VOA慢速英语2021 名师答疑：用make还是create？

This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a reader's question about two common verbs. Here it is:

本周的名师答疑节目，我们回复读者关于两个常见动词的问题。问题如下：

Question:

问题：

Hi, I'm Zachary. I would like to know the difference between "make" and "create." How do we use them in everyday life? Thank you for your answer!

嗨，我是扎克利。我想知道make和create之间的区别。我们在日常生活中如何使用它们？感谢您的回复。

Answer:

回复：

Hello Zachary,

嗨，扎克利。

On a normal day, someone may make many things, but the person may create nothing at all. This morning, for example, I made breakfast. But, so far today, I have not created anything. Tonight, however, I may create a recipe for dinner.

在平日里，某人可能会做很多事情，但是这个人可能完全没有创造任何东西。例如，今天早上我做了早餐。但是今天截止目前，我没有创造任何东西。然而今天晚上，我可以会开发一份晚餐食谱。

The words "make" and "create" can have a few meanings. But today we will talk about the one that is commonly confused.

Make和create这两个单词有几种含义。但是今天我们将会讨论通常会被混淆的这种含义。

Make

制造

The verb "make" means to produce, build or prepare something – usually through common processes.

Make这个动词意思是通过常用方法来生产、制造或是调制一些东西。

Someone can make a tasty meal, for example. But that does not mean the person used uncommon¹ cooking methods or ingredients². A person can work in a factory that makes vehicles or clothing. But that factory does not create these things. Use of the verb "make" tells us that the production processes and the vehicle or clothing designs already existed.

例如有人可以做出美味的晚餐。但是这并不意味着这个人使用了不常见的烹饪方法或食材。某人可以在制造车辆或生产服装的工厂工作。但是这个工厂并非创造这些东西。使用Make这个动词告诉我们，生产过程以及车辆或服装的设计早已存在。

Create

创造

The verb "create" usually suggests newness or innovation³. Generally, it means to produce something new or to bring something into existence. "Create" often suggests that the making of a thing requires special skill or imagination, or uncommon processes, such as a work of art or an invention.

Create这个动词通常表明了新颖或创新。它通常意味着制作新事物或是使某些东西成为现实。Create通常表明制作一件东西需要特殊的技能或想象力，或是不常见的方法，例如艺术品或发明。

So, to create a meal would mean to invent a new dish or recipe. To create a vehicle or piece of clothing means to design one that is different from earlier models.

所以，to create a meal 意味着开发新的菜式或食谱。To create a vehicle or piece of clothing意味着设计与早期型号不同的车辆或服装。

Learn collocations

学会固定搭配

Collocations may be the reason some English learners find themselves unsure about whether to use "make" or "create." In English, some words just go together and some do not.

固定搭配可能是一些英语学习者不确定使用make还是create的原因。在英语中，有些单词是固定搭配，有些则不是。

For example, the word "make" is used in collocations such as "make the bed," "make a choice" and "make noise." A native speaker would not say "create noise."

例如，Make这个单词用于诸如整理床铺、做选择和制造噪音这些固定搭配中。母语人士不会说create noise。

The word "create" is often used in collocations that involve intangible things, like in "create an atmosphere" and "create a playlist."

Create这个动词通常用于涉及无形事物的词语搭配中，例如用于营造气氛和创建播放列表。

And that's Ask a Teacher for this week.

以上就是本次名师答疑节目的全部内容。

1 uncommon   

adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的

参考例句：

• Such attitudes were not at all uncommon thirty years ago.这些看法在30年前很常见。
• Phil has uncommon intelligence.菲尔智力超群。

2 ingredients   

n.（混合物的）组成部分( ingredient的名词复数 )；（烹调的）原料；（构成）要素；因素

参考例句：

• All ingredients are readily available from your local store. 所有的原料都可以方便地从你当地的商店买到。
• We never use second quality ingredients to build building. 我们决不使用次等材料用于建筑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 innovation   

n.改革，革新，新观念，新方法，新发明

参考例句：

• There are all sorts of possibilities for technical innovation.技术革新的门道很多。
• An enterprise should encourage innovation.企业应鼓励创新。