(单词翻译:单击)
Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question from Ann in Vietnam about four words that help describe what group something belongs to.
你好！本周《名师答疑》，我们回答来自越南的安提出的一个问题，这个问题是关于描述某物属于哪个群体的四个单词。
Dear Teacher, What are [the] differences among species, kinds, types, and genres?
亲爱的老师，species, kinds, types, genres之间有什么区别？
Which case [is] each word used for?
每个单词用于哪种情况？
Thank you, Ann
谢谢，安。
I’m happy to answer this question, Ann.
我很高兴回答这个问题，安。
We can use each of the words you ask about to describe what category something belongs in.
你问的这几个单词都可以用来描述某物属于什么类别。
A category is a group of things that share similar qualities.
category（类别）是一组具有相似性质的事物。
For example, apples, bananas, and oranges all belong in the same category, which is fruit.
例如，苹果、香蕉、橙子都属于同一类别，即水果。
The words “kind” and “type” are synonyms.
kind和type这两个词是同义词。
That means they each share the same meaning.
即它们意思相同。
And they have the most general meaning of the four words you ask about.
而且在你询问的四个词中，这两个词的意思最宽泛。
A “kind” or a “type” is a group that shares things in common.
kind和type（种类）是具有共同特征的一组事物。
For example: Electric cars are one kind of car, while gasoline-powered cars are another type (or kind) of car.
例如：电动汽车是一种汽车，而油车是另一种类型（或种类）的汽车。
Notice that we commonly put the preposition “of” after the words “kind” or “type.”
请注意，我们通常在kind或type这两个词后面加上介词of。
The phrases “a kind of” and “a type of” are both very common in spoken English.
a kind of和a type of这两个短语在英语口语中都非常常见。
We use the phrase “a kind of” more often than we use the phrase “a type of.”
a kind of的使用频率比a type of更高。
The two words “species” and “genre” are more specific than the two words “kind” and “type.”
species和genre这两个词比kind和type意思更具体。
We use the word “species” to categorize living things.
我们用species（物种）这个词来对生物进行分类。
For example: Elephants, cats, dogs, and mice are different species of animals.
例如：大象、猫、狗、老鼠是不同物种的动物。
Roses and lilies are different species of flowers.
玫瑰和百合是不同物种的花。
Each species has a Latin scientific name.
每个物种都有一个拉丁学名。
For example, the name of the species for human beings is Homo sapiens.
例如，人类的物种名称是智人。
The word “genre” comes from the Latin word “genus,” which means “group.”
genre（类型）这个词来自拉丁语genus，意思是“群体”。
We use “genre” to categorize styles of creative works.
我们使用genre来对创意作品的风格进行分类。
For example, music has many genres, such as rock, hip-hop, classical, and jazz.
例如，音乐有许多类型，如摇滚、嘻哈、古典、爵士。
Genres of painting include Impressionism and Cubism.
绘画的类型包括印象派和立体派。
Likewise, film, dance, photography, literature, and theater each have their own genres.
同样地，电影、舞蹈、摄影、文学、戏剧各自都有其类型。
The word “genre” is more formal than “kind of.”
genre这个词比kind of更正式。
So, in everyday discussions, we might ask someone: What kind of movies do you like?
所以在日常讨论中，我们可能会问某人：你喜欢什么种类的电影？
However, in writing or more formal discussions, we might use the word “genre.”
然而在写作或更正式的讨论中，我们可能会使用genre这个词。
And that’s Ask a Teacher.
以上就是本期《名师答疑》。
I’m Andrew Smith.
我是安德鲁·史密斯。
