are saying that many people go to the restaurant. But it may just be the local population that knows about it.
  • 32
  • Please let us know if these examples and explanations have helped you, Mohammedreza!
  • 33
  • What question do you have about American English? Send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com
  • 34
  • And that's Ask a Teacher.
  • 35
  • I'm Faith Pirlo.
  • 36
  • Faith Pirlo wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English.
  • 37
  • ________________________________________________________________
  • 38
  • Words in This Story
  • 39
  • athlete - n. a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina
  • 40
  • fashion - n. a popular way of dressing during a particular time or among a particular group of people​
  • 41
  • style - n. a method, manner, or quality that is felt to be very respectable, fashionable, or proper
  • 42
  • ________________________________________________________________
  • 43
  • Do you have a question for the teacher? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works:
  • 44
  • Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.